Kelly's Stage 3 Breast Cancer Story: “I’m Still Here & THRIVING!" | The Patient Story

Kelly Thomas first noticed a symptom when she felt a lump in her left breast. She had no family history of breast cancer and was only 33. She was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of breast cancer. Kelly went through chemotherapy, surgery (double mastectomy) and radiation.
In this cancer vlog, she highlights the emotional rollercoaster of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, but also shows that people can survive and thrive after triple negative breast cancer.
Now 5 years since her diagnosis, Kelly has not had a recurrence. Kelly also started an Instagram community called TNBC Thrivers to share stories of others thriving after a TNBC diagnosis. She wants to spread hope and her mother's advice of "their story is not your story.”
Full story & transcript → www.thepatient...
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[@ThePatientStory]

We’d love to hear from you: what was the biggest lesson you learned in your own cancer diagnosis? Leave us a comment below 👇

[@iamwinningrightnow]

Unless you've been there, you don't get it. I never thought [never] that I would be apart of this club.

[@lisat9802]

I also fired one of my cancer Drs. I fired the 1st surgeon.

[@kvlogsyoutube]

accept it and just take one at a time be grateful in life

[@leoniemcewan2449]

I am Leonie 33 years old 😢was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer and lost my parents after being diagnosed in July 2023 my parents past away August mom 11 nd my dad 31 your story ❤love it making me believe more

[@leoniemcewan2449]

I'm on chemo but my lump is growing still had 6 chemo's already

[@maryannebarry9123]

Thank you for your story. I had TNBC twice in the same breast. I am glad to see that there is more information out there for this type of cancer.

[@johnnyleah7589]

Bless your heart. My lovely wife 3 weeks out from her lumpectomy.. Stage 2A lump and one lymph node. Scheduled to start chemotherapy at the end of this month. This is a rollercoaster.

[@sunshinelainey1655]

Me too! Starting with chemo first. Be by her side always and pick her up when she's feeling down and always give her words of encouragement 🥺

[@nicolealpy8744]

Thank you for this. I’m also stage three TNBC, seeing how upbeat and positive you are during and after treatment and now cancer free years later!!!! Gives me hope. Thank you ❤️

[@ggunga7764]

Excellent 👌 keep up

[@Pegcb2]

gives ne hop too!

[@lisat9802]

Dont wait to get checked out. I found the lump months before I had it checked out. TNBC grows super fast, by the time I got the mamo/ultrasound/ biopsy it was stage 3. I had always had lumpy breasts and non cancerous cysts all my life, so I thought this was just another one of those. It was not. Thank you for sharing your story ♥

[@dandelions2414]

did it feel like a normal cyst like the others or different?

[@lisat9802]

@@dandelions2414 In the beginning it did. But then over the course of several months it grew.

[@dandelions2414]

@@lisat9802 Thank you for your respons. I hope and pray you all is well for you going forward

[@princessjillannesierra8505]

Hi how did you treat you TNBC THANKYOI

[@lisat9802]

@@princessjillannesierra8505 4 rounds of A/C chemo, 12 rounds of Taxol chemo, 7 surgical procedures, 35 rounds of radiation therapy. I had complete response, however the side effects and after effects of all that treatment, has given me life long issues, that I now deal with on a daily basis. Chemo induced peripheral neuropathy in both feet. Severe lymphedema in my left upper chest, shoulder, arm and hand on the side that had the lymph nodes removed and all that radiation. Brittle bones from the chemo, I took a fall and broke my wrist in 3 places, they said the chemo had weakened my bones. Not trying to scare you, just being honest about my treatment and after effects.

[@litasheward6822]

That's what happens to me I ended up going to the last videos and feeling devastated that they were no longer here. I felt my hope died with them. This brought tears to my eyes. My oncologist said that if it recurrs I'll die within 5 to 6 years. Thanks for your words.

[@dustin3683]

My wife was diagnosed with stage 3 TNBC 7/11/24. It was found in most of the lymph nodes on the right side of her chest, all the way up to the collarbone. I have been looking for any positive stories or survivor stories for stage 3 TNBC. The lack of them is not very encouraging. She will be undergoing a mastectomy & having the lymph nodes removed as well, in April. Hopefully she will have a story to share, one day.

[@lucylu0615]

I wish I had your courage. I’ve been through hell for the past 6 years with my leukemia diagnosis cll. It has affected me so much mentally.

[@zinnia20207]

My daughter-in-law wrote in a card, Cancer starts with can and you CAN get through this! We are here for you! I am sending you good vibes. Please join a support group either in person or online. You will find a lot of love out there. Sending you a big hug also.

[@meghannjones5636]

Just diagnosed with triple negative stage 3c. Your story is so comforting ❤ Thank you for sharing ❤❤❤

[@leoniemcewan2449]

I was also diagnosed with stage 3 C triple negative

[@leoniemcewan2449]

And I'm also 33 years old 😢evens lost my parents both in August 2023 after I was diagnosed in July

[@meghannjones5636]

@@leoniemcewan2449 Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry 😢 God bless you and your journey ❤❤❤

[@ValerieTNBCS]

How are u doing now??

[@ValerieTNBCS]

​@leoniemcewan2449how are u doing now??

[@gdiup9241]

Thank you for sharing. Glad you pursued following your intuition!!! Girl power!

[@jessicadelgado7999]

Amazing story … happy for you!! Your a champ 🙏🏻🫶🏼 I was recently diagnosed with Ductile carcinoma HER2- PR+ ER+. During treatment I heard about a women my age in my home town that passed from Triple Negative 😢… made me sad. I will conquer this !

[@Organic-mart.]

Can you kindly say, what is your stage and treatment plan, my mother also have her2- er+pr+

[@kathyerb3134]

Congrats girl. You are a beautiful speaker, not shy in front of camera either. I love how you 😊shared your amazing, courageous story with us. I wish you continued prayers in your journey. My daughter has BRCA1 as well as her youngest daughter now age 5, who has has a very rare disease , and shares with her oldest sister age 11. KAT6B. 2 middle children not tested.😊

[@KathyTaylor-r4e]

Thank you for posting this. You are right. It' so important for people to hear stories with positive outcomes, and yes; everybody's story is different! Continued blessings to you!!

[@rebeccakarlsson1395]

I really enjoyed your story Kelly. I knew that cancer could mutate but had never heard from anyone who it had actually happened to. I’m so glad that you are doing so well, and you are right, there are so many more treatments and drugs now than only a few short years ago. This means more hope for us patients with each day that goes by! Best wishes for a healthy future to you and to all of us out there!

[@ralphiesmom2]

Super attitude! It's carrying you forward and will inspire so many people. Cheers!

[@bugsybird8619]

Kelly, thank you for sharing your story. I learned so much about decision-making and going with your gut when picking the right medical team. All the best to you.

[@clairebeever3038]

Lovely to see your doing well right now …. I was 31 and got triple x stage 3 … I had 8 rounds surgery and radiation and survived. Now after 10 years it’s back …. But this time it’s hormonal which I think myself is much worse the treatments are awful and long term … I’m sending love and praying yours stays away . Thank you for sharing ❤❤ cancer is just cruel x x x

[@blackcoffee.]

Love and Prayers to you!!! ❤

[@thislittleshedofmine]

My heartfelt prayers 🙏🏽 I was diagnosed earlier this year and currently undergoing Chemotherapy Treatment. I totally agree with you Cancer is Cruel!!! 😢

[@SnehaSharma-yi6nj]

How you recovered from triple negative cancer? What all treatment you had plz tell my mother is also have the same.

[@clairebeever3038]

@@thislittleshedofmine oh I’m so sorry to hear that… it’s a group none of us really wanted to join … sending much love ❤️ how are you doing ? X

[@ai-and-healthcare]

Go Kelly!

[@ehcsztinc3891]

I had triple negative BC node negative and 15 years later diagnosed with Estrogen positive node negative BC in the same spot. They even went in the old surgery scar to remove the new bc. No family history of BC and no genetic predisposition. When you said your node showed estrogen positive it was the first time I had heard of this connection.

[@traciprovins3221]

Pathology is more of an art than a science. Cancer doesn’t simply show up as a different color. I did a lot of pathology work during both medical school and residency. There are so many characteristics that both types of cells have, and distinguishing the two from each other is sometimes impossible. Thus the time it takes. I had 4 biopsies of my thyroid mass and all were negative. But I was in the process of becoming a doctor and did not like the feeling of my mass. It was solid and felt calcified. I demanded that it be removed. Parts that they took were truly negative. But the core was cancerous. Even the mid/ surgical biopsy was negative!! So they left the other line in. They figured that was definitive. It took a week to comb through just a 1.5mm tumor. Got a call at 6pm ona Friday and I knew. I had the other lobe removed immediately. They couldn’t decide whether I needed radiation. I was 29. I decided to do it because I wanted to be healthy to have children. My doctor said absolutely not would it interfere w my ability to have kids. At 36 I’m alone $600k in debt from med school, had to leave residency to be able to do immediate IVF after 2 miscarriages bc menopause is expected at 37. I’m trying to find a way to pay off my first round of IVF that only got me 1 good embryo. I’ve also had 2 natural miscarriages. My treatment ruined my life. I would rather not be here than here after these losses and not able to have one child. Adoption takes years and is $80k+. My dog has saved me every time I have attempted sui*ide. The irony is that I did that treatment to be able to live….

[@lysa7201]

I love you and your story...I got my son after 10 years of waiting..then immediately got cancer,TNBC,going for weekly chemos..just when you thought yours is harder,see my story .it is not in vain and will never be.. Write your own Story...You will have your little one in your arms,just believe!love from Kenya

[@sallymccoy6286]

Thank you for having the courage to share your cancer journey. Hope you are in remission🙏🏼🙏🏼🎗🎗✝️

[@zinnia20207]

Your journey gives me hope. Get 2nd opinions, and be your own best advocate. Allow people to care about you and help you.

[@deniselawler9523]

My doctors were very optimistic even though I had stage 3a with 4 pos nodes. ERPR+ Her2- grade 1. I still threw the book at it - red devil , toxil, radiation and on Arimidex or almost 10 years now, Glad you fired that doctor who told you "people die from this" Duh. 🙄 The younger you are the more aggressive it is, but there has been so much progress in treatments to keep us from stage 4.

[@kathrynemason1673]

and yet, people still do. Honesty is the best policy. Would you rather be lied to? Like a child?

[@Pegcb2]

I am newly diagnosed with TBNC. MRI shows no spread . Waiting for genetic testing results. Scheduled for surgery on 11/21/24. Praying for no spreads. Is it me, or is TBNC always the left breast?

[@lasurfette7830]

A friend of mine who had triple negative discovered another tumor - estrogen positive - during radiation. Doesn't make me feel very confident about radiation.

[@traciprovins3221]

The hormone status of tumors frequently change over time. Seriously doubtful radiation would cause a tumor to suddenly develop a receptivity to E2

[@traciprovins3221]

Not to mention that tumors take YEARS to grow large enough to see on imaging. That tumor was likely growing for at least 2 years. Certainly doesn’t pop up during radiation.

[@lasurfette7830]

When you just finished a harsh protocol of chemo, which was supposed to work throughout your body to fight the cancer, and then you are doing radiation, which they say get any little cancer cells that might remain after surgery - a full blown tumor is disconcerting to say the least.@@traciprovins3221

[@kathrynemason1673]

I'm sorry, but the first oncologist was just being honest, people do die of it. He also couldn't guarantee you wouldn't. I like honesty in my Drs. I've had cancer several times, the last one being triple negative breast cancer, same stage as yours. I had surgery first, 6 courses of chemo and radiotherapy. I'm still here too. If he said I won't let you die and you were someone who didn't respond to treatment, you would then be upset that he'd made you a promise he couldn't fulfill. Drs should only ever promise to do their best.

[@brendagratza6210]

When you talk about tumor marker test are you talking about the CA 15?

[@skylarsitu4913]

May I ask who your doctor was?

[@ccdoe2441]

Any environmental factors that might have contributed to the condition?

[@jodeeblue9663]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@LindaMoon-xq1qm]

Cancer sure generates drama...

[@lynnbean7200]

I don't get why you fired the first oncologist.

[@lynnbean7200]

She's really arrogant and annoying. Can't finish watching it.

[@meepk633]

I don't either. She said the seriousness of her diagnosis didn't sink in because of her age and health. Then he made it clear how serious it was. Maybe she didn't like his tone. Maybe she wanted her oncologist to do more goofy doctor banter. Ok fine. But why would she be "mad" at him at all? Why would she call him and tell him that she's thriving? Was he somehow rooting against her? That part of the story was bizarre and ugly.

[@zinnia20207]

Perhaps the later the stage, there is more of a challenge to treat the cancer. It sounds like the first oncologist was doing minimal treatment since she was at a later stage when the course of treatment for triple-negative is at least 4-6 months of chemo, not just a few treatments. ALWAYS get a 2nd opinion and even a 3rd if you don't feel comfortable. You don't know what you don't know when 1st diagnosed. Ask questions, research, and join groups.

[@zinnia20207]

@@meepk633 And maybe she wanted to live. It sounds like the doctor was doing minimal treatment because of her later stage, thinking she had little chance anyway. The course of treatment for triple-negative is several rounds of different chemos for 4-6 months or longer. Good move on her part. She wouldn't be here had she not gone to another doctor. Always get a 2nd and maybe a 3rd opinion.

[@meepk633]

@@zinnia20207 No, it doesn't sound like that. It sounds like he recommended chemo, radiation, and surgery to begin immediately. "Minimal treatment" is something you just made up. What it sounds like is that she took sober analysis about her diagnosis as somehow adversarial. It is not. Not everyone wants their oncologist to be yaaaasified. If she did, that's fine. That's something the interviewer could have asked about. Instead we're left with the impression that the first oncologist wanted her to die. She said nothing in this video to support such a bizarre conclusion.

[@mariavaldez1947]

Where are the oncologists that treated you? Unfortunately, I have Kaiser and my Oncologist is pretty lame. I need to get out of Kaiser and find an oncologist that knows what he is taking about.

[@thislittleshedofmine]

Oh wow... I'm sorry that you are experiencing that with Kaiser as I have Kaiser and they have been the very best throughout my entire diagnosis. Very attentive and listen to my needs and concerns. Hopefully it'll get better for you soon 🙏🏽 Take Good care and blessings