At this year’s Promise of Hope Fashion Show fundraiser, guest speaker Sonya Alexander shared her personal journey of resilience, hope, and healing. Here is her story:
After successful treatment for breast cancer in 2020, Sonya Alexander was prescribed anastrozole to help prevent the cancer from returning. While effective, the medication caused severe joint pain and fatigue that significantly impacted her daily life.
Seeking relief, Alexander enrolled in a clinical trial at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital in 2024. The study evaluated camizestrant, a medication being tested as an alternative to standard hormone therapies for patients with early-stage estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
Today, Alexander reports that her joint pain has resolved, and ongoing monitoring continues to show no evidence of cancer. She credits the clinical trial with helping her regain her quality of life.
Ingalls Memorial Hospital offers eligible patients access to University of Chicago Medicine clinical trials close to home, reducing the need to travel to Hyde Park. Through these studies, patients can access promising new treatments while helping advance cancer care.
“Ask questions, get medical advice, and weigh your options,” Alexander said. “I got my life back.”
