Rectal cancer liver surgery in a woman with mitochondrial disease

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver; lungs; para-aortic lymph nodes

Three months after rectal and liver surgery, CT showed multiple lung metastases and para-aortic lymph-node metastasis, and FOLFIRI chemotherapy was resumed.

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Rectal cancer that later spread to the vagina

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

Metastatic Site: vagina

The isolated vaginal metastasis was surgically removed and followed by another 12 cycles of chemotherapy.

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Kidney Complications After Treatment for Stage IV Ovarian Cancer

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

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|left lymph node

No further ovarian-cancer progression was observed during the 10 months after kidney biopsy. The nephrotic syndrome reached partial remission after immunosuppressive treatment was stopped and supportive care continued.

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A regressed choroidal metastasis during EGFR-targeted lung cancer treatment

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion.

Metastatic Site: liver; bone; central nervous system; right choroid

The right choroidal metastasis appeared inactive and regressed during systemic treatment, visual acuity remained 20/20, and no local eye treatment was required.

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A durable response to trastuzumab in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor ER-positive and PR-positive. Metastatic liver biopsy ER-negative and PR-negative with HER2 IHC 1+ and nonamplified. Later biopsy ER and PR weakly positive at 5%–10%, HER2 IHC 1+ and nonamplified, and ERBB3 p. with evidence of HER2/HER3 pathway activation.

Metastatic Site: lungs; hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes; liver; bone

She had ongoing benefit for more than 10 months on trastuzumab and capecitabine, with improved symptoms, lower tumor markers, and a confirmed partial response.

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Emergency Repair of a Long-Term Perineal Hernia After Rectal Cancer Surgery

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

Metastatic Site: lungs

She lived with metastatic rectal cancer and received community palliative care after becoming too frail for further chemotherapy.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Marlene's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marlene | Stage IV

By November 2023, Marlene said the stage IV breast cancer had advanced and she was no longer receiving treatment.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Rachael's Patient Story

Patient Info: Rachael | Stage IV

Rachael was living with stage 4 breast cancer after following a plan of mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

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Stage IV Mucinous Lung Cancer Treated With Afatinib and Surgery

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

Biomarkers: CD74-NRG1 fusion; ALK/ROS1/EGFR/BRAF/KRAS/MET/HER2 wild type; PD-L1 initially not expressed and later 0%-20%

Metastatic Site: bilateral lungs|bone|right adrenal gland

She was alive and receiving treatment after bone and right-adrenal progression at the latest follow-up.

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Metastatic Right-Sided Colon Cancer With an NRG1 Fusion

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

Biomarkers: KRAS mutation; POMK-NRG1 fusion

Metastatic Site: liver|lungs

He had persistent metastatic disease after 16 months of afatinib and entered a phase I trial in January 2020.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Stephanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver

Her doctor declared the cancer in remission, and she remains on immunotherapy to keep the disease under control.

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Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Kyle's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kyle, Under 40 | Stage IV

Kyle was 19 months NED and off treatment after Stage IV colon adenocarcinoma, following about 30 months of chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

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Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Amanda's Patient Story

Patient Info: Amanda, Under 40 | Stage IV

She remains on ongoing treatment for Stage IV disease and describes the cancer as pretty stable while maintaining a good quality of life.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Maria's Patient Story

Patient Info: Maria | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lungs

After colorectal cancer spread to the lungs, completed 6 months of chemotherapy and is being monitored with CT scans every 3 months.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Harper's Patient Story

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

Harper was living with Stage IV breast cancer after self-funded private treatment that included mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy; she felt better than before diagnosis but still hoped for complete recovery.

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Scurvy and Severe Bruising During Metastatic Colon Cancer Care

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

Metastatic Site: vagina|sacrum

She died one year after hospitalization for scurvy and Klebsiella bacteremia, following progressive malignancy, recurrent infections, and community palliative care.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer: Oswald's Patient Story

Patient Info: Oswald Peterson, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Lymph nodes; Spine

As of December 2020, Oswald described dramatic recovery after immunotherapy for Stage IV lung cancer, returning to the gym, travel, and normal activities; the source did not explicitly report NED or a maintenance schedule.

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Surgery Relieved Eye Symptoms From Metastatic Breast Cancer

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

Biomarkers: Mammaglobin positive; GATA3 positive

Metastatic Site: orbit|lungs|bone (right scapula and proximal humerus)

At six months after surgery, she had improved diplopia and no new symptoms but had declined additional radiation, systemic treatment, bisphosphonate therapy, and hormone therapy for metastatic breast cancer.

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

Patient Info: Saila Hanninen, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

After progression on earlier EGFR-directed treatment and other therapies, Saila began chemotherapy and her cancer was stable at the time of the story.

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Occult lobular breast cancer first discovered through colon metastases

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative

Metastatic Site: colon

Her tumour marker decreased during letrozole and palbociclib treatment, but recurrent infections interrupted therapy, and she died from urosepsis 2 years after diagnosis.

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Lung adenocarcinoma first presented through skin and haemorrhagic brain metastases

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

Biomarkers: TTF-1-positive; CK7-positive; CEA-positive; PD-L1 10%; EGFR-negative; ALK-negative; ROS1-negative; BRAF-negative

Metastatic Site: skin|brain

Her condition declined rapidly after brain radiation, systemic therapy could not be started, and she died from metastatic lung cancer within 6 weeks of presentation.

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HER2-positive breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy and later spread to bone and brain

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumour: ER 0%, PR <1%, HER2 3+

Metastatic Site: bone (L3)|brain

After treatment and surveillance without new lesions, she developed a large symptomatic occipital brain metastasis 14 months after completing paclitaxel and radiation and died after rapid neurological deterioration.

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Hemodialysis used to manage 5-FU toxicity during treatment of Stage IV gastric cancer

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

Metastatic Site: para-aortic lymph nodes, meninges

After a partial response to 7 cycles of chemotherapy, carcinomatous meningitis developed. Treatment was stopped, best supportive care was started, and he died 2 months later.

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Stage IV Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Allison's Patient Story

Patient Info: Allison Rebello, female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bones (neck, spine, hip, ribs), lungs

As of October 2020, Allison’s metastatic breast cancer was stable and she was feeling well on daily oral cancer therapy.

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