Cancer runs very strongly on one side of my family. Several members have had either breast cancer or ovarian cancer. Two tested positive for the BRCA1 genetic mutation. So, I knew the odds were pretty high that I carried it, too. 

After finding out about the mutation, I put off getting genetic testing for about two years. I didn’t want to know yet.

But I became the first person of my generation in my family to take the plunge. The testing confirmed my fears: I had the BRCA1 mutation. That substantially increased my risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancers. I started getting high-risk breast cancer screenings every six months. 

So, I was shocked when I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at age 34.

My triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis

I’d been told that I had until I was about 40 to start making decisions about whether to have my breasts or ovaries removed to reduce my risk. I was glad, because I wanted to wait until I was finished having children to do so.

But when I had my last check-up about two months after I weaned my son, the scan showed a peanut-sized lump in my right breast. Additional testing revealed it was stage II triple-negative breast cancer.

Why I chose MD Anderson

My relatives didn’t get sick until they were in their 50s. And I’d done everything I was supposed to do, including being proactive on screening. But I still got cancer. I was pretty surprised and frightened. Breast cancer sucks, period. But triple-negative breast cancer makes it feel extra scary, because it’s even harder to treat and has higher rates of recurrence.

I knew from relatives that where you go first for cancer treatment is pretty important. But what clinched my decision to go to MD Anderson was the online research my husband conducted. He quickly discovered that chemotherapy only has about a 50% chance of working against triple-negative breast cancer. We wanted better odds than that.

My triple-negative breast cancer treatment

My husband found a clinical trial at MD Anderson run by breast medical oncologist Dr. Jennifer Litton. He reached out to her for more information. Dr. Litton was not able to take me on as a patient, but she referred me to a colleague who was almost entirely focused on triple-negative breast cancer.

I joined a clinical trial under that doctor and received a PARP inhibitor for six months as a part of her study. For a while, the PARP inhibitor kicked my cancer’s butt. Unfortunately, it also caused me a lot of blood issues, so the doctors had to reduce my dosage. 

I didn’t have a complete response to the PARP inhibitor. So, after the clinical trial, I had a double mastectomy, an oophorectomy and a chemotherapy combination called ACT. That acronym stands for doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide, followed by paclitaxel (Taxol). 

It’s been almost five years now since I finished breast cancer treatment. Assuming I don’t have a recurrence, I will officially show no evidence of disease by summer 2025.

My life today

The clinical trial I joined didn’t work out quite as well for me as I’d hoped. But I made a lot of friends on it. And some of them had a perfect response to it, with no blood issues. I was really happy for them.

I have an 8-month-old baby now, and my son is 7. So, I’m finding ways to cultivate more balance in my life and focusing on the things that matter most: family, friends and community. I’ve learned that waking up every day is not guaranteed. So, I live my life full of gratitude. I am grateful to all the nurses, doctors, surgeons, and staff at MD Anderson who supported me — and do so every day, for thousands of other patients.

Dr. Litton told me that MD Anderson is working on new PARP inhibitors that may cause fewer side effects. That made me feel really good, too. Clearly, I wasn’t the only person who struggled with the one I was on. But if what I went through was helpful for somebody else, then I’m glad I did it.

Right now, my only lingering issues are osteoporosis and dry mouth. Those are no big deal, though, considering I’m still here. I’m just happy to be alive. 

If the cancer ever comes back, the new medication Dr. Litton mentioned could be an option for me. It might not save my life, but it could prolong it. And that would be OK.

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