Young Breast Cancer Patient Faces Future With Hope and Resolve

The chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 25 is less than 1 in 8,600. So it might not be surprising that when Valentina Ramirez felt a lump while showering, she wasn’t very alarmed. 

“My first thought was like, ‘Oh, it’s probably just a cyst. I’m young. There’s no way that this can be anything crazy,’” recalls the veterinary technician from Boynton Beach. “That’s why I sat with it for a couple weeks, thinking it would just go away. It never did.” 

Ms. Ramirez’s mom, a registered nurse, urged her to get it checked out. The ultrasound and mammogram that followed were concerning. Ms. Ramirez knew that whatever it was, she wanted it gone. She didn’t even wait for her biopsy results to schedule a consultation with a breast surgeon at the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health. 

Even so, she wasn’t ready for the diagnosis: triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma. “It was a shock. At 25, that was the last thing I thought was going to happen.”  

A Crash Course in Cancer Treatment

Ms. Ramirez wasn’t quite sure yet what treatment would entail, but she wanted to share it with others so they could learn along with her. True to her demographic, she posted about her journey on social media.  

“I didn’t know anything about breast cancer,” she says. “There are like 80-plus different subtypes of breast cancers out there. I don’t think people realize that. It’s very eye-opening.”  

The expertise of her breast surgeon, Hilary Shapiro-Wright, D.O., helped put her at ease. “She broke it down for me: this is what you have, we caught it early, we can go this route and there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Ms. Ramirez says. “She really put into perspective what having triple-negative breast cancer meant.”  

Ms. Ramirez was also encouraged by the multidisciplinary approach of her care team, which included radiation oncologist Samuel Richter, M.D. Together they devised a treatment plan.  

“Every patient is different. Every cancer is different,” says Dr. Shapiro-Wright, who is experienced in oncoplastic breast surgery techniques to help minimize scarring. “We explore all of the options with our patients.” 

Making Informed Treatment Decisions 

To help guide her treatment, Ms. Ramirez, the oldest of five siblings, underwent genetic testing with Louise Morrell, M.D., medical director of Lynn Cancer Institute.  

"The expanded use of genetic testing helps to identify individuals at higher cancer risk,” explains Dr. Morrell, who has focused on cancer genetics and hereditary cancer syndromes for more than 30 years. In Ms. Ramirez’s case, no known genetic markers were found that explained why she developed breast cancer so early.  

As a result, Ms. Ramirez opted for a lumpectomy as the first phase of her treatment. A cornerstone for managing early-stage breast cancer, lumpectomies involve surgically removing the tumor and a small margin of healthy tissue, preserving most of the breast. When followed by radiation therapy, its survival rates are comparable to a mastectomy — the full removal of the breast. 

“I felt like if I could keep my breast, I would rather keep it,” she says. “When my genetic testing came back normal, at that point I didn’t feel like I needed to do a mastectomy.” 

Looking Toward the Future

Ms. Ramirez had about a month after her surgery before she could continue with chemotherapy and radiation. During that time, she underwent egg retrieval — just in case her treatment affected her fertility.  

“It’s not something I would have thought about. It was brought to my attention by my oncologist. She explained that chemo can lessen your egg reserve, and at the time they didn’t know if the treatment was going to send me into menopause,” Ms. Ramirez says. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a mom and I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be.”  

When the time comes, Ms. Ramirez hopes she can become pregnant naturally, but she’s happy she has a backup plan. She’s grateful that fertility considerations are a key part of today’s treatment. In fact, every step along the way, she had to confront questions about her future that were unthinkable before she found that lump.  

“We take every individual case to heart. It’s not just about what’s on paper — the pathology report, the genetic tests or the scans. It’s the individual in front of you,” Dr. Richter says. “We really work to customize and tailor treatment to the individual — their needs, their wants, their wishes — while also keeping in mind what makes sense for them.”  

Remaining Vigilant

Ms. Ramirez completed her treatment last summer after five rounds of chemotherapy and 19 once-daily sessions of radiation. Now, two years after her initial diagnosis, she feels optimistic and strong. She remains vigilant about self-exams and encourages her friends and co-workers to do the same.  

“You don’t think it can happen to you, but I promise you it can,” she says. “I was able to catch something in the shower that ultimately could have turned into something so much worse. It was an out-of-the-blue thing — and it can happen to anyone.” 

VisitBaptistHealth.net/Mammoto learn more or schedule your breast cancer screening this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.