My Nonprofit Reviews

My breast cancer journey began in September of 2020 at the age of 56 I was diagnosed with a very rare form of Stage III Triple Negative Breast Cancer in my left breast (occurs in 1% of women). My treatment consisted of a lumpectomy, lymph node removal (2), 8 rounds of chemotherapy Adriamycin/Cytoxan and Taxol in addition to 19 rounds of radiation.

In April of 2022 at the age of 58, I was diagnosed with High-Grade Malignant Neoplasm with Epithelial and Sarcomatoid Elements (Metaplastic Carcinoma) in my left breast that was hidden inside a fat nercrosis. In May of 2022 I was diagnosed with Grade III Triple Negative Breast Cancer in my lymph nodes. I had a Modified Radical Mastectomy Operation on Lymphatic Structures.

I had a lot of emotions behind my new diagnosis, as I now have had 3 breast cancer diagnosis in less than 2 years. A friend recommended The Second Opinion, and I was fortunate to be accepted as a patient. The Second Opinion team gathered all my medical records and a team of 5 experienced doctors from different areas of medicine reviewed my case.

A treatment plan was outlined for me, after discussion with the panel chair and my oncologist. My treatment onsizted of 9 cycles of immunotherapy treatment using Check-Point Inhibitor Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and 6 cycles of chemotherapy consisting of Gemcitabine/Carboplan. The expertise of The Second Opinion doctors was invaluable. The mission of this non-profit organization is powerful and a huge gift to the world of health. They were detailed, effective, reliable and caring; a true blessing of hope for me. - Velinda D. Galvin, Patient