Stage 4: 1,129 Real Stories

1,129 stories match stage 4. 777 of them mention chemotherapy.

Jennifer, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer: Jennifer's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jennifer Robertson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Collar bones; shoulder blades; femur; pancreas;…

As of February 2026, Jennifer had shown no evidence of disease since August 2025 after tarlatamab-dlle and whole-brain radiation, while continuing tarlatamab infusions every other Monday and scans every 3 months.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Phil, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Phil's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Phil Bosanko, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of February 2026, Phil was alive and cancer-free nearly 20 years after a Stage IV colon cancer diagnosis with extensive liver metastases.

City of Hope
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

EGFR L858R lung adenocarcinoma with rapid neurologic decline

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L858R mutation; CK7-positive; Napsin A-positive; TTF-1-positive; p40-negative; Ki-67 about 1%

Metastatic Site: brain parenchyma and meninges

The patient developed rapidly progressive cognitive decline with multifocal brain lesions. Lung biopsy confirmed EGFR L858R lung adenocarcinoma, and she received amivantamab, but neurologic deterioration continued and she died in the fourth month of the disease course.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Cora, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Cora's Patient Story

Patient Info: Cora, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs

As of February 2026, Cora had recurrent Stage IV colorectal cancer with a positive ctDNA test but clear CT imaging after stopping an immunotherapy trial because of toxicity, so ongoing care and monitoring were still needed.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 4 breast cancer: 4 years and counting

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: hormone receptor-positive; HER2 1+. Metastatic recurrence: triple-negative breast cancer.

Metastatic Site: liver, bone, lung, supraclavicular lymph nodes,…

After response of choroidal metastases to eye radiation plus sacituzumab govitecan, disease progressed in February 2023 with cerebellar and pituitary brain lesions; she developed obstructive hydrocephalus, entered hospice in May 2023, and died in June 2023.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Nina, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Nina's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Nina, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: ovaries; liver

After initial Stage IV bowel cancer with spread to the ovaries and liver, surgery and chemotherapy led to no evidence of disease; she continued with regular checkups and emotional recovery.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Ruchira, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Ruchira's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ruchira, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Although the disease progressed to Stage IV after lobectomy, ALK testing led to lorlatinib; she reported no evidence of disease after 3 months and continued daily targeted therapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

BRAF-mutant stage IV lung adenocarcinoma complicated by immunotherapy-induced diabetes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: BRAF mutation; GADA-positive during immune-related diabetes evaluation

Metastatic Site: left lower lung, pleural

The patient had Stage IV BRAF V600E-mutant lung adenocarcinoma treated with targeted therapy and later tislelizumab. Immunotherapy was suspended after hypoadrenocorticism and diabetic ketosis; she required ongoing insulin therapy, with persistently low C-peptide at 6-month follow-up.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung cancer: large tumor managed with targeted care

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 TPS <1%

Metastatic Site: contralateral lymph nodes, supraclavicular lymph…

The patient had a partial response to CheckMate 9LA despite PD-L1 TPS <1%, later progressed after 24 cycles of immunotherapy, received additional chemotherapy, and died in November 20XX+2.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma with acquired ROS1 rearrangement after EGFR-TKI resistance

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; acquired EGFR T790M; acquired EZR exon10-ROS1 exon34 rearrangement

Metastatic Site: bone (distal femur); contralateral lung;…

After fourth-line crizotinib for acquired EZR-ROS1 rearrangement, response evaluation on August 27, 2025 showed partial response, and September 2025 bone scan showed stable bone lesions.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer with sacituzumab-govitecan pneumonitis and progression

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: lung

Sacituzumab-govitecan pneumonitis improved with corticosteroids and half-dose rechallenge did not reproduce pneumonitis, but follow-up CT showed one new pulmonary metastasis and enlargement of previous lung metastases; PFS on sacituzumab govitecan was 5.37 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung cancer: never-smoker with complete remission

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR20ins mutation; TP53 p.Q192 mutation; PD-L1 TPS 0%; CPS 0%

Metastatic Site: bilateral lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes, bilateral…

The patient had a durable response to high-dose furmonertinib, later developed a right cerebellar metastasis treated with stereotactic radiation, and continued to benefit from furmonertinib as of April 2025 with 27 months of progression-free survival reported.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Tina, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Lung Cancer treatment and follow-up story

Patient Info: Tina Powell, Female | Stage IV

As of January 2026, Tina was 3 years into Stage IV lung cancer, on a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and undergoing CT chest, CT pelvis, and brain MRI every 6 weeks.

YouTube (JA search)
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Kina, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Kina's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kina, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Lungs; lymph node

As of January 2026, Kina described herself as technically having no cancer/no evidence of disease after lung resections, though confirmatory CT was still pending and she was still recovering from complications.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung cancer: persistent cough led to diagnosis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: KRAS and TP53 ; PD-L1 TPS 95%. Other common lung drivers were not detected.

Metastatic Site: liver, left adrenal gland, lymph nodes, pleural…

After more than 2 years of disease control and partial response on antiangiogenic therapy plus sintilimab, the patient developed fulminant immune-checkpoint-inhibitor-induced type 1 diabetes with severe diabetic ketoacidosis, inflammatory crisis, sepsis, and died shortly after discharge against medical advice.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Kristie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Kristie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kristie, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver

Kristie is living with Stage IV colon cancer with liver recurrence, prior chemotherapy/radiation/surgery/ablation, and a planned liver resection option after second-opinion review.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma With Bone and Leptomeningeal Metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; acquired EGFR T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: bone, leptomeninges

In May 2025, leptomeningeal disease remained present and he continued combination chemotherapy with bevacizumab and high-dose furmonertinib, leaving hospital in stable condition after cycle 8.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Sonja, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Sonja's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sonja Rideout, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; Tempus testing later indicated immunotherapy as an option

Metastatic Site: Lungs; liver; bone: tailbone; thoracic lymph nodes

As of January 2026, Sonja was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer after spread to lungs and liver, later tailbone and thoracic lymph nodes, and had moved to weekly carboplatin/gemcitabine plus monthly immunotherapy.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeSetback / Progression
John, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Colorectal Cancer: John's Patient Story

Patient Info: John E., Male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: lungs

After several months on HER2-targeted therapy, many of John's lung metastases had shrunk or stabilized, and he remained active with good quality of life.

Colorectal Cancer Alliance
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Lynch-associated lung and colorectal cancers responded to immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H pattern with MLH1/PMS2 loss and germline MLH1 mutation; KRAS and PTEN mutations; PD-L1 TPS 15%.

Metastatic Site: right paraspinal metastatic lesion from lung…

After starting iparomlimab plus tuvonralimab, pleural and pelvic disease improved, intestinal wall involvement decreased further after 5 cycles, the paraspinal lung metastasis remained stable, tumor markers stayed normal, and treatment continued.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: treatment and follow-up story

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation/rearrangement; EGFR negative

Metastatic Site: Bone, including left humerus

As of January 2026, he described about 3 years on ALK-targeted oral therapy, feeling well, exercising 3-4 times per week, and living close to normal life with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer.

YouTube (ZH search)
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2 mutations: complete metabolic response to trastuzumab deruxtecan

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2-low/dubious staining and HER2 FISH-negative; somatic ERBB2/HER2 and mutations.

Metastatic Site: iliac bone lesions / bone metastases

As of January 2026, metastatic triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2 mutations had a sustained complete metabolic response to trastuzumab deruxtecan for 20 months, with dose reduction for neutropenia and no pulmonary toxicity.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Lea, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lea's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lea, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone: hip sockets, femurs, spine; liver

As of January 2026, Lea was living with metastatic breast cancer involving bone and liver and was in active treatment with Taxol after progression changed her treatment plan.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeLiving With Cancer