Meet Nathalie, a Triple Negative Inflammatory Breast Cancer survivor. Her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of trusting your instincts and advocating for yourself when something feels wrong. Despite facing numerous dismissals, Nathalie persisted and fought for the urgent care she knew she needed.
My name is Nathalie Feldberg and in March 2023 I was diagnosed with IBC triple negative Stage 3. I will be getting my last immunotherapy next week, September 12.
My treatment consisted of 16 weeks of chemo (I only could do 14), a double mastectomy, removal of 45 nodes, 30 radiation treatments, 8 rounds of Xeloda and 17 immunotherapies total.
After my third Covid shot in 2021, I developed a rash on my torso that persisted all of 2022 and until my diagnosis of IBC in March 2023. My breast was itchy and when I scratched it, I felt a lump.
I got a mammogram the next week and was told everything looked good, not to worry. I was going on a trip and the doctor told me to go but to get another mammogram before I left just to make sure all was good, since the breast was slightly red.
I got the second mammogram and an ultrasound. I left for my trip.
On the second day of my trip, I received an email from my doctor saying that I had cancer. She told me not to rush back because I wouldn’t be able to get a biopsy for a few weeks.
During my trip, my breast was getting more and more red and swollen, sore and hot. I also had two red dots on my breast. I googled for information and noticed I had every sign of inflammatory breast cancer! I phoned my doctor to tell her and she dismissed my concerns, saying it was impossible, as inflammatory breast cancer was too rare, that it would not be that. She told me not to worry and not to rush back, the biopsy could only be done in a few weeks.
I then phoned another doctor in Toronto (I live in Ottawa) and told her my worries and concerns. She also dismissed me and said that it was too rare and it most likely was not inflammatory breast cancer. She said not to worry and wait for my biopsy.
I called my doctor again, the mammography clinic, anybody I could to try and rush my biopsy, but nobody wanted to help me, everybody said not to worry, that breast cancer does not grow so fast and that I didn’t need to rush for a biopsy.
Meanwhile, I was reading how it is urgent to treat inflammatory breast cancer, that it is aggressive and that I should not wait to be treated. My breast was getting bigger and more red and inflamed every day and the lump was actually sticking out of my breast. I could clearly see it.
I was not having any luck getting an earlier appointment for my biopsy since my doctor would not rush it and I had to wait for my scheduled appointment. After I begged and begged, my appointment got moved one day earlier. It should have been done two weeks earlier.
When I had my biopsy, the radiologist crouched down, took my hands and had tears in her eyes and told me: “I’m so sorry Nathalie, you have inflammatory breast cancer. Why did you not get rushed for a biopsy?! You need treatment as soon as possible, please call your doctor”.
I called my doctor that same day and she responded that I would not be seen to start the process before 8 to 12 weeks. Eight to twelve weeks!!!! I told her it was inflammatory breast cancer and that it was urgent. She said not to worry, cancer does not grow that fast and I had time to wait, there was nothing she could do to get me in earlier.
Desperate, worried and devastated, I started to tell all my friends about my situation. A miracle then happened, a friend of mine happened to be with her neighbour on a trip and he is an oncologist. He knew right away the urgency of my situation and called me the same day. The next day I started staging and was set up with a fabulous oncologist, radiologist and surgeon. I was so lucky. I feel that my friend saved my life.
My tumor grew from 2 cm to 10 cm in 2 weeks. Had I waited 8 to 12 weeks, I believe my destiny would have been quite different. IBC is a very aggressive cancer.
Thankfully, the cancer had not spread outside the breast except for the skin, (I had no lymph nodes involvement) and I was diagnosed as Stage 3 TNBC IBC.
I started treatment within two weeks. I was getting keytruda, carbo and taxol and developed a severe reaction. I ended up in the hospital six times in ten weeks and had two hospital stays because of severe mucositis and the possibility of having a deadly condition called Steven Johnson Disease.
I lost 41 pounds and had to get daily injections to boost my neutrophils. I had to stop getting keytruda, carbo and taxol and went straight to AC as soon as my body had healed enough to resume chemo.
AC went well, I then got my surgery, a double mastectomy non-skin sparing and 45 lymph nodes removed. Surgery went really well and I went home the same day feeling great. The mastectomy healed well and looks fantastic. The surgeon did an excellent job, I couldn’t ask for better results.
I then got 30 radiation treatments.
Unfortunately I didn’t reach PCR so I needed more treatment. Because Canada doesn’t offer anymore chemo in my situation, I had to participate in a clinical trial to be able to get more treatment.
I was put in the arm of the trial that involved getting Xeloda in combination with Keytruda. Getting Keytruda was risky as I possibly could have a fatal reaction. I decided to try as I know that Keytruda helps to reduce the chances of recurrence. Inflammatory breast cancer being what it is, I wanted to put every chance on my side of never getting cancer again.
I then had eight rounds of Xeloda and as difficult as carbo-taxol was, Xeloda is definitely not a walk in the park. My feet peeled to the point of not being able to walk and I couldn’t use my hands for months. However, I persisted, determined to make sure I put every chance on my side of never having cancer again, of surviving and thriving. Keytruda was also a success! I did not get any reaction whatsoever! Next week I will get my last treatment, my 17th round.
I feel blessed to have been given the chance to be treated so fast and now doing so well. I exercised and ate well all through treatment and tried to be as positive as possible. I had a fantastic support system, a husband, daughters, friends and family that stood by my side and cheered me on every single day and to them, I am so grateful.
I look forward to a disease-free future and will soon be travelling a lot. I cherish my life, the people around me and am embracing life fully.
Thank you.”
Nathalie’s journey highlights the need for greater awareness and quicker recognition of IBC. Thank you for sharing your story with us Nathalie and for showing us how essential it is to listen to your body and push for the care you deserve.