Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Janice's Patient Story

Patient Info: Janice Johnson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CEA tumor marker elevated after colectomy; biomarker/genomic test results not reported

Metastatic Site: Lungs

Ongoing care for Stage IV colorectal cancer after colectomy, years of chemotherapy, radiation, lung resections for metastatic disease, and pelvic stent exchanges every 3 months.

Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Dann's Patient Story

Patient Info: Dann Wonser, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation; T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Dann Wonser passed away on June 30, 2024, 18 years after being diagnosed at age 49 with Stage IV EGFR/T790M-mutated lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Duane's Patient Story

Patient Info: Duane Steiner, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK gene mutation identified by molecular or genomic testing

Living more than 6 years with incurable Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer, supported by targeted therapy, clinical-trial participation, Hope Lodge access, and periodic monitoring.

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

Patient Info: Rhonda Martin, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive mutation

Metastatic Site: Brain; spine; hip bone; lymph nodes; cerebrospinal…

Rhonda Martin passed away on January 9, 2023 from complications of Stage IV EGFR-positive lung cancer, nearly 5 years after diagnosis in March 2018.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

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

Patient Info: Usha Jain, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Tumor genetic profile available for navigation review, but specific results are not reported

Stage IV NSCLC after nearly 2 years of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, followed by watchful monitoring with routine scans; clinical trials were reviewed but not pursued.

GO2 FoundationRead more →

Anne Forth LaPorte: Stage IV Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Anne Forth LaPorte, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Anne Forth LaPorte passed away on January 19, 2024, after being diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Rebecca's Patient Story

Patient Info: Rebecca Goins, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Not specified

Recurrent Stage IVB colorectal cancer was found on PET scan after a prior remission; the recurrent tumor was described as inoperable and treatment options were limited to chemotherapy and radiation.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Stage IV rectal cancer: no evidence of disease after treatment

Patient Info: Helen D, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lymph nodes

Scans showed no evidence of disease after treatment for Stage IV rectal cancer with liver and lymph-node involvement, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, HAI pump therapy, and liver resection.

Colorectal Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Duncan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Duncan Edmonstone, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK+ mutation

Metastatic Site: Brain

Living 6 years after Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer with brain metastasis, doing well on ongoing alectinib targeted therapy with minimal side effects.

The Christie NHSRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Hong's Patient Story

Patient Info: Hong Wentong, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

Responded well to interventional therapy plus radioactive seed implantation for Stage IV sigmoid colon cancer with liver metastasis, with liver tumor shrinkage, better disease control, and 3 kg weight gain.

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Antonio's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Liver

Improved significantly after cryotherapy, interventional therapy, and bio-immunotherapy for Stage IV sigmoid colon cancer with liver metastasis; no NED/remission statement is reported.

How Learning To Ask For Help Can Make Life With MBC Easier

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

Biomarkers: Not explicitly reported; HER2-targeted treatment with Herceptin and Tykerb reported

Metastatic Site: Brain; liver

Living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer involving brain and liver; latest scans showed no evidence of disease, and she reported spending most of her Stage IV life in NED status.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Amy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amy Mannarino, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Brain

After brain metastasis surgery and 3 radiation sessions, Amy was doing well with no evidence of disease; the source specifically distinguishes NED from being cured or cancer-free in the setting of metastatic disease.

Memorial Sloan KetteringRead more →

Stage 4 lung cancer survivor: A shift in perspective helped me find gratitude

Patient Info: Lorie Young | Stage IV

A few months after diagnosis, she remains on targeted therapy through a clinical trial and describes fatigue and brain fog as manageable.

MD AndersonRead more →

Stage IV colon cancer with a lung infection mimicking new metastases

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

Biomarkers: KRAS wild-type; NRAS wild-type; BRAF wild-type; microsatellite stable; HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: liver

The colon primary and liver metastases achieved a partial response and were later assessed as stable with continued shrinkage. New lung nodules regressed with fluconazole, supporting pulmonary cryptococcosis rather than new cancer spread.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

8+ years after her initial breast cancer diagnosis, she was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastases and receiving trastuzumab as her tenth line of treatment.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Durable complete remission after brain metastases from gastric cancer

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

Biomarkers: HER2-low, PD-L1 CPS 5

Metastatic Site: brain

By July 2024 the brain lesions had completely resolved, and complete remission remained sustained through October 2025, with more than 38 months off anticancer treatment.

PubMed CentralRead more →

More than 5 years living with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma after stepwise molecular testing

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

Biomarkers: HER2 amplification, EGFR L858R mutation, PD-L1 <1%

Metastatic Site: brain, lung

As of April 2026, she remained on gefitinib with no active tumor lesions after complete regression of lung metastases, more than 5 years (66 months) after her original diagnosis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

EGFR-mutated Stage IV squamous lung cancer treated with osimertinib

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

Biomarkers: EGFR L858R mutation; PD-L1 TPS 5%

Metastatic Site: pleura, bone

Osimertinib produced an early partial response, but new vertebral bone metastases appeared after 12 weeks. He declined cytotoxic chemotherapy and continued osimertinib.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Severe abdominal wall pain during advanced recurrent colon cancer

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

Metastatic Site: peritoneum

She was living with recurrent advanced colon cancer with peritoneal metastasis and had transitioned to best supportive and palliative pain care.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Lorie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lorie Young | Stage IV

Biomarkers: NTRK1 fusion

After a couple of months on TL-118, Lorie’s CT scan showed a strong response, while longer-term disease control remained uncertain.

MD AndersonRead more →

Progressive metastatic rectal cancer with bone and brain metastases during palliative pain care

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

Metastatic Site: bone, brain

By May 2025 the cancer had progressed to bone and brain despite multiple systemic regimens, and anticancer therapy was stopped as care shifted to palliative pain management.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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

Patient Info: Tiffany Andrews, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; ER-negative at recurrence

Metastatic Site: lungs|brain

Tiffany is living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer and continues treatment through a clinical trial after progression in the lungs and brain.

MD AndersonRead more →

Stage IV Lung Adenocarcinoma Discovered After Cancer Cells Were Found in a Stroke Clot

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 high; no actionable driver alteration

Metastatic Site: brain

New frontal brain metastases developed during treatment, and he died 51 days after the stroke that led to discovery of his lung cancer.

PubMed CentralRead more →