Fresh Into Motherhood, a Young Mississippi Mom Discovers Lump In Her Breast on Her Daughter’s First Birthday, She Now Calls Self-Breast Exams ‘Part of My Mission’ as She Battles Breast Cancer

When Alice Long, 35, celebrated her daughter’s first birthday, a moment meant for pure joy was suddenly overshadowed by fear when she felt a lump in her breast.

The year that followed forced her to confront the emotional weight of becoming a breast cancer patient and endure the grueling treatment that came with it. However, in the midst of it all, Long found herself surrounded by an unexpected army of supporters — family, friends, and strangers — who helped her stay focused on her north star: reaching remission for her little girl.

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A post shared by Alice Long (@happilygiftedbyalice)

“It was the most heartbreaking news I have ever gotten, especially given the day,” Long told WAPT news, recalling the moment she realized the lump didn’t belong.

“I immediately knew it wasn’t supposed to be there… it was just the feeling that the world had stopped.”

Despite no family history of breast cancer, Long was diagnosed with stage 1 estrogen receptor–positive (ER+), HER2‑negative breast cancer with a mutant ESR1 gene.

During diagnosis, doctors test for tumor “markers” — estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 — to understand what fuels the cancer and guide treatment.

WATCH: Tumor Markers in Breast Cancer Testing

“The next step is to look at receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2,” explains Dr. Yara Abdou of UNC Lineberger.

These markers help determine whether hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or chemotherapy will be most effective.

Long’s treatment plan included a bilateral mastectomy (also called a double mastectomy, which is the removal of both breasts) followed by breast reconstruction with tissue expanders.

After breast cancer surgery, Long said in an Instagram post that her “Final pathology came back with clear margins and zero lymph node involvement.”

“However, the grade of the tumor was at a higher risk for recurrence, so chemotherapy.”

Long went on to complete 16 rounds of chemo to reduce the chance of the cancer returning.

 

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A post shared by Alice Long (@happilygiftedbyalice)

Throughout treatment, Long leaned heavily on her family, her faith, and the online breast cancer community. She shared vulnerable moments publicly, including losing her hair, with the hope that her honesty might help someone else feel less alone.

“This is the reality of cancer,” she wrote. “If even one person who sees this feels less alone or more hopeful, then it’s worth every ounce of fear.”

“As overwhelming as it all was, having a treatment plan in place gave us something solid to hold onto. We knew what we were up against, and more importantly, how we were going to BEAT IT,” Long explained in an Instagram post which detailed her cancer journey.

A year later, when her daughter turned two, Long was able to celebrate as a cancer survivor. She had reached remission, meaning there were no signs of cancer.

“Part of my mission is self‑breast exams,” she said. “Early detection really does save lives.”

Coping With Chemotherapy Side Effects for Breast Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, healthy cells are also impacted in the process, leading to side effects.

Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.

“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” says Dr. Urban. Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:

• Weakness in the hands or feet
• Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
• Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
• Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the lining of the stomach, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.

“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications,” says Dr. Urban. “We also ensure that patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment.”

Hair loss is another side effect of chemotherapy.

WATCH: Coping with hair loss.

“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.

Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.

It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells but also hair cells.

Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible that when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.

Tips for Navigating Chemo Side Effects

When dealing with fatigue, doctors don’t have an arsenal of weapons to combat fatigue in terms of prescription medications. However, you can do several things to help minimize the hit and restore your energy.

• Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Although ovarian cancer is not common, we often draw upon the experience of patients with breast cancer and colon cancer, who have shown that physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
• Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
• Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.

Treating Neuropathy Symptoms

Doctors have several strategies for helping patients deal with this side effect. Once a patient begins experiencing the symptoms of neuropathy, they’ll be carefully monitored to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Before each chemotherapy infusion, the attending oncologist will assess whether the symptoms have progressed. If the symptoms worsen, they may adjust the dose or delay treatment. They may also try switching to another chemotherapy drug.

How to Get a Handle on Nausea

Most of these anti-nausea medications last for more than eight hours. One of the infusions commonly used reduces the degree of nausea for up to three days.

Complementary approaches may also be helpful. A few favorites:

• Ginger: Studies consistently show that ginger helps alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea. The powerful herb appears to have an anti-spasmodic effect on the gut. Not a fan of raw ginger? Suck on ginger candy, sip ginger ale, or make a steaming cup of ginger tea.
• Pressure bracelets: at your local pharmacy, these bracelets provide consistent pressure on a particular acupressure point on the wrist to reduce nausea.
• Deep breathing: Moving air in and out of your lungs with a few deep breaths can help relieve nausea, particularly if you pair deep breathing exercises with meditation. It can also help you relax and release stress and anxiety.

WATCH: Managing chemo side effects.

Coping with Hair Loss

If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things.

Another option that can minimize hair loss is cryotherapy, “just a fancy way for saying cold therapy,” says Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Cryotherapy involves wearing cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment.

Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams

Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual, like a lump, does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.

For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like, so if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.

Below are common symptoms to look out for:

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
• Any change in the size or shape of the breast
• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Skin dimpling or peeling
• Breast or nipple pain
• Nipple turning inward
• Redness or scaliness of the breast or nipple skin
• Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding

When to Screen for Breast Cancer

The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.

The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.

WATCH: When you’re getting a mammogram, ask about dense breasts.

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.

Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.

Better Understanding Breast Cancer Surgery

Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, says there are a number of factors to weigh when considering a mastectomy, chief among them is whether breast-conserving surgery (or lumpectomy) is possible. Your doctor will look at the size and features of your tumor as well as your family history in order to make a recommendation.

“When I talk to a woman who comes to me and she has breast cancer, I evaluate what the standard options for treatment for her are, which typically include cutting out the cancer– which is either a lumpectomy if you can get it all with just a little scooping around of the area that’s abnormal or a mastectomy for some women meaning taking the full breast because sometimes these lesions can be very extensive in the breast,” Dr. Partridge explains.

If you’ve had a mastectomy, breast reconstruction is one of the major issues to consider. There are several options available. The reconstruction process can happen at the time of the surgery to remove the breast or later on in the case of implants.

Some women opt for no reconstruction, but decide later on that they want reconstruction to restore a sense of self, or simply get back to the way they used to look.

WATCH: Breast Reconstruction: Regaining Your Sense of Self

“Breast reconstruction is about restoring both a woman’s form and her sense of self,” explains Dr. Andrea Pusic, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. It’s a deeply personal decision, and today’s surgical options can create breasts that look natural and real.

Immediate reconstruction can produce better results than delayed reconstruction, resulting in fewer surgeries. However, it may require a more extended initial hospitalization and recovery time. This long surgery may also have a higher risk of complications, such as infections, than two separate surgeries.

It may be worth noting that “Delayed reconstruction has fewer complications than immediate reconstruction,” Dr. Terry Myckatyn, a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction, told SurvivorNet.

When implants are used, the procedure can take two to three hours (so the total surgery time would be around five hours). During reconstruction, one can also take one’s own tissue (usually from the belly area) and transfer it to the breast area.

After breast cancer surgery, women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer may also need chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy.

Dr. Myckatyn emphasizes that the process is collaborative: “It’s a shared decision-making process between the patient and the physician. The patient needs to advocate for herself and make her goals clear. The physician needs to provide clear, logical, evidence-based explanations for their recommendations.”

WATCH: How some women may keep their breast size and shape in cancer surgery.

Plastic surgeons typically reconstruct breasts using either implants or tissue taken from another part of the body—such as the back, abdomen, or inner thigh.

This tissue-based approach, known as a flap procedure, often produces breasts that look and feel more natural than implants and can change with your body over time, for example, with weight gain or loss.

However, flap procedures involve more extensive surgery, longer recovery, and additional scarring—both at the breast and at the donor site. They may also weaken muscles where tissue is taken, and not all patients are candidates.

Women who smoke or have certain health conditions, such as poorly controlled diabetes, circulation problems, or connective tissue disorders, may not be eligible.

Implant-based reconstruction usually requires fewer surgeries, smaller incisions, and less scarring, allowing for a quicker return to daily life. The trade-off is that implants don’t adapt to body changes, which can make them look less natural over time. Implants also carry risks of leakage or rupture, which would require replacement.

Every surgical option comes with risks. Understanding those risks—and weighing them against your personal goals—is essential before making a decision.

Another aspect of breast cancer surgery involves the possibility of sparing the nipple.

WATCH: Understanding Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies

During a nipple-sparing mastectomy, doctors use special techniques to remove a woman’s breast, leaving the skin and the nipple intact. The idea is to maintain, as close as possible anyway, the natural look of the breast.

After a mastectomy, a plastic surgeon will use either an implant or the woman’s own tissue to recreate the breast. When a woman’s own tissue is used, doctors typically take it from fat in the patient’s lower abdomen.

“Nipple-sparing mastectomy, or nipple-preserving mastectomy, differentiates itself from the traditional mastectomy where the nipple was not saved,” Dr. Irene Wapnir, a surgical oncologist and breast surgeon at Stanford University Medical Center, explains to SurvivorNet.

“It’s the ideal procedure for those women who choose to have prophylactic mastectomy who don’t yet have breast cancer, who will choose that route because they have a strong family history of breast cancer, or if they’ve been tested and are a carrier of a mutation, a gene mutation, that predisposes them to a much higher risk of developing breast cancer,” Dr. Wapnir explains.

“Restoring sensation to the breast is really the final frontier of reconstruction,” says Dr. Dung Nguyen, Director of Breast Reconstruction at Stanford’s Women’s Cancer Center.

She is pioneering a technique that preserves key sensory nerves during mastectomy, allowing surgeons to later reconnect—or neurotize—the patient’s own nipple and skin. The goal, Dr. Nguyen explains, is to give patients a far better chance of regaining sensation after surgery.

Helping You With Questions For Your Doctor

To further help you on your cancer journey, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.” Not only can this powerful resource help you come up with helpful questions to ask your care team for an upcoming appointment, but it also offers so much more.

WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care

This powerful resource, embedded across the SurvivorNet website, was built to bridge that gap by offering on-demand explanations of treatment options, clinical trials, side effects, insurance concerns, and more.

Users can ask questions conversationally, either by typing or using their voice, and receive answers tailored to their individual profiles. If patients don’t know where to start, we provide prompt questions to get them started.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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