Hi, I’m Dorian De Salvo. I have stage 2A breast cancer that is triple positive. My message for others going through this is to hang in there. It’s a long road—so far it’s been about nine months, and there are still a few more to go. Your hair will come back, and you are still beautiful no matter what you think. The key is to stay yourself as much as possible, keep doing normal things, and stay close to the people who matter to you.
About two years before my diagnosis, I started gaining weight—around 20 pounds—even though I was very active, working out five to six times a week and eating well. I went to my doctor to figure out what was going on, thinking it might be thyroid issues or something similar. My concerns were dismissed, and I was told I was just gaining weight. I later found a different doctor who worked with athletes, and after some blood tests, he mentioned that some of my markers could possibly indicate cancer, though he wasn’t sure. That stayed in the back of my mind.
While traveling for work, I noticed a lump in my breast while showering. It was frightening, and I immediately began trying to get answers. I called doctors and imaging centers, but it took multiple attempts and delays before I could get the right tests ordered. After a mammogram, ultrasound, and a core biopsy, they found something concerning and checked my lymph nodes. At that point, I knew it was likely cancer, even though no one had officially said it yet.
Shortly after, I met with a patient advocate at CPMC who had survived breast cancer. I brought a friend with me. When I was given the diagnosis, I cried, and so did my friend. From there, I began learning about staging and treatment. I was diagnosed as stage 2A, which I initially tried to process by thinking of it as “better” within the staging scale, even though I didn’t fully understand what that meant.
Everything started moving quickly after that. Within about five days, I had a surgery consultation, MRI, echocardiogram, port placement, and met with my oncologist. It was overwhelming, and I learned to take things one step at a time. Chemo is a scary word, and I thought about how treatments have improved over time. I felt confident in my medical team because they were direct, knowledgeable, and didn’t sugarcoat things.
My chemotherapy sessions typically took several hours. I would sit in the infusion center with friends, work during treatment, and speak with my oncologist about what to expect. The treatment plan involved multiple drugs given in sequence. While the first day after chemo was usually manageable, the following days brought side effects like nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and difficulty focusing. Over time, I also experienced memory issues, loss of taste, and increased exhaustion. However, I had better days during the second and third weeks of each cycle.
Chemo affected my appearance as well. I lost my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Losing my hair was especially difficult because it felt like a visible sign of illness. At around two weeks into treatment, I started losing hair rapidly. Eventually, with support from friends, I shaved my head. That experience was emotional but also helped me cope by taking control of the situation.
Despite the challenges, I continued working throughout treatment. Staying busy helped me avoid focusing entirely on the disease. My treatments were carefully monitored, including regular scans and tests to track progress. Eventually, I had a complete response to chemotherapy, meaning the tumor was no longer detectable before surgery.
Surgery involved a guided procedure to locate the tumor, followed by removal. Fortunately, they were able to remove all margins, and no cancer was found in my lymph nodes. Recovery involved physical therapy and regaining mobility, but overall the surgery was successful.
Afterward, I continued with additional treatments, including targeted therapy and ongoing infusions. Since my cancer is hormone-driven, I also started long-term hormone-blocking therapy, which I will need to continue for many years. These treatments help prevent recurrence by blocking estrogen, which fuels my type of cancer.
Throughout this process, I’ve learned the importance of advocating for yourself. Early on, delays in getting the right diagnosis could have made things worse. If you feel something is wrong, it’s important to keep pushing for answers and seek care elsewhere if needed.
This experience has changed how I view life. I care less about small things and focus more on what matters. I’ve learned to appreciate experiences, live more freely, and not take things for granted. Working during treatment, staying active, and trying to maintain normalcy have all helped me cope.
I encourage others to use available resources, try different support options, and make decisions that feel right for them. Everyone’s journey is different, and you have to find what works best for your situation. If you get the answers and support you need, you’re on the right path. If not, keep searching until you do.
