Hi there, my name is Kierra! I am from Kincardine originally, growing up there. I moved to a larger city for post secondary education and ended up staying.  I wanted to share my story of how I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), stage 1 – grade 3 (which progressed to stage 2 – grade 3), at the age of 26. The official date was July 17th of 2024. 

At some point in the past 5 years, I had remembered my grandfather mentioning, that his Mom passed early in life, around the age of 40 from breast cancer. Only just a few years ago, I had began doing self-checks because of this.

In late May of 2024, I found my tumour. It felt small, round, and hard. It was on the very lower/underside edge of my right breast meeting my torso/rib area. At times I would feel a burning type of pain (even though you will hear/read that this is not a thing – it is, according to many women). Recently, I had been diagnosed with costochondritis, and I thought what I felt  was maybe a rib out of place. With being fully into my work and occupied with the end of the work/school year, it got put to the side and my brain filed it away. In early July, I did a self-check and the lump had grown a little and at times was sore – burning or tingling. 

Tuesday July 9 is when I first went to urgent care. They did a physical exam and gave me an appointment to come back the next day  July. 10, 2024, for an ultrasound, which came back inconclusive. Following the ultrasound where they couldn’t identify what the lump was (not a cyst like I had been told it would likely be on the day before, by a doctor – because I was young). The doctor came in and asked if they could proceed with a biopsy. Normally, this would be done in a follow-up appointment that would be scheduled on a separate day, but there was a cancellation  and the team wanted to be prompt. I also ended up getting a breast MRI not long after on the same day. It was thanks to an amazing nurse that literally ran after me, yelling my name down the hospital stairs – it felt like an episode of Grey’s Anatomy- a moment I will always be super grateful for. The nurse said “we’re getting you in today, waiting isn’t acceptable. You’re too young.” I was told it would take 2-3 weeks for the biopsy results to come back, but mine came back in 3 business days (5 total with the weekend). I had missed a call from the hospital. 

The next morning, July 17th, 2024 is when I called back and got the news. The results came back as Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) stage 2, grade 3. One of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.

The next day, I had an appointment with my surgeon and talked about what the best treatment plan for me would be. He said ideally chemotherapy/immunotherapy first, then surgery, and ending with either chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or radiation if needed. The end of my treatment would greatly depend on genetic results (which eventually came back BRCA2+) and how I responded to the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. He told me he would be speaking at the tumour board to present my case, as to why I should begin with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. 

About a week after my first breast MRI, I was scheduled for a breast MRI-biopsy for a concerning spot in my left breast, that was difficult to identify due to having dense breasts. Having dense breast tissue can make differentiating between breast tissue and abnormalities/cancer on a mammogram difficult, and is why a breast MRI is necessary sometimes. This was the case for me. This is something I knew nothing about because it’s not talked about much or taught as we grow up. I didn’t even know there were different types of breast cancer. Again, for about an hour, I had to lay in a horizontal position on my stomach in a machine. When the biopsy was being completed, it sounded like a power drill was being used. Luckily, I wasn’t feeling anything. 

Once the scan and biopsy were completed and I sat up, the nurse was having a hard time getting the incision site to clot and stop bleeding. Within a few minutes I began to feel light headed and told the nurse. The next thing I remember was waking up with the two nurses, the doctor, and a few other staff members assisting me. I had fainted. When I woke, my legs were up on the shoulders of a nurse. They said I had been out for about two minutes. When I asked what they thought happened, their best guess was that I had been presenting so strong and calm but that the stress was just too much on my body. A year later, I had a different type of scan and saw that same nurse who had my back. I retold my story, she remembered me, I thanked her, we hugged, and I left. It was such a special moment for both of us and the other staff who stood close by. 

My case was presented on July 26th, 2024 to the Tumour Board (to at least 3 oncologists). Since my case was quite a rare situation and in earlier stages with no lymph node involvement, it would be the best route. I was a young, overall healthy 26 year old female, diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer (TNBC), who was eventually diagnosed with a BRCA2+ gene mutation. 

Early on, I had genetic testing completed because of the aggressive type of cancer I had at my age. It came back that I was BRCA2 positive. The rare part of my story/situation was that TNBC is typically found with BRCA1+ gene mutations, not BRCA2+ gene mutations, like I had experienced. The doctors wanted to push as aggressively as possible with treatment due to these factors. 

My chemotherapy would last six months and began in August 2024. I completed my last and 16th round of chemotherapy in February 2025, and completed my immunotherapy sessions this past September. If the tumour responded well (shrinking or completely gone), the next step was surgery. I responded well to the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and within 3/16 sessions I could no longer feel my tumour.

 I began loosing my hair  in larger amounts after a few weeks of beginning chemotherapy and decided to have my boyfriend of 10 years, shave my head. Now coming up to my 1 year post chemotherapy (February 3rd) my hair has grown back about 4-5 inches.

In March 2025 I had a double mastectomy (DMX) with immediate reconstruction. It was successful! I achieved PRC and had NED (no evidence of disease)! In September of 2025, I returned to work as an educational assistant. 

I was diagnosed and cancer free within a year! Sometimes it’s unbelievable for me. Early detection 100% saves lives!! I truly believe I may not have been here today if I hadn’t thought of beginning those self-checks! I never thought I would be one of the ‘1 in 8’ women to get breast cancer. . . 

Today, I struggle with after treatment side effects such as chemo-brain, bone pain/arthritis, regulating my temperature, and more. But that’s a glimpse into the reality of living this life and walking the journey.

I have my life and a future thanks to my amazing medical team that I am so thankful for, my boyfriend who fully took care of me and supported me, my supportive friends, our wonderful family, research, those who have walked their own journey before me, and to our sisters who paved the way but sadly couldn’t be here with us today. Lastly, to myself for never giving up through all the tough moments, because there were many – but we made it! 

Much love,

Kierra 🎀“