(KNX) — It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and patients are sharing their stories to educate women about the disease and the importance of early detection.
Rene Williams regularly self-exams and gets mammograms because of her family history of breast cancer. But earlier this year, the 52-year-old felt a lump.
"My mom passed away from breast cancer when I was five years old. I always had a feeling that either me or my sisters, one of us, would end up with it, and it ended up being me," she lamented.
Williams was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the aggressive cancer is more common in Black women under 40 who are Black or those with a BRCA1 mutation. In addition, the cancer is more likely to return after treatment and has a worse prognosis than other breast cancers.
Dr. Sylvia Adams, director of the Breast Cancer Center at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, said that adding immunotherapy to the standard chemotherapy is a significant advance in treatment for patients, including Williams.
"We actually had a very early, good, clinical response and were able to take her to surgery earlier. And she had no residual cancer at time of surgery which predicts an excellent outcome and cure," said Dr. Adams.
Clinical trials are underway for patients with early disease to better tailor treatments. "To make sure patients have less side effects from the chemotherapy, maybe we can do less chemotherapy in some patients," Dr. Adams said.
Williams said, "I don't care what diagnosis you get. That doesn't mean it's a death sentence."
Williams wants women to know early detection is critical. The mother and grandmother are starting radiation. She's back at work as an oncology clerk and is grateful to help others through what she has.
The American Cancer Society estimates nearly 288,000 new breast cancer cases will be diagnosed in women this year. Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancers.
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