Stories about breast cancer that can inspire and inform

Blog  |  Newsroom

Tina’s Story: Educate Yourself

Tina is sitting on stairs smiling. She looks content.

In August 2020, Tina developed pain in her breast. “That wasn’t unusual for me, but it continued,” she said. Then she felt something in her breast. Tina’s primary doctor was on maternity leave, so she saw another doctor at the practice, who told her it wasn’t anything to be concerned about.

Annual Mammogram Leads to More Tests

In October, when Tina went in for her annual mammogram, she told the tech what she had felt in August. “I found out later that the tech should have done a diagnostic mammogram, but she just did a regular one,” Tina said. When the results came back, Tina was called in for a diagnostic mammogram, a breast ultrasoundand two breast biopsies. The biopsies were on the same breast, one for a suspicious spot and the other on microcalcifications.

Two Breast Cancer Diagnoses

Later that month, Tina was diagnosed with stage 0 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. Her treatment included a lumpectomy, 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation therapy. Tina also had genetic testing, which showed she had an inherited gene mutation that increased her chances of developing ovarian cancer. 

Asking for a Second Opinion

Before beginning chemotherapy, Tina got a second opinion. “I really did not want to do chemotherapy, I didn’t want that running through my body,” she explained. “But my Oncotype DX  showed my cancer was fast growing and the recurrence rate was pretty high, so I decided to go ahead and have the chemo.”

Tina wears a bright pink suit with a pink ribbon in it, in front of a pink ribbon wreath. She's smiling.

Treatment & Complications

Tina did develop some eye issues while she was on chemo. “I’d wake up a day or so after chemo, and my right eye was so sensitive to light. I had to put a patch over my eye so it was dark. It was painful,” she said. “My doctor said there’s like a 1% chance of people developing this side effect.” 

The issue with Tina’s eye would last two days. The next time she had chemo, it might not happen at all, the time after that it might be her left eye that was affected. She told her doctor, who adjusted her medications. 

There were times, too, that Tina’s chemotherapy had to be delayed because her blood counts were too low. She ended up receiving her last dose of chemo on her 59th birthday. Once she finished radiation, she saw an oncologist about the results of her genetic testing and decided to have a complete hysterectomy. 

Doing Research

Almost two decades before Tina’s diagnosis, a good friend underwent treatment for breast cancer. Although Tina is an accountant, she’s always been fascinated by medicine, so she took charge of researching her friend’s diagnosis and treatment. “It gave me a better understanding of what she was going through,” Tina said. 

After Tina learned she had breast cancer, research was important for her to do so she could understand what she was dealing with. “I believe people should be active in their treatment and educate themselves, so they’ll know what to expect,” she said. 

Advocate For Yourself

Tina was surprised to learn that more Black women do not participate in clinical trials. “There’s a history of not trusting clinical trials. I met a researcher who spoke about dispelling some of the myths and encouraging people to get involved in clinical trials,” she said. “Now I encourage people to get involved, I try to educate them.” 

Tina is now on anastrozole, a hormone blocker that she’ll take for a total of five years. “It’s important for people who have just received a diagnosis to know that not every diagnosis is a death sentence,” Tina said. “Ask questions, do research and surround yourself with a support system – and ask for help when you need it.” 

Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.