Woman Overcomes Rare Breast Cancer and Finds New Strength After Double Mastectomy

Rasa Stonyte, a 38-year-old relocation manager from Flintshire, found a breast lump in mid-February 2025 and was initially reassured by her GP. An ultrasound and same-day biopsy at Glan Clwyd Hospital revealed a rare triple-negative invasive metaplastic ductal carcinoma with squamous differentiation. She began a three-month chemotherapy regimen, followed by self-administered immunotherapy that caused severe side effects, and later underwent a double mastectomy on October 23 after genetic testing identified a BRCA1 mutation.

Choosing not to have reconstruction, she felt “flat” but liberated. Early November scans showed no evidence of disease, and she now emphasizes outdoor activity, hiking with her partner William McManus and their dogs, as key to her recovery. Stonyte hopes her public account encourages early detection and highlights the role of exercise in improving breast-cancer outcomes.