I first felt a lump in my breast in December of 2019. I made a doctor’s appointment for February of 2020 and was quickly referred for an ultrasound, then a mammogram, then a biopsy. On March 2, 2020, I received the phone call that I had breast cancer. I was four days away from my 30th birthday. At that time, the cancer was stage 1 and localized to my breast.
Over the next year, I received chemo, had a mastectomy, more chemo, and then started an immunotherapy clinical trial. In August of 2021, I woke up with severe pain in my side. I went to the emergency department and imaging found that I might have metastases in my lungs. Over the next few weeks, I had multiple imaging and biopsies performed. I also began to have headaches, pain in my hips and shoulders, and shortness of breath. I was diagnosed with recurrent stage four breast cancer. I had tumors in my bones, lymph nodes, lungs, breast, and brain. Since then I’ve received radiation to my brain and begun chemotherapy and immunotherapy. I have been back to the emergency room twice due to fever and hospitalized once.
Elizabeth’s LifeList:
- Family trip to Washington D.C.