Lung cancer recurrence in the thyroid, initially mistaken for thyroid cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; TTF-1-positive; Napsin A-positive; PAX8-negative; thyroglobulin staining limited to tumour cells adjacent to normal thyroid tissue

Metastatic Site: thyroid; cervical lymph nodes

After starting osimertinib for EGFR exon 19-deleted recurrent lung adenocarcinoma, he was disease free 5 months after thyroid surgery.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Valerie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Valerie Frank, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone, lung, liver

Living with Stage IV breast cancer after recurrence in the bones, lungs and liver in January 2022, with oncology and palliative care support.

Dana-FarberRead more →

HER2-positive metastatic lung cancer treated with trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu)

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ERBB2/HER2 copy-number gain of at least 20 copies; TP53 C242fs; CDK12 copy-number gain; tumour mutational burden 3.2 mutations/Mb

Metastatic Site: lungs / multiple pulmonary nodules

Trastuzumab deruxtecan reduced the pulmonary nodules by more than 50% at 3 months and produced a documented response lasting 13.8 months.

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Stage IV Ovarian Cancer Complicated by Anti-Yo Cerebellar Degeneration

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CA-125: 1767 kU/L; anti-Yo antibodies positive in serum and cerebrospinal fluid

Her anti-Yo paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration progressed despite methylprednisolone and plasma exchange. Care became palliative, and she died 2 months after hospital admission.

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Afatinib-related kidney injury during treatment for EGFR-positive metastatic lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive.

Metastatic Site: pleura

He continued maintenance bevacizumab and atezolizumab after four combination courses for metastatic disease while his renal function remained impaired but stable.

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Stage IV HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Abigail's Patient Story

Patient Info: Abigail Myers, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: bones, brain

Abigail continued living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after about 8 years of multiple treatment lines, including therapy for bone and brain metastases.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage IV colorectal cancer: remission after treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

As of April 2023, the story identified remission after Stage IV colorectal cancer treatment and described ongoing physical and emotional effects of living with a colostomy.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Chemotherapy complication: methotrexate absorbed into the bloodstream after spinal injection

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; Oncotype DX Recurrence Score 20

Metastatic Site: leptomeninges / central nervous system; brain

Five months after leptomeningeal carcinomatosis was recognised, she developed a new 2 cm brain lesion and neurological decline. Her family chose supportive care, and she died 10 days after transfer to inpatient hospice.

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Adrenal metastasis from gastric cancer causing adrenal insufficiency

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

Biomarkers: HER2-negative, PD-L1-negative

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland

More than 17 months after the metastatic relapse, he was clinically well with no radiological or biochemical signs of active cancer apart from the residual right adrenal lesion.

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Solitary adrenal metastasis after surgery for gastric large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland

Nine months after removal of the adrenal metastasis, he was alive and August 2022 CT showed no new metastases or tumor recurrence.

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Breast cancer that spread to the thymus gland

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Oestrogen receptor-positive; progesterone receptor-positive; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: thymus

She had a good response after 4 cycles of abemaciclib, anastrozole and goserelin and continued endocrine treatment with surveillance of the opposite breast.

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Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Tiffany's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tiffany, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

Metastatic Site: Bone: pelvis, right femur, cervical spine

As of March 2023, Tiffany had benefited from Tagrisso plus Cyramza, but later CT findings suggested worsening disease and she had started a new early-stage clinical trial with results pending.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Carmen's Survivor Story

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

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of March 2023, Carmen was in remission after Stage IV rectal cancer with liver metastasis was treated with radiation, chemotherapy, rectum/liver surgery, temporary ileostomy, and ileostomy reversal, with recent CT scans showing no evidence of disease.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lesley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lesley Glenn, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone

As of March 2023, Lesley was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after an initial Stage IIB diagnosis and bone spread, and was advocating for better metastatic survivorship care and patient-centered research.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Recurrent gastric cancer with bone metastases, venous thrombosis and chylothorax

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

Metastatic Site: bone

Biopsy-confirmed bone recurrence developed more than a year after surgery. He was too unwell for palliative chemotherapy and died a few months after transition to best supportive care.

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Stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma first detected through an appendiceal metastasis

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

Metastatic Site: appendix

He was referred to oncology for Stage IV gastric cancer and started capecitabine chemotherapy.

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Rare breast cancer subtype that recurred years later in a more aggressive form

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CD117 focally positive in the transformed component; high Ki-67; hormone-receptor status was unknown at the original diagnosis

Metastatic Site: lungs

One year after treatment for the late chest-wall recurrence, CT showed another local recurrence and metastatic nodules in both lungs. She chose to continue treatment elsewhere.

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Caregiver Wife to Colon Cancer Patient Husband Shares Her Story

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

As of January 2023, Leslie described her husband as living with Stage IV colon cancer after unsuccessful treatment options locally and at MD Anderson, with the family continuing to fight and hope for the best.

Colorectal Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage IV BRCA Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Langley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Langley Perer, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: inherited BRCA mutation

Metastatic Site: brain, bones, leptomeninges

After 1 year on a PARP inhibitor, Langley’s metastatic breast cancer remained in check without progression and some lesions had begun to shrink.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: JJ's Patient Story

Patient Info: JJ, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Microsatellite-mutated disease mentioned in clinical-trial context; exact MSI/MMR result not otherwise specified

Metastatic Site: Abdominal wall; lymph nodes; stomach/intestinal outlet…

As of January 2023, JJ was living with incurable Stage IV colon cancer on pembrolizumab/Keytruda clinical-trial infusions every 3 weeks; the trial had kept the abdominal tumor mass from spreading and had helped him live beyond the prognosis he feared, but it was not described as curative.

The Patient StoryRead more →

I was in Disbelief When I got Colon Cancer

Patient Info: JJ Singleton, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome

Metastatic Site: Abdominal wall; lymph nodes

After surgery and 12 rounds of FOLFOX, JJ had a clean scan and colonoscopy, but about 6 weeks later cancer recurred outside the colon with spread to the abdominal wall and lymph nodes.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Lori's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lori | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: ovary

After a September 2024 recurrence and surgery in October, Lori said she was in remission and was being monitored with monthly blood work.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Anna's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Anna was living with Stage IV breast cancer and receiving treatment that included lumpectomy surgery, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy as her plan.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Aria's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Aria was living with Stage IV breast cancer and undergoing hormone therapy after choosing not to have recommended surgery.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →