The Zigs and Zags — Surgery, Treatment, and Finding My Voice

What happens after the diagnosis?

In this episode of My Breast Cancer Advocate, Jill Frank shares what came next after transferring her care to MD Anderson—the surgery, the repeat testing, the treatment decisions, and the emotional pivots no one truly prepares you for.

From undergoing a mastectomy and navigating reconstruction decisions to interpreting her Oncotype DX score of 9, Jill walks listeners through the complex reality of Stage 2B, ER/PR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. She opens up about choosing hormone therapy over chemotherapy and radiation—and the quiet emotional weight that comes with choosing less treatment based on data.

This episode explores:

• Why second opinions matter
• The difference between stage and tumor biology
• What the Oncotype DX test really predicts
• The psychological burden of treatment decisions
• Why “more treatment” isn’t always better treatment
• The critical difference between local recurrence and distant metastasis

Jill also shares the unexpected moment years later when cancer returned—locally, in the skin and chest wall after mastectomy—and the powerful advocacy lesson that followed.

Breast cancer is rarely a straight line. It’s full of zigs and zags.
And sometimes finding your voice is the most important part of the journey.

Because knowledge is power—and advocacy makes all the difference.

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