Hi! I’m Shayna. I’m 26 years old and a two-time breast cancer survivor. My story began in February 2022, just two months after I graduated college and a month after I turned 23.
During a routine breast self-check, I felt a lump. Because of my family history, I acted quickly. My mom had also faced breast cancer, and sadly, she passed away from it at 41. Her experience taught me to be vigilant about my health, even at a young age.
Doctors confirmed that I had stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. It was triple-positive and BRCA1 positive, meaning my cancer was aggressive and genetically driven.
My treatment plan included:
Egg preservation
Lymph node removal
Port placement
16 weeks of chemotherapy
A double mastectomy with reconstruction
6 weeks of radiation
One year of immunotherapy
6 months of oral chemotherapy
One year of estrogen-suppressing treatment
After these treatments, I was in remission. But I was also in medical menopause, something most 20-somethings don’t expect to experience.
In August 2024, I started having severe headaches. After weeks of trying to get insurance approval for an MRI, I finally went to the ER. A CT scan and MRI revealed the cancer had spread to my brain.
I was hospitalized immediately. Doctors put me on high-dose steroids, and I had brain surgery a few days later. After surgery, I underwent three rounds of brain radiation. I also began receiving Enhertu infusions, a treatment specifically used for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
Thankfully, I currently have no evidence of disease (NED). However, because I’m now Stage 4, recurrence is always possible. That reality shapes how I live every day.
On June 16, I will undergo a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which means my ovaries and fallopian tubes will be removed. This procedure reduces my risk of ovarian cancer due to my BRCA1 mutation. It also helps lower estrogen levels, which is important because my cancer is estrogen-sensitive.
Now, I receive Herceptin and Perjeta infusions every three weeks, along with a daily estrogen-blocking pill. These treatments are critical to keeping the cancer from coming back.
Being diagnosed twice before age 26 is overwhelming. But I’ve chosen to share my journey so that others—especially young women—feel seen and empowered.
Breast cancer doesn’t have an age limit. If something feels off in your body, speak up. Listen to your instincts. You deserve answers.
At Learn Look Locate, Shayna’s courage inspires us. Her story shines a light on the importance of early detection, BRCA awareness, and the strength it takes to face a Stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis in your 20s.
Through stories like Shayna’s, we continue our mission to educate and support patients worldwide. Her journey is a reminder that you are never alone, and that even in the hardest moments, hope and community matter.
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