Breast Cancer Recurs After a 19-Year Remission and Responds to Later Chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: PR-positive, ER-negative, HER2-negative. Recurrence: ER-positive, PR-negative

Metastatic Site: bones

The cancer recurred after a 19-year remission and later spread to bone. More than 21 years after the original diagnosis, she had marked tumor shrinkage, was in good general condition, and had 10 months of progression-free survival after utidelone plus capecitabine.

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Kelly's Stage 3 Breast Cancer Story: “I’m Still Here & THRIVING!"

Patient Info: Kelly Thomas, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: Initial triple-negative breast cancer; after surgery

As of August 2023, Kelly was 5 years from her Stage IIIC triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis with no recurrence reported.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Caused Severe Circulation Problems in Her Fingers and Toes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

The digital ischaemia improved after gemcitabine was stopped, without revascularisation, debridement or amputation, although a small necrotic fingertip area persisted at 3 months. Metastatic breast cancer treatment continued with further systemic lines after progression.

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Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Recurring in Groin Lymph Nodes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: right inguinal lymph node; right iliac/pelvic lymph…

Her condition deteriorated after 3 cycles of palliative capecitabine. She developed vomiting, headache and seizures concerning for brain metastases and died about 4 months after the groin metastasis was detected.

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Stage III Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Marlena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marlena Murphy, Female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: triple-negative

Later testing found cancer cells after Marlena noticed a small bump under her right arm. She died on July 3, 2024.

Stage III Breast Cancer: Diana's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Diana, Female, 40s | Stage III

Diana described herself as being in remission while continuing low-toxicity antineoplastic monotherapy. She remained in active follow-up and focused on rebuilding daily life.

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Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic crisis during capecitabine treatment for metastatic breast cancer

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

CT during hospitalization showed reduction in her known metastatic lesions while capecitabine was held because of a severe hyperglycemic crisis.

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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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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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A New Breast Cancer Arising Beneath an Accessory Nipple

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: ER 5%; PR 5–10%; HER2-negative.

After chemotherapy, surgery, endocrine therapy, proton radiation, and later reconstruction revision, she was currently without evidence of disease.

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Lobular Breast Cancer Spread Into a Nasal Tumor

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

Biomarkers: Metastatic lobular focus: ER 8/8; PR 8/8; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative.

Metastatic Site: liver; bone; right nasal cavity within an olfactory…

The nasal lesion was removed with no residual local disease on imaging, and capecitabine was restarted while oncology follow-up continued for metastatic breast cancer.

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Dramatic chemotherapy response in stage IIIB triple-negative breast cancer

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; BRCA1-negative; BRCA2-negative; germline FLCN c.1285delC associated with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome; tumor TP53 p.T150fs.

Eighteen months after surgery, she had no recurrence following a dramatic chemotherapy response, bilateral mastectomy, chest-wall radiation, and adjuvant capecitabine.

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Stage III Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Vanessa's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Vanessa Sanders, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

As of November 2019, Vanessa had shown no evidence of disease for 15 years after clinical-trial chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery and 6 weeks of radiation for Stage III invasive ductal breast cancer.

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Metastatic Lobular Breast Cancer With Long-Term Disease Control Across Multiple Therapies

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: ER negative, HER2 negative, Ki67 17%. 2006 recurrence: ER 40%

Metastatic Site: pleura, liver, skin, bone

She was alive on ongoing metronomic vinorelbine with substantial disease stabilization at the most recent follow-up.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer With Bone and Liver Progression After Multiple Therapies

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: ER 80%, HER2 negative, Ki67 18%. Liver metastasis: ER 75%

Metastatic Site: bone, liver

After massive hepatic progression and liver failure, chemotherapy was stopped and she died on January 31, 2016.

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Recurrent Breast Cancer With Liver Metastases Treated Through Multiple Chemotherapy Lines

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: ER positive, HER2 0. Liver metastasis: ER 100%

Metastatic Site: liver

After liver progression following 18 cycles of eribulin, she started weekly carboplatin and remained in active treatment.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Responding to Eribulin After Repeated Liver Progression

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

Biomarkers: ER 100%, HER2 negative

Metastatic Site: bone, liver

Eribulin remained ongoing with repeated partial responses documented through 12 cycles and no need for dose reduction.

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HER2-Positive Recurrent Breast Cancer Treated With Multiple Targeted and Local Therapies

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

Biomarkers: 2008 recurrence: ER 80%, HER2 FISH amplified. 2011 recurrence: ER 80%

Metastatic Site: liver, skin

After 25 cycles of eribulin, treatment was still ongoing; nodal disease remained stable, while later imaging also noted new metabolic activity in the upper lung.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer With Brain, Bone, Lung and Liver Disease Responding During Eribulin Treatment

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: ER 90%, HER2 negative, Ki67 10%. Lung metastasis: ER 90%

Metastatic Site: lung, bone, brain, liver

Eribulin remained ongoing with reduced brain lesions, stable bone disease and continued shrinkage of liver metastases after prior systemic progression.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer With Liver Progression Treated Through Multiple Chemotherapy Lines

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: ER 90%, HER2 3+, Ki67 15%. Liver metastasis: ER 30%

Metastatic Site: pleura, liver

After several periods of response and later liver progression, she remained on active treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin.

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