{"id":91028,"date":"2026-06-08T14:45:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=91028"},"modified":"2026-06-08T14:45:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:45:40","slug":"young-woman-invasive-ductal-breast-cancer-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/young-woman-invasive-ductal-breast-cancer-diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Young woman rides waves of emotions after an invasive ductal breast cancer diagnosis at 36 while trying to start a family"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Kayla
Kayla Calkin celebrates as she rides a wive with First Descents, a nonprofit that provides special experiences to young people who are dealing with cancer. Photo by First Descents, courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In her fight against breast cancer, Kayla Calkin took on a new challenge.<\/p>\n

Surfing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSurfing is a really good allegory for cancer. You get hit by the waves, but you have no choice but to get up. I also wanted to try something I had never done before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayla took up the sport with the help of First Descents<\/a>, a Denver-based program for people under 40 with cancer or multiple sclerosis. With the group\u2019s help, she flew to the Outer Banks of North Carolina two years ago for rest and a break from health challenges. She had just finished chemotherapy and radiation treatments to fight stage 2 invasive ductal breast cancer, a type of breast cancer<\/a> that spreads from the milk ducts to the breast tissue and surrounding lymph nodes.<\/p>\n

The goal of First Descents is \u201cto empower you to live a life of adventure.\u201d That philosophy already had been Kayla\u2019s long-time mantra, and it gave her the opportunity to be surrounded by her cohorts \u2013 younger people like herself \u2013 whose lives had been turned upside down by their cancer diagnoses.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need a community when you are young and you get cancer. It is so disruptive to your life, and you need people who understand,\u201d Kayla said. \u201cI also liked First Descents because it has you actively doing something and not just sitting around being sad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither \u201csitting around\u201d nor \u201cbeing sad\u201d is part of Kayla\u2019s lexicon.<\/p>\n

\"Despite
Despite enduring breast cancer treatments, Kayla and her partner, Zac, have continued to live life to the fullest. Photo courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A natural organizer and advocate, the Denver resident has crisscrossed the country since she graduated from college, working on myriad political campaigns, including those of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. She also worked for progressive social justice organizations, including Planned Parenthood and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).<\/a><\/p>\n

Kayla moved to Denver in 2020 with her partner Zac, and the couple planned to start a family. Sadly, Kayla suffered two miscarriages. Then Kayla experienced an ectopic pregnancy<\/a> in January 2022. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg accidentally implants in other parts of the abdomen rather than the inner lining of the uterus.<\/p>\n

Although she had noticed a lump in her left breast a month prior to the ectopic pregnancy, emergency surgery to save her life and the trauma that followed during the following weeks put the concern about the lump on the back burner.<\/p>\n

\"Kayla
Kayla showed off her trademark positivity even on the day when she had to have surgery. She received care through the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Program at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. Photo courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But when Kayla woke up in February with her left armpit and surrounding lymph nodes swollen, she could no longer ignore this new health challenge. She booked a mammogram<\/a>, and later that month, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36.<\/p>\n

When Kayla decided where to seek care, she chose UCHealth<\/a> \u2013 because, as someone who appreciates structure and preparedness, it checked all the boxes important to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI liked how all the doctors and caregivers worked as a team. Everything was so well organized,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital<\/a> also is known for its premier Young Women\u2019s Breast Cancer Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Progressive causes and candidates are front and central to Kayla\u2019s ethos<\/strong><\/h2>\n

An \u201carmy brat,\u201d Kayla was born in Texas but grew up in Evergreen, Colorado. Always someone to take her health seriously, she skied on Team Breckenridge<\/a> and ran marathons as an adult.<\/p>\n

Her brother Chris said that his sister has been strong, resilient and focused as long as he can remember.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was valedictorian,\u201d Chris said. \u201cShe set the bar high: being focused and determined. She’s also very strongly opinionated and intelligent, so if she felt something was right, she pushed hard for it. She has truly been an amazing aunt to my son, even while going through chemo and radiation. She really loves doing things with, and for others, and gets immense satisfaction from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kayla,
Kayla, second from right, enjoyed doing a via ferrata course at Arapahoe Basin while undergoing cancer treatments. She enjoyed the adventure with her partner, Zac, right, and her brother, Chris second from left. Photo courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kayla received a bachelor\u2019s degree in women\u2019s studies and political science from Wellesley College and a master\u2019s degree in public policy and women\u2019s studies from George Washington University.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a big feminist, and I\u2019m really passionate about progressive rights and the importance of making your own decisions about your body,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

When faced with cancer, Kayla appreciated that her medical team always made sure she had a say in how to fight the battle. They talked with her about her fertility struggles, which became more complicated due to the cancer drugs she had to take.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important that young women know that they can safely conceive and have children after breast cancer treatment,\u201d said Dr. Jennifer Diamond,<\/a> Kayla\u2019s oncologist at the UCHealth Diane O\u2019Connor Thompson Breast Center in Aurora.<\/a> \u201cFor patients like Kayla, we make sure they always have that option.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayla\u2019s fight against breast cancer meant pausing her plans to have a baby<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While Kayla and Zac wanted to start a family, cancer drugs further complicated their fertility struggles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw my siblings and friends having kids, and it was so hard,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Kayla
Kayla and Zac were thrilled to welcome their son, Locke. Kayla struggled with infertility but was able to have her son even as she endured breast cancer treatments. Photo by Olivia McGuire, courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Breast cancer treatments typically plunge younger women into medical menopause. They also would throw a temporary wrench into Kayla\u2019s successful career working for the NRDC as its federal campaign director. She even had to cancel an invitation to visit the White House to celebrate the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act because she wasn\u2019t feeling well enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing in your 30s is a really weird time of your life to have cancer. At support groups, you would hear 70-year-olds talking about it, and while their story is still valid, you think, \u2018You\u2019ve had your life, your kids and your career,\u2019 but when you\u2019re younger, you haven\u2019t experienced as many of those things yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayla would eventually undergo two surgeries: a lumpectomy in her left breast along with the removal of two lymph nodes, and an additional procedure to remove 13 nearby lymph nodes, one of which had cancer.<\/p>\n

She also endured 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation. Along with launching her into menopause, side effects included extreme fatigue, nausea and weight loss. She also lost her hair. A case of meningitis landed her in the hospital, and she had to go through cancer treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made hospital stays and appointments even more complicated and frightening.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had really great support from her family,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cOn a personal level, she is a person who wants to make an impact in this world and be an advocate for others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breast cancer in young women and how UCHealth is countering a worrisome trend<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Breast cancer in young women is more tenacious and typically more dangerous than breast cancers that emerge later in life. Women ages 45 and younger account<\/a>\u00a0for about 10% of new cases of breast cancer in the U.S., according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Like 75% of young women diagnosed with breast cancer, Kayla had no family history of breast cancer or genetic predisposition.<\/p>\n

\"Kayla
Kayla with her newborn, Locke. Kayla was thrilled to be able to have her son, even as she endured cancer treatments. Photo courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Younger women have a higher mortality rate from breast cancer because it is usually not caught as early as in women who are 40 and older. That\u2019s because they generally receive annual mammogram screenings<\/a>. Also, breast cancer in younger women usually involves\u00a0more aggressive biological features<\/a>\u00a0than in older women. Doctors are currently researching why young women face more aggressive types of breast cancer.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, by the time a young woman notices a lump in her breast, it\u2019s usually more advanced than if providers catch cases of breast cancer during screenings.<\/p>\n

The UCHealth program for young women with breast cancer has been providing unique care since 2004 to women aged 45 and younger with breast cancer. Researchers are conducting ground-breaking research for younger women, with a strong focus on helping survivors live fully after a breast cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Kayla participated in a clinical trial called ISPY2<\/a> to look at new treatments to improve cancer outcomes for young women.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping it gives us the ability to eliminate live cancer cells before surgery,\u201d said Diamond, also a professor of medical oncology<\/a> at University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine.<\/a><\/p>\n

For Kayla, it was a chance for something positive to come from her bout with cancer.<\/p>\n

\"Kayla
Kayla cuddles with Locke. Photo by Olivia McGuire, courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cDr. Diamond suggested a study, and I knew I wanted to join. I wanted something good to come out of what I was going through,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Kayla takes a break from her treatment to become a mom <\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the past, Kayla might have had to forfeit her dream of having a child.<\/p>\n

But research has shown that women can safely pause hormonal therapy, which is used to fight the type of breast cancer Kayla had. Women can choose to get pregnant, give birth, breastfeed and then resume treatment to complete the five-year recommended medication course.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is something we address for all young women with a diagnosis,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cWe always offer ongoing fertility education for those who haven\u2019t conceived yet, and we work with our reproductive specialists<\/a> if patients want to harvest eggs and store embryos.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayla underwent cancer treatment for two years after her lumpectomy. The regimen included three drugs. One was a drug targeted specifically for her type of cancer, which she completed. But she paused the other two, both of which suppressed her ovaries from producing estrogen, (which can fuel breast cancer) and cause women to experience menopause symptoms.<\/p>\n

Kayla took a break from these two drugs in spring 2025 and in June, used IVF, a procedure that entails doctors creating embryos outside the womb. Nine months later, the couple\u2019s son, Locke, was born.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything that I had gone through and everything we went through as a couple \u2013 it was all worth it when he was born,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Importance of <\/strong>mental health<\/strong> while Kayla fights cancer <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Clearing the physical hurdles of cancer was one thing, but getting up after being repeatedly knocked down emotionally and psychologically was another. Kayla credits Kimberley Makela, a UCHealth oncology counselor, with providing her the tools<\/a> she needed to get through her ordeal with her psyche intact.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really tough, and I had a lot of guilt,\u201d Kayla said. \u201cSince I don\u2019t have the gene that caused the cancer, I thought, \u2018What did I do that could have caused this?\u2019 I wanted a clear, logical line that would bring me to that answer, and I spent a lot of time trying to find that reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kayla
Kayla and Zac were thrilled to wlecome their son into the world. Photo courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cancer can be very isolating, Makela said, as it puts a hold on a patient\u2019s life while others continue their same trajectory. This can be especially frustrating for younger patients whose cancer diagnosis comes at a time when they may be at the peak of their career or wanting to start a family. Instead, they are dealing with chemo, radiation, endless doctor appointments, illness and their own mortality.<\/p>\n

\u201cCounseling gives people that space so individuals can take ownership of those decisions and talk about their fears.\u201d Makela said. \u201cFor women, it\u2019s acknowledging they have a voice and that it matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Accepting that it was OK to rest, recuperate and heal were important lessons for Kayla.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur society praises movement and productivity. But what we don\u2019t see is all the work and productivity that occurs on a cellular level \u2013 the healing, repairing and resting that needs to happen,\u201d Makela said. \u201cIt\u2019s about paying attention and honoring how your body really feels and recognizing the balance between rest and work, which Kayla eventually understood.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was such an honor and privilege to get to know her and walk alongside her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayla deals with lymphedema, a side effect of cancer treatment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While Kayla wrestled with slowing down and tending to her emotional needs, she also was dealing with another unfortunate physical side effect of cancer \u2013 lymphedema.<\/p>\n

Lymphedema is chronic swelling in tissue<\/a>\u00a0resulting from trauma to the lymphatic system, a group of tissues and organs in our body that help us stave off infection and disease. The lymphatic system allows for healthy maintenance of body fluid levels.<\/p>\n

The greater the trauma to the lymphatic system, the greater the risk of developing lymphedema. Once the trauma has occurred, the risk of developing lymphedema never goes away.<\/p>\n

In a healthy lymphatic system, that fluid funnels into the vascular system, where it is eliminated as waste. But for patients like Kayla whose lymph nodes have been removed or damaged through surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, that \u201cone-way system\u201d of fluid drainage gets retained in the body and causes swelling in nearby tissue, which for her was her left breast.<\/p>\n

\u201cLymphedema is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment and can develop in the breast, chest wall or arm following lymph node removal and radiation therapy,\u201d said Erica Brooks, UCHealth occupational therapist<\/a> who worked with Kayla during her treatments. \u201cRadiation can affect both the lymphatic system and surrounding tissues, while surgery may also lead to cording (axillary web syndrome), which can cause pain, tightness, and limitations in range of motion.\u201d<\/p>\n

She met with Kayla for treatment sessions that included manual lymph drainage, scar tissue and cording management, compression therapy and education on long-term self-management. She also used a pneumatic compression pump and compression garments to help manage swelling. Because lymphedema is a chronic condition, ongoing self-care is important for maintaining results.<\/p>\n

\"Kayla
Kayla and Zac pose with their son. Photo by Olivia McGuire, courtesy of Kayla Calkin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Patients with breast cancer are monitored closely for lymphedema during the first two years following treatment, but lymphedema can develop at any time. They are educated on the signs and symptoms of swelling and encouraged to return for evaluation if concerns arise in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was wonderful to get to know Kayla,\u201d she said. \u201cShe\u2019s awesome and has been through so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking toward a bright future: a book and a baby boy <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Now cancer-free, Kayla is riding the wave to her next projects: She has a healthy baby boy, she will return to her NRDC job this summer, and she has written a\u00a0soon-to-be-published book<\/a> about her battle with cancer and her fight for progressive causes.<\/span><\/p>\n

While her illness affected everything in her life, not all of it was painful \u2013 she is grateful for the experience and the clarity it brought.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was certainly transformational in the best way,\u201d she said. \u201cI have formed deep friendships with the people I met along the way, and it taught me to only spend time on things I really care about.\u201d<\/p>\n

She advises cancer patients to seek a second opinion, get help from an oncology therapist and join support groups if it\u2019s something they are comfortable with.<\/p>\n

\u201cCancer is very isolating even though there are millions of people with it. But there is a community out there \u2026 and people you can build community with.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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