Roxann’s journey through breast cancer over the past 2.5 years is an awe-inspiring testament to her extraordinary resilience and unwavering self-advocacy.
Diagnosed in the fall of 2022 with stage 3 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) and stage 1 LCIS in her left breast, and stage 1 of three different breast cancers in her right breast, she faced a relentless battle. In 2023, she received the devastating news that the cancer had invaded the skin of her left breast, moving her to stage IV ILC.
Despite the odds, Roxann has bravely endured eight surgeries, including a bilateral mastectomy, another cancer removal surgery, and multiple reconstruction procedures.
She chose an unconventional treatment path, opting out of chemo, radiation, and hormone-suppressing drugs, instead embracing science-backed supplements and an off-label non-toxic medication, and several new additional supplements introduced in June 2024. Three months later, in September 2024, her Breast MRI showed No Evidence of Disease (NED), although several skin biopsies still showed positive for ILC.
Continuing on her self-developed protocol, as of February 2025, she has conquered 90% of her cancer, with three out of four skin biopsies now showing NED. She is resolutely committed to achieving complete No Evidence of Disease (NED) and is set to have the final positive biopsy site excised in mid-February, with the goal of achieving complete NED.
Roxann’s remarkable progress is a testament to her relentless research, aided by her close friends, and the personalized cancer protocol she developed from her findings.
Her journey is a beacon of hope, lighting the way for countless women on their own breast cancer journeys. Roxann is steadfast in her mission to revolutionize breast care, breast cancer treatment, and the reconstruction process for women everywhere. Her unwavering dedication aims to inspire other women to advocate for themselves and receive the treatments they desire and deserve.
In a bold move to inspire and build trust, Roxann has courageously decided to publish her medical records that include her MRI and biopsy reports and her bloodwork over the last 2.5 years.. By sharing her journey so transparently, she demonstrates that her diagnosis and treatment success are real, encouraging others to believe in the possibility of their own recovery.
Roxann’s story is not just one of survival but of empowerment and hope, inspiring women to take control of their health and futures.
If you are an oncologist, primary care physician or other medical professional seeking access to Roxann’s medical records or imaging, please email us at [email protected] with your request and contact information. We will respond within 72 hours.
Roxann’s Breast Cancer Journey Timeline
It all began with that dreaded letter: “Suspicious findings on your mammogram. Return for more imaging.” I was going to ignore it, but the next day, my nephew called. He casually mentioned my estranged sister’s recent breast cancer recurrence and bilateral mastectomy. Chills ran down my spine. I couldn’t ignore that letter. The next day, I called for the appointment. “The soonest we can see you is six weeks.” The wait was very stressful.
Finally, the day of my re-imaging arrived. The radiologist’s expression darkened. “Get to the breast surgeon immediately for a biopsy order,” she urged. “Don’t wait a week, go now!” Two more agonizing weeks for the biopsy appointment, then another two excruciating weeks for pathology results. The wait was torturous. Then came the insurance denials—ugh! The first surgeon’s office botched my insurance, blamed me, and billed me $650, which I didn’t pay. Had to find another breast surgeon. The nightmare continued.
Interviewed 5 breast surgeons and 3 plastic surgeons—most were uncaring and uninformative. Completely overwhelmed despite being a very decisive person, but my closest friends were my saviors. New diagnosis: Bilateral Breast Cancer in both breasts with 3 different types and several precancerous tumors, all at the same time! Had to inform my boss and HR I was Stage 3 and needed 90 days of FMLA leave. Discovered I didn’t qualify for CA state SDI as a federal employee, meaning zero income during FMLA. Spent a lot of $$ on gas driving to LA—2 hours each way. Resilience and unwavering determination kept me going. 💪✨
NSM was complex, requiring a “Pre-mastectomy” Nipple Delay Surgery and sentinel lymph node removal—more surgery and emotional trauma. HR drama continued, and I needed help at home for months. Numerous exhausting post-op appointments in LA added to the challenge. Living alone, I fought for my life while managing surgery, home care, and finances—it was overwhelming. I can’t imagine how women without my resolve do it; even with my BossLady personality, I barely handled it. Perseverance lit my way. 💪✨
2 days in hospital. I lost my left NAC, surgeon didn’t tell me prior although she knew it. Then 2 weeks later – Post Op Infection, right breast. Required another surgery: expander + scar tissue all removed, 2 weeks of antibiotics. Plastic Surgeon blamed ME, said she never had a patient with an infection like this – LIE! More research showed 30% infection rate after Mastectomy. This PS is terrible – but I’m locked in now, too late – what to do now??
I asked her – where’s my ONCO DX results? She said I didn’t have one & tried to start me on Chemo. I refused & insisted on the test. Results showed it wouldn’t have worked on my cancer anyway – WTF?? 1st PetScan – no metastasis. Breast Surgeon advised working from home because of compromised immune system. Sent letter to HR asked for accommodations. . HR Director pretended to be trying dragging her feet. Started Lymphedema massage – 3x a week to prevent Lymphedema.
Messaged the breast surgeon with pics of my left breast skin not healing, fearing cancer. She said it wasn’t (later found out it was). She didn’t recommend skin biopsies, despite knowing ILC in the skin is sneaky. Showed the PS too—same response. My magnetic expanders prevented an MRI, delaying discovery for 10 months. It seemed they wanted me uninformed to pressure me into standard treatments, constantly urging radiation. I refused and applied for unemployment. My determination remained unshaken. 💪✨Resilience is a beacon of hope! 🚀
Fired – refused my accommodation request. Contacted an employment rights attorney – yes it’s legal. WTF?? again. Unemployment was denied due to my WFH restriction, even though its ordered by my Dr. & despite most state employees working from home. EDD appeal hearing scheduled in March. Money is terrifyingly tight.
Financial stress …several months wait for a decision, yikes!
SDI – not eligible; SSDI denied. Financial Emergency on the horizon. I’m paralyzed with fear over my finances. How am I supposed to focus on my cancer healing when I’m not sure how I am going to pay my bills.
My housing crisis looms large, sending waves of panic. As a Gold Star Mother, I turned to my local Veterans Center in desperation. They contacted brilliant thinker who showered me with actionable ideas. He suggested two non-profits—one from my community created an immediate plan to bridge the gap, and the other one who could provide a longer term solution. My resolve is growing. 💪
GSM a non-profit supporting Gold Star Mothers, became my lifesaver. They bridged my housing needs while I awaited my unemployment appeal—a months-long process. GSM was an absolute angel. The grant process was simple, and their office staff guided me effortlessly, providing a glimmer of hope in a sea of anxiety. This journey is a test of my resilience and strength. 💪✨
I won my unemployment appeal on August 1 after eight grueling months! And My July Exchange Surgery + Fat Grafting was rescheduled for this month. Scrambling to arrange transportation. Endured a terrible anesthesia experience this surgery, blacked out for days despite my no-narcotic cocktail in my chart. Unknowingly given narcotics in recovery. My outer circle of friends began to fade away at this point and assistance is becoming harder to get. I’m overwhelmed by that.Yet, I remain resilient and determined. 💪✨
No MRIs with expanders due to magnets, and I waited for post-op inflammation to subside. Halloween MRI brought terrifying news: ILC recurrence in my left breast skin. More surgery in the same spot as January. I was right; it was cancer. My research team and I doubled down on non-toxic alternatives. Despite doctors’ pressure for radiation, I outwardly agreed but stood firm, honoring my boundaries.My resolve remains unshaken. 💪✨
I was right back in January, I did have cancer in my breast skin! 10 months to diagnose me. I am sooo angry. My breast surgeon was rude and tried to pressure me into radiation, I pretended to relent, but only to get the skin excised ASAP. Decided not to return to her past my post-op. Then, my original PS didn’t want me as a patient anymore and referred me to another PS – fine by me! I like the new PS much better. Scheduled 2nd tag team mastectomy with a new PS who respected my wishes. Added Ivermectin and other cancer-fighting supplements to my protocol. My resolve remains unshaken. 💪✨
All reconstruction gone from my left breast and the bottom pole of skin removed—starting over with a new expander by a new PS. I consulted with a Radiation Oncologist. After completing new research still have the same opinion – Hell NO, too many quality of life side effects. My new PCP urged me to see a second Medical Oncologist. That Dr declared me Stage IV and demanded I agree to chemotherapy drugs and hormone suppressing drugs, all with a rude demeanor. Hello NO again. Her office called me incessantly to have nuclear medicine tests done. I never answered their calls or went back. My resilience and determination remain unbroken. 💪✨
She relentlessly pressured me to undergo radiation – completely disrespecting my boundaries.. Trying a new one, despite the distance. Facing lymphedema issues—pain, swelling, despite frequent massages. Discovered my new PS is a SuperMicro Surgeon specializing in LVB surgery – he even wrote a book on it! Furious to learn I could’ve had LVB preventatively during my mastectomy. My resolve remains unshaken. 💪✨
My PET scan: No Evidence of Disease (NED). Breast ultrasound by the new surgeon: NED. Second left breast exchange surgery: magnet expander swapped for silicone implant. Exchange surgery plus LVB on my left arm, hand and my left leg. Moving forward with unwavering strength! Lymphoscintigraphy test for Lymphedema done earlier this month,see test – shows I have a blockage in both my left arm and left leg (leg is from lipo surgery in August 2023, exchange surgery with fat grafting). January 2025 SOZO Lymphedema test included here also shows its success! No one ever told me there was such a test. Go figure. So happy I found this surgery 💪
Damn it! The new also surgeon pushed radiation even though I originally declined and asked him not to push this on me. After researching side effects, I refused traditional radiation. Desperate, I rallied my friend researchers. We discovered several non-toxic, off-label protocols, including one effective for DCIS breast cancer in the skin. Combining the best from each, keeping Ivermectin and Fenbenzadole, I created my own protocol. Started it on June 18, 2024. Acquired an Integrative Medicine PCP for Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), which has almost no side effects. I decided I want to die and I’m not dying from this. Had LVB surgery on my left leg.
6 weeks after starting it I had a Stable MR – I’m thrilled! My labs show ZERO breast cancer tumor markers. CEA level is slightly elevated, but all other blood work is normal. Unfortunately, I’ve developed Nasal Valve Collapse, making it hard to breathe and sleep well at night. A procedure is needed, but my spirit remains strong! 💪✨
I discovered the lurking danger of PFAS chemicals, and pesticide contamination of my local water because I live near strawberry fields! For sure my water contributed to my cancer diagnosis in a big way AND to my recurrences. I took swift action and installed a whole-house carbon-filtered water system, with additional RO filters under my kitchen and bathroom sinks. These contaminates have been affecting my health and played a big part in my faulty immune system that allowed my body to grow breast cancer! When I learned about UPFs and their chemicals and low nutrition, I transformed my diet to 100% clean—zero UPFs and Organic sugar cane sugar for the little sugar I eat.! My dedication to my health and wellness is unwavering. 🌟💪✨
I’m over the moon with joy! I had to print the results and read them over & over again. Then my breast surgeon warned that skin biopsies often still show cancer after a clear MRI. Why didn’t he tell me earlier? I was and am very pissed off that this was kept from me. All he originally told me was that he did not want me to have fat grafting to my left breast until I had a clear MRI. He should l have told me then about the biopsy. Cancer patients certainly don’t need false hope. And sure enough, when I researched that specifically it showed there are no good tests for breast cancer i nthe skin, for diagnosing or surveilling. left breast skin biopsies were still positive. But this isn’t the end – we’re moving in the right direction, and I remained steadfast in my protocol, giving it more time to complete the job. I am determined and unstoppable, strength and perseverance are lighting my way! I will keep pushing forward to share my story of incredible resilience and hope.🌟 I decided right then to found BCA.
Had a second nasal valve collapse procedure with a new ENT to help me sleep because I am still struggling with sleep and feeling exhausted, but my spirit remains strong and determined. 🌟💪✨ Healing takes resilience, and I have it in spades! Empress Unlimited LLC was formally born, to own Breast Cancer Advocate (BCA). The decision was made to launch in January/February 2025, I am sharing my 2.5 years of research and vast knowledge about breast cancer. Women need this information, often knowing more about my cancer than my doctors! My relentless research will continue. I want my resilience and determination to truly inspire women everywhere! 🚀💖
Three of the 4 NED. Searching for a new breast surgeon again, not happy with the last one. My friend research group sent me a podcast that had multiple Drs on it – one happened to be a breast oncologist specialist who believes in off-label & alternative treatments and she is very knowledgeable about hormones also – and how they affect breast cancer. She is now my Medical Oncologist. I also went in search of another new breast surgeon. I need doctors who will tell me the whole story regarding this breast cancer as it pertains to me at any given time, not just what they want me to know and who will respect my treatment boundaries. I am open to anything that is effective and non-toxic, both short and long term.
My sleep study showed poor sleep hygiene – 69%, yikes – caused by 11 hypopena incidents during that night. Obviously the 2nd Nasal Valvee procedure did not work. Consulted a facial plastic surgeon, I need a complete reconstruction rhinoplasty on the inside, uugghh. But I have to sleep so I can heal completely from this cancer. And, so far so good with this new breast surgeon. She seems promising – eager to excise my diseased skin, tells it like it is and gives me her recommendations without pressuring me into them because they are all standard of care treatments. She wanted to re-biopsy the 4 the area from December that was positive. We did. Unfortunately,it came back positive without clean margins. She recommended a much larger re-excision to try and get clean margins. Scheduled it for mid-February.
I added redlight therapy to my cancer protocol – focusing on my breast skin that is showing positive for ILC. REsearch says its effective for skin cancer, maybe it will help my skin. My PCP says it certainly not going to hurt and he uses it himself so he’s confident it’s safe.
Skin Excision Biopsy Results:
Unfortunately life + other aging doesn’t stop because you were diagnosed with cancer. Saw the spine surgeon for my neck pain, this is definitely contributing to my sleep issues. He recommends a cervical epidural injection to test for surgery success. Got that done early February. Waiting for it to become effective – takes 2 weeks.
Had to have a septoplasty and nasal valve collapse surgery in the midst of all this breast cancer so I can breath properly, especially when trying to sleep! Other medical issues still persist even when you have breast cancer… have to take care of my entire body! Unfortunate nasal swelling complications made this recovery difficult on the heels of my final reconstruction surgery. Do I cancel it and wait another 6 months to reschedule with my surgeon?? I decided not – let’s just get it over with! Was that a bad decision? I don’t know yet. Stay tuned …
The complications from the septoplasty complicated this reconstruction surgery, ugghh! Should I have waited? I don’t know that dragging this out for another 6 months would be good for my mental health. Yes this is hard on my body – but which is worse, hard on the mind or the body??
May 5 I had my last breast reconstruction surgery (not including nipple reconstruction on my left breast). It was brutal – liposuction from my thighs and abdomen for fat grafting to my breasts. I am bruised from my collar bones to my knees! Very painful and complicated recovery. I hope its worth it in the end. My PS used DMSO for tissue perfusion during surgery which is also a cancer killer so I am hoping this added DMSO on the inside of my body will aid in killing the cancer cells on the inside. I had a pretty scary surgical complication – when I woke up in recovery my left arm was 100% paralyzed. My right arm was about 50% paralyzed. I had requested a chest block so I was I was really hoping it was related to that – if it was, it meant that the anesthesiologist made a mistake hitting a nerve, instead of putting the numbing medication in the space between them in my chest . Until 3am,s when I could start to feel the numbness wearing off I was pretty scared it might be permanent, yikes!! But all is well, whew, sigh. Then on top of that I had a medication reaction that made the surgery recovery really tough. It took until the end of the month to figure out but thankfully it’s over.
Now I have to wait 3 months for surgery inflammation to subside before I can have another breast MRI. This time I will go to San Diego to see a very well known breast imaging specialist for this MRI test and the next one because reading an MRI for breast cancer after fat grafting is very tricky — it takes a very experienced radiologist to get it right – not to miss cancer and not to misdiagnosis fat necrosis as cancer. I will also have all new blood work and left nipple reconstruction done in August! It will be a big month for me, and lots of medical information in my next updates for everyone!
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