- Kristi, 46

Navigating breast cancer diagnosis complicated by a genetic predisposition.

Kristi is diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Her doctor informs her that the standard treatment recommendation for her type of cancer is surgery, hormone treatment, and potentially radiation. She has a genetic predisposition towards forming blood clots so she is concerned about the blood clotting risk of hormone treatments. She is also anxious about potential side effects of radiation. Kristi’s Ardynn advocate helps her better understand her pathology reports and the side effects associated with each treatment option, providing much needed clarity for Kristi and confidence as she makes decisions about her treatment.

About

Active with her kids’ school and her aging parents. Works as a CPA. History of blood clots.

Priorities

Wants to be around for her children, husband and parents.

Key Concern

Extremely concerned about the risk of blood clots that hormone treatment introduces and the risk of complications from radiation.

Treatment Decision

Surgery and a reduced course of hormone therapy.

Kristi is a 46-year-old part-time certified public accountant (CPA), and mother of two children. In addition to work and involvement in her children’s school, Kristi spends a good deal of time and energy helping her aging parents. She is diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Her doctor informs her that the standard treatment recommendation for her type of cancer is surgery, hormone treatment, and potentially radiation. This diagnosis rattles Kristi. She fears a poor prognosis and worries about not being around for her children, and not being able to help her parents. She has a genetic predisposition towards forming blood clots, so she is very concerned about the blood clotting risk of hormone treatments. She is also anxious about the potential side effects of radiation, including heart damage. Kristi and her family meet with an Ardynn advocate and discuss her diagnosis, prognosis, treatment goals, and personal preferences. Her advocate helps her understand her pathology reports and the side effects associated with each potential treatment option. Kristi’s advocate walks her through the outcomes data for other people her same age, sex, race, and overall health status, with the same type of cancer. Following the meeting, the advocate prepares a report for Kristi to share with her family and care team. With this information, Kristi can see her prognosis is favorable and many of her fears are alleviated — and she is better able to focus on her goals and preferences for treatment.

Outcomes for people like me

Kristi’s Ardynn advocate prepares a report to share with him, which includes outcomes for people like Kristi. This data – and insights derived from it – are unique to Ardynn, and helped Kristi feel confident in moving forward.

Information about Kristi

Diagnosis: Breast Cancer
Age: 46
Sex: F
Race/Ethnicity: White
Comorbidity Score: Moderate
Histology: Lobular-Ductal
T (Primary): T1
N (Regional): N0
M (Distant): M0
ER: Positive
HER: Negative
PR: Positive

Real-world survival outcomes for people like Kristi

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Survival Curve	After 1 yr	After 2 yrs	After 3 yrs	After 4 yrs	After 5 yrs
Total population The purple line depicts estimated survival for similar individuals	100%	99%	98%	98%	97%
Similar patients, same type of cancer, no treatment The teal line depicts estimated survival for similar individuals who did not receive treatment for their Breast Cancer.	98%	96%	94%	92%	90%
Treatment(s): Surgery, Radiation and Hormone Therapy The green line depicts estimated survival for similar individuals treated with surgery, radiation and hormone therapy.	99%	99%	98%	98%	97%
Treatment(s): Surgery and Hormone Therapy The yellow line depicts estimated survival for similar individuals treated with surgery and hormone therapy.	99%	99%	98%	97%	97%
Treatment(s): Surgery The red line depicts estimated survival for similar individuals treated with surgery.	99%	99%	98%	97%	97%
Treatment(s): Surgery, Radiation, Immunotherapy and Hormone Therapy The blue line depicts estimated survival for similar individuals treated with surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and hormone therapy.	99%	99%	98%	98%	97%

Treatment decision

Kristi and her care team decide on a conservative approach. Together they decide against radiation. They elect surgery and a reduced course of hormone therapy, mitigating her risk of blood clots, resulting in a lower risk of complication and the same 5-year survival rate.

During and after her treatment, Kristi’s advocate was and is still there for her — helping to connect her to the services and resources she needed, and continues to need, as a cancer survivor. More than five years after treatment, Kristi has not had a recurrence.

“There is no one right answer for treating cancer, but having access to Ardynn can empower patients to make treatment decisions that reflect their own best interests.” 

KRISTI