Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: 738 Real Stories

738 stories match breast cancer and chemotherapy. 653 of them mention surgery.

Corky, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Corky's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of October 2023, Corky was living with Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer as a chronic condition, receiving ongoing treatment focused on prolonging life and preserving quality of life.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer: three years in remission with T-DM1 (Kadcyla) treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; hormone receptor-positive

Metastatic Site: liver; spine / bone

T-DM1 produced a complete clinical and radiological response after 7 cycles, sustained for 41 months and 60 cycles while treatment continued.

PubMed Central
OutcomeComplete Response
Brenda, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Brenda's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Brenda, Female, 40s

Brenda completed mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and an oophorectomy. She remained on anastrozole and a CDK4/6 inhibitor when she shared her story.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing / Survivorship
Olivia, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Olivia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Olivia Franz, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Bones; distant lymph nodes

As of October 2023, Olivia continued to show no evidence of disease on scans while receiving maintenance trastuzumab and pertuzumab every 3 weeks and zoledronic acid every 3 months for bone health.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Leigh, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Leigh's Patient Story

Patient Info: Leigh, Female

Leigh died in June 2022 from complications of ovarian cancer. Her lobular breast cancer experience led her to co-found the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance and build a lasting patient-advocacy legacy.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeIn Memory
April, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: April's Patient Story

Patient Info: April Donaldson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; BRCA1 positive

Metastatic Site: Lungs

As of September 2023, April was living with Stage IV metastatic triple-negative breast cancer in the lungs; scans were stable in February but showed growth again in July, and PARP inhibitor therapy was being planned.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Kelly, who was diagnosed with Stage III Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Susan, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Susan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Susan, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: BRCA negative; earlier breast cancer described as triple-negative; later breast cancer estrogen-positive and progesterone-positive; HER2 not reported

As of August 2023, Susan was living after multiple breast cancer diagnoses, including a later estrogen-positive/progesterone-positive non-metastatic breast cancer treated with bilateral mastectomy and ongoing 5-year estrogen-blocker therapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Susan, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Susan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Susan, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: 2021 breast cancer described as estrogen-positive and progesterone-positive; HER2 not reported. First breast cancer biomarker status not reported.

As of August 2023, Susan was living in survivorship after a first breast cancer treated with lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation and a later separate breast cancer treated with bilateral mastectomy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Brittney, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Brittney's Patient Story

Patient Info: Brittney Beadle, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bones; liver; brain; lungs

As of August 2023, Brittney was living with Stage IV breast cancer on ENHERTU every 21 days, with brain clear for 4.5 years, liver clear, and bone and lung disease regressing.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
Melissa, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Melissa's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Melissa Berry, Female, 40s | Stage I

Biomarkers: BRCA mutation reported; triple-negative breast cancer

As of July 2023, Melissa was a 10-year Stage I triple-negative breast cancer survivor with no recurrence reported.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Melissa, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Melissa’s Stage 1 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Story

Patient Info: Melissa Berry, Female, 40s | Stage I

Biomarkers: BRCA-positive carrier status; ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative

Melissa described herself as a 10-year triple-negative breast cancer survivor and said she remained without evidence of disease, with annual oncology follow-up.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Megan, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Megan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Megan Claire Chase, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2 not reported

As of July 2023, Megan-Claire was in survivorship after Stage II invasive lobular breast cancer, with clear early scans but significant long-term effects, surgical menopause, chronic pain, fatigue, chemo brain, and inability to tolerate recurrence-prevention medications.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Megan-Claire, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Megan-Claire's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Megan-Claire, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

As of July 2023, Megan-Claire had completed chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery with reconstruction/reduction, and 33 radiation rounds, and was living with long-term effects including neuropathy, scarring, fatigue, and radiation trauma; no recurrence or NED status was stated.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Nikki, who was diagnosed with Stage III Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage III Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Nikki's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive

As of July 2023, Nikki had completed 7 chemotherapy rounds for Stage III inflammatory hormone-positive breast cancer, had no sign of distant spread on PET scans, and was preparing for single mastectomy, radiation, and long-term hormone therapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Nikki, who was diagnosed with Stage III Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage III HER2-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Nikki's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nikki, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; hormone receptor-positive

After 7 chemotherapy rounds, imaging showed no visible disease, but the team expected possible microscopic cancer. A single mastectomy, radiation and long-term hormone therapy were still planned, so she was not classified as cancer-free.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing / Surgery Planned
Lucinda, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lucinda's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lucinda Rudolph, Female, 60s

As of June 2023, Lucinda was living well after treatment for locally advanced recurrent invasive lobular breast cancer, taking exemestane, receiving supportive care for neuropathy, and returning to MD Anderson every 6 months for checkups.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Neda, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Neda's Survivor Story

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

Neda had completed surgery, 24 CMF treatments and 25 radiation treatments. She was regaining energy, had started endocrine therapy and was preparing to add another recurrence-reduction medicine.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing / Survivorship
Sarah, who was diagnosed with Stage III Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage III Breast Cancer: Sarah's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Estrogen/progesterone-sensitive breast cancer mentioned; exact receptor labels not reported

As of June 2023, Sarah had lived through incurable salivary gland cancer and Stage III breast cancer, completed major breast cancer treatment, paused hormone therapy to pursue IVF under medical guidance, delivered her daughter at 48, and was advocating for people with cancer; no cancer-free or NED status was stated.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Sarah, who was diagnosed with Stage III Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage III HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Sarah's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sarah McDonald, Female, 40s | Stage III

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

Sarah was 10 years from diagnosis without a recurrence and described the breast cancer as successfully treated. She later paused hormone therapy, completed IVF and gave birth at age 48.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / Long-Term Survivor