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USA Today
31-07-2025
- Health
- USA Today
This 25-year-old survived breast cancer. Now, she's dealing with menopause.
Alexis Klimpl felt an itch. So, like anyone else, she went to scratch it. But her fingers curled around something else. A massive lump on her right breast. About a year ago, the now 25-year-old was laying in bed with her boyfriend and immediately shot up. Her face dropped. "What?" he asked, naively. "There's literally a lump on my boob," she said. They felt it – maybe it's a bone? It was hard. But if it were a bone, could you move it around in a circle? Was it a cyst? A benign lump? Or ... Breast cancer. Maybe it's breast cancer. At 24 years old. The diagnosis that affects more than 300,000 women each year in the U.S. More than 40,000 women die of it every year. Klimpl is one of the 300,000 – and one of a growing number of women under 40 diagnosed with breast cancer in recent years. But she's now also one of the 4 million survivors living in the U.S., too. Breast cancer treatment and side effects, including menopause Klimpl lives in San Diego but is a Hawaii native. She's at peace in the water and loves to surf. A beach trip to Indonesia she'd been planning was scheduled for a few days after first feeling that lump. With the travel planned, the money spent, she pressed on. The lump grew and grew. Once she returned, diagnostics confirmed it. Her doctor had a difficult time telling her, trying to reassure her and explaining it was very rare. "She kept looking at my mom more so than me, as if she was the patient," Klimpl says. "It's still relatively uncommon," says Dr. Eric Winer, director of the Yale Cancer Center, of breast cancer in young people, "but it is a concern that it's going up at all, and that, of course, is not because of screening, because we don't screen young patients like this, and we don't really understand the cause." Mammography alone for younger women under 40 may not be as effective due to denser breast tissue. But why are multiple cancers increasing in young people? No one knows for sure. "The increased incidence of breast cancer and the early onset is a serious concern and is likely multi-factorial," says Dr. Carmen Calfa, breast oncologist and medical co-director of the Survivorship Cancer Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System. "We need to make every effort to understand all risks factors (including genetics) and modify those that are modifiable." Klimpl collapsed in that patient room after receiving her diagnosis; she had already gone through enough grief after losing her father to bile duct cancer in 2017. "All I could think about was how he was feeling, and how people similar to that feel, and what goes through their mind," she says, recalling his terminal illness. But Klimpl wasn't terminal. She had triple positive breast cancer, meaning her tumor cells included estrogen, progesterone and a higher number of HER2 receptors. This kind of cancer would be receptive to hormone therapy, and it was only stage 2. Not the earliest stage, but not the worst. Consultations with a plastic surgeon, radiologist and oncologist followed. Freezing her eggs was a priority because chemotherapy could ruin her chances of fertility and natural birth. She laments the process – injections aimed at growing your ovaries to produce more eggs. You look like you're pregnant, mood swings rattle your brain, the emotional toll. Poking, prodding, blood draw after blood draw. Cheotherapy (Taxotere and Carboplatin) and hormone drugs (Herceptin and Perjeta) came next, as well as cold capping to try to preserve her hair. Nausea consumed her during treatment. "I'm already a nauseous person, but this nausea was like the type that runs through your bones and your veins, like you just feel it everywhere, and no matter how many meds they give you. Nothing really helps," she says. A bad rash also dotted her face which depleted her self-esteem. She isolated herself to protect her immune system and grew stir-crazy. Plus, "I was losing my mind a little bit, not being able to be in the water." The medicines are indeed toxic, but incredible considering where scientists were decades ago. "We now think of breast cancer as being really a family of diseases, and we're able to name different types of breast cancer, all of which receive very different treatment," Winer says. "So our treatment is much more targeted, it's much more sophisticated." It's better to have more choices than fewer. "It's good for the patient, because the knowledge that we gained over three decades is really significant," says Dr. Naoto T. Ueno, director of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center. Surgery followed to removed her tumor and lymph nodes followed by a double mastectomy; even though she didn't have the BRCA or other breast cancer genes, she craved certainty. Now, she's on a hormone blocker likely for the next decade and going through menopause. For a 25-year-old going through it, resources are scarce. "With the menopause, the side effects are bone pain, hair loss, mood swings," she says. "So they're all pretty manageable, but that's just what it comes with." Anyone concerned about menopause symptoms after breast cancer can check out American Cancer Society tips. Klimpl's body will return to normal once she stops the hormone blocker and she can get pregnant if she so chooses. "I won't know if I'm able to carry my own baby until I try," she says, "There's nothing I want more than that, so I'm crossing my fingers for when the day comes." She's found connection on social media with others in similar situations, and that's encouraged her to speak out. But more than anything right now, she's been excited to surf. Breast cancer tips: 'If you feel a lump, don't ignore it' Anyone concerned about breast cancer should talk to health care providers and/or look for reputable information from sources like the American Cancer Society, and consider taking the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool. Calfa is glad Klimpl sought care. "If you feel a lump, don't ignore it," she says. "If someone says 'you are too young to have breast cancer,' please don't stop until your concerns (and) symptoms are fully and thoroughly evaluated." And remember, too, that "for patients who have stage 1 or stage 2 or 3 breast cancer, the goal of treatment is to get them to a state where they're cancer-free and hopefully they're never going to hear from that cancer again," Winer says. "Depending on a variety of prognostic features, we know that some people are at lower or greater risk of having a recurrence of breast cancer." And, "because of ongoing research and developments, even women with advanced cancer can live many many years with an excellent quality of life," adds Dr. Dawn Hershman, deputy director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University. Klimpl recently went to visit Hawaii and swam for the first time in the ocean since right before starting chemotherapy. A full-circle moment for her. The warm water on her skin, in her hair, letting go of worries. Grief overwhelmed her. "One of the things that made me feel closer to my dad was surfing and being in the water," she says, "because he's the one that taught me how to do all of that. And so I've had a really big disconnect, um, this past year from him, without being able to do that." When she finally surfed again in San Diego, a week or so later, goosebumps overwhelmed her body. The sun came out after clouds had covered the sky for weeks. "Interesting timing," she says. "Maybe it was my dad shining down?"
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RayStation used for pioneering clinical milestone at Helsinki University Hospital - first treatment with accelerator-based BNCT in Europe
STOCKHOLM, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) is pleased to announce that RayStation®*, its advanced treatment planning system, was used in the first European clinical treatments with Neutron Therapeutics' accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), carried out on a patient at Helsinki University Hospital in Finland. RayStation supports BNCT planning by its suite of tools for patient modelling, plan setup and plan evaluation. In addition, there are specific adaptations for use with the Neutron Therapeutics machine including seamless connection to the BNCT dose engine provided by Neutron Therapeutics. RayStation's BNCT capabilities have now been clinically proven in both Japanese and Finnish healthcare environments. The platform's flexibility and precision support individualized treatment planning and ensure optimal dose delivery, a critical requirement for BNCT where dose localization is vital to treatment success. The treatments were successfully conducted using Neutron Therapeutics' nuBeam® Suite, which integrates the neutron source, imaging, positioning, and treatment planning powered by RayStation. The Comprehensive Cancer Center at Helsinki University Hospital, with over 30 years of BNCT experience, is the first European center to deploy this technology. The patients treated are the first in an ongoing clinical trial aimed at demonstrating the safety and efficacy of BNCT for patients with inoperable, locally recurrent head and neck cancer. Mikko Tenhunen, Chief Medical Physicist, Head of Division, Professor, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, says: "BNCT is a very promising tool for obtaining new treatment options for the most challenging tumor types. With the comprehensive treatment planning software from RaySearch and dose calculation engine from Neutron Therapeutics we are able to, as the first center in the world, deliver image guided, 3D planned BNCT for our patients." Noah Smick, President and COO, Neutron Therapeutics, says: "RaySearch has been an invaluable partner in the establishment of in-hospital BNCT in Europe and Asia. We are proud to offer BNCT solutions incorporating BNCT treatment planning with RayStation and look forward to continued collaboration to expand access to BNCT globally." Johan Löf, founder and CEO, RaySearch, says: "We are proud to see RayStation in use at the forefront of BNCT clinical development, now in both Asia and Europe. Our collaboration with Helsinki University Hospital and Neutron Therapeutics is part of our work to improve cancer treatment through innovative technology and partnerships." About Helsinki University Hospital The Comprehensive Cancer Center at Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) is Finland's largest and most versatile cancer treatment facility, annually treating approximately 15,500 adult cancer patients. It is the first center in the Nordic countries to receive accreditation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center from the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). The center is renowned for its multidisciplinary approach, integrating clinical care, research, and education to provide personalized cancer treatment. It supports a wide range of clinical and translational research, encompassing early-phase studies to large-scale clinical trials in areas such as surgical oncology, radiation therapy, medical oncology, hematology, palliative care, and psychosocial aspects of cancer. The center is also recognized for its excellence in nursing, having been awarded Magnet recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, placing it among the top institutions globally for nursing quality and patient care. HUS is one of the largest and most advanced healthcare providers in Finland. Established as a joint authority in 2000, it serves the Uusimaa region and includes over 20 hospitals. HUS is a teaching and research hospital affiliated with the University of Helsinki and employs over 27,000 professionals. It offers all major medical specialties, including organ transplants, neurosurgery, oncology, and pediatrics. Each year, HUS handles more than 2.5 million outpatient visits, making it a cornerstone of Finnish healthcare. For more information: Helsinki University Hospital. About RaySearch RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) is a medical technology company that develops innovative software solutions for improved cancer treatment. RaySearch markets the RayStation®* treatment planning system (TPS) and the oncology information system (OIS) RayCare®*. The most recent additions to the RaySearch product line are RayIntelligence® and RayCommand®*. RayIntelligence is an oncology analytics system (OAS) which enables cancer clinics to collect, structure and analyze data. RayCommand, a treatment control system (TCS), is designed to link the treatment machine and the treatment planning and oncology information systems. RaySearch's software has been sold to over 1,100 clinics in 47 countries. The company was founded in 2000 as a spin-off from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and the share has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 2003. More information is available at About RayStation RayStation®* is a flexible, innovative treatment planning system, chosen by many leading cancer centers worldwide. It combines unique features such as unmatched adaptive therapy capabilities, multi-criteria optimization, market-leading algorithms for treatment plan optimization for HDR brachytherapy and external beam therapy with photons, electrons, and protons, as well as helium and carbon ions. RayStation supports a wide range of treatment machines, providing one control center for all treatment planning needs and ensuring centers get greater value from existing equipment. RayStation also seamlessly integrates with RayCare®*. By harmonizing the treatment planning, the care of cancer patients worldwide is improved. * Subject to regulatory clearance in some markets. For more information, please contact:Johan Löf, founder and CEO, RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) Telephone: +46 (0) 8 510 530 00 Learn more about us on:LinkedInYouTube This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: RaySearch Press Release June 16, 2025 Press-release-1200x620Neutron Hus View original content: SOURCE RaySearch Laboratories Sign in to access your portfolio
