Michelle's Breast Cancer Story

In November 2025, at the age of 33 years old, I was told that there was a 95% chance that I had breast cancer from a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. 18 hours later, a breast surgeon at Mass General Cancer Center-Bethke met with me to explain the best and worst case scenario. Within two weeks, I was staged and diagnosed with Stage 2B ER+/PR+/HER2- breast cancer. I was immediately started on endocrine therapy while I waited for my double mastetcomy with lymph node removal and tissue expander reconstruction on January 22, 2026. I started 4 rounds of taxotere and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy at Dana Farber Cancer Institute on March 4th and completed my last chemotherapy on May 5th. Two weeks later, I started radiation at Mass General Cancer Center-Bethke and completed the 16 rounds on June 9th, exactly 6 months from the day of my diagnosis. I rang the bell on June 9th and I am officially with no evidence of disease and in remission.

My 10 year maintenance treatment plan includes daily letrozole, a monthly injection of lupron, 2 years of Verzenio (a CDK 4/6 targeted therapy), and a Zometa infusion once every 6 months for three years.

I wouldn't have been able to make it through any of this without all of you...

• The many doctors, nurses, and medical assistants who rerranged their schedules and rushed to my side when I was diagnosed and for anything that I needed...
• The social workers who ensured that I was able to build a support system quickly and help me find resources...
• My manager, colleagues, and upper management at work who have only been supportive, understanding, and patient with everything that I've gone through and never given up on me..
• The administration and the many parents at my kids' school who have helped my kids keep a normal routine and experience where the focus has been on learning and friends
• My family, especially Matt, Chiara, Elio, and my Aunt Annette, who were there for me through every step of this process: the many appointments, the surgery, the recovery, the chemotherapy sessions, the white blood cell injections, the blood draws...you name it...
• All the family and friends who arranged meal trains and provided financial support while my husband was searching for new work...
• My friends who helped me cope with the trauma and scan/blood draw anxiety from this experience and who ensured that I kept living through this...
• The Dear Jack Foundation for choosing me as a Lifelist recipient
• The Ellie Fund for the financial support for groceries
• The Joe Andruzzi Foundation who helped support with groceries and a mortgage payment while managing cancer related bills
• The Hair to Stay Foundation for the grant for coldcapping to keep my hair to maintain some normalcy for my kids
• Cleaning for a Reason who has helped me and my family keep up with household cleaning
• And all the other foundations who gave me gift cards and sent care boxes

I walk for all those affected by breast cancer, but especially..

• The Breast Cancer Survivors who mentored and supported me through this diagnosis (Gretchen, Courtney, Monique, my Grandmother, my Sister-In-Law's Mom)
• All of my young adult friends battling early stage breast cancer (Amanda, Bobbie, Carolyn, Katey Sue, Liz, Skye, Stephanie, Alessia, Christina, Hannah, Jess, Libby, and Mayra)
• All those I know who have helped me through my early stage diagnosis and are now battling metastatic breast cancer (Jill, Kate, and Bethany)

I walk in remembrance of...

• Maria McKenna (my best friend, Brianna's, Mom who passed away from metastatic breast cancer in July 2024)

Breast Cancer Survivor Challenges

There is still so much more research to be done on personalizing breast cancer treatment for all those affected by this terrible disease. There needs to be more funding for identifying who can safely omit chemotherapy to lower their risk of cardiovascular disease. There needs to be more research for Stage IV to improve quality of life and ensure that there are more treatment lines continually available. There needs to be more support for young adults with breast cancer and for all the young moms fighting for their lives while keeping a normal routine and life for their children. There needs to be a cure, so that no one ever passes away from breast cancer.

Please consider donating to the Susan Komen Foundation in support of my walk against breast cancer. Team PTC, PTC will 100% match any donations to this fundraiser so please return the For Good site and ensure that "Donation for Michelle Bernasconi's MORE THAN PINK Massachusetts Walk" is mentioned in the non-profit notes.