Stage 4: 1,129 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Osimertinib Improved Spinal Cord Metastases in Long-Standing Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: Initial surgical specimen: no detected EGFR mutation and ALK-negative. Later pleural-fluid tumor: acquired EGFR T790M mutation with no other detected EGFR mutation.

Metastatic Site: cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes; bone; brain;…

Osimertinib improved neurologic function and kept the lung cancer stable for 14 months; he later died from bacterial pneumonia.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
AN
Breast Cancer

A Nerve Block Relieved Severe Back Pain From Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis

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

Metastatic Site: bone (T4–T5 vertebrae)

The nerve block reduced her pain score from 8/10 to below 2, avoided rescue analgesia for 24 hours, and was repeated when severe metastatic pain returned.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Rapidly Progressive Stage IV Lung Adenocarcinoma With a Miliary Imaging Pattern

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

Biomarkers: TTF-1-positive; p40-negative; chromogranin-negative; synaptophysin-negative; EGFR-negative; ALK-negative; ROS1-negative; PD-L1 expression 5%–10%.

The cancer progressed rapidly, and he died approximately four months after diagnosis while being transported to inpatient hospice.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Mucinous gastric cancer presenting with an iris metastasis

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

Metastatic Site: iris, peritoneum, para-aortic and mesenteric lymph…

She died of aspiration pneumonia 8 months after presentation. Autopsy confirmed persistent invasive gastric cancer with metastatic spread.

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

Hormone Problems During Nivolumab Treatment for Advanced Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR/ALK/ROS1/BRAF wild type

Metastatic Site: abdominal wall|brain

She was living with Stage IVA lung cancer after about 1 year of nivolumab. Thyroid levels normalized after levothyroxine adjustment, and continued endocrine monitoring was planned for treatment-related pituitary dysfunction.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment Complicated by Severe Lung Inflammation

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

Biomarkers: KRAS wild type; NRAS wild type

Metastatic Site: liver

He recovered from the severe treatment-related lung inflammation, was weaned off oxygen within 1 month, and continued oncology follow-up while living with Stage IV colorectal cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Amanda, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Adenocarcinoma: Amanda's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amanda Nerstad, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

She achieved a complete metabolic response on alectinib and had shown no evidence of disease since November 2017 while continuing treatment.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

HER2-amplified metastatic colon cancer treated with afatinib after several therapies

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

Biomarkers: RAS wild-type; BRAF wild-type; HER2 amplification; HER2 mutation

Metastatic Site: liver|abdominal wall|lung

After multiple treatment lines and a 3-month period of stable disease on afatinib, the cancer progressed again. He died in January 2018 from severe lung infection and kidney failure.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Magnolia, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Magnolia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Magnolia | Stage IV

Magnolia was declared cancer-free in March 2022 and described herself as remaining in remission while continuing hormone therapy.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Carole, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Carole's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Carole Motycka, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Juvenile polyposis syndrome

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of December 2018, Carole was cancer-free after chemotherapy, complete removal of colon and liver cancers, liver-directed chemotherapy infusion pump placement and a living donor liver transplant; she had returned to normal life.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian AdenocarcinomaOvarian Cancer

Stage IV Ovarian Cancer With Severe Recurrent Ascites

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|liver

The cancer progressed with massive ascites, liver involvement, and respiratory failure. She died from multiorgan failure related to metastatic ovarian cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Durable brain and leptomeningeal response to pembrolizumab in Stage IV lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 high positive; EGFR negative; BRAF negative; KRAS negative; ROS1 negative; ALK negative

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland, left sixth rib, brain,…

After 29 pembrolizumab cycles over 20 months, imaging showed no leptomeningeal disease, resolution of 3 brain lesions and marked reduction of the dominant frontal lesion; she remained neurologically intact and radiographically stable.

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

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Cynthia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Cynthia Hess, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Spine

As of October 2018, Cynthia’s spine metastasis had stopped growing after one stereotactic spinal radiosurgery treatment, her neck pain had subsided and future MRI scans were planned for monitoring.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Anatole, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Anatole's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Anatole Karpovs, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of October 2018, Anatole had no evidence of disease after liver surgery and FOLFIRI for a July 2014 liver recurrence, and had been cancer-free for almost 4 years while recognizing that microscopic disease could still be possible.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer Causing Severe Cushing Syndrome

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

Biomarkers: Ectopic ACTH secretion with markedly elevated ACTH and cortisol

Metastatic Site: liver|bones

The cancer and hormone syndrome progressed after an initial response, and he died after cardiopulmonary arrest 1 year after diagnosis.

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

Delayed Adrenal Insufficiency After Nivolumab for Stage IV Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR unmutated; ALK unmutated; ROS1 unmutated

His weakness, fatigue, weight loss, and orthostatic hypotension resolved after hormone replacement, and he returned home independently.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported