HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Linked to a Rare Immune-Related Neurological Syndrome

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: HER2-positive in both foci; one focus ER-negative/PR-positive with Ki-67 45%; second focus ER-negative/PR-negative with Ki-67 35%; anti-Yo antibodies positive in serum and CSF; tumour-susceptibility gene panel negative

At 1 year, she had completed trastuzumab, continued tamoxifen, and had no evidence of recurrent breast cancer; intensive rehabilitation improved her mobility, although balance and right-sided neurological deficits persisted.

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Late Breast Skin Changes After Partial-Breast Radiation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Mammography, ultrasound, MRI, and skin biopsy found no breast-cancer recurrence 13 years after treatment.

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Recurrent Breast Cancer With a Benign-Appearing Chest-Wall Rash

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: ER-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative.

Metastatic Site: mediastinal lymph nodes

She had recurrent chest-wall and mediastinal metastatic disease; a later rash biopsy showed dermatitis rather than another skin recurrence.

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Young woman with ductal breast cancer and bleeding gastric metastases

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

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

Metastatic Site: pancreas|liver|kidney|stomach

After rapid progression to the pancreas, liver, kidney and stomach, she chose palliative care and died 1 month after presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding.

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Earlier left ductal breast cancer treated with radiation and endocrine therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

She completed radiation and adjuvant endocrine therapy for the earlier ductal cancer; 8 years later, she developed a separate lobular carcinoma in the same breast.

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Lobular breast cancer later spread to the stomach, bone, neck and mediastinum

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

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

Metastatic Site: stomach|bone|neck|mediastinum

After gastric metastasis was diagnosed and later imaging showed bone, neck and mediastinal spread, her oral intake and health declined; she chose palliative care and died 7 months after the diagnostic endoscopy.

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Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Caitlin's Patient Story

Patient Info: Caitlin J., Female, Under 40 | Stage II

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

As of July 2020, Caitlin had completed lumpectomy, AC chemotherapy, Taxol, and 33 radiation treatments for Stage IIB ER-positive, PR-positive IDC and was continuing monthly Lupron plus daily anastrozole.

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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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Occult breast cancer found in the axillary lymph nodes during diagnosis of four cancers

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: ER 90% positive; HER2 overexpression; CK19-positive; mammaglobin-positive.

Almost four years after the synchronous cancer diagnoses, she was alive without recurrence and continued letrozole and oncology follow-up.

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Jaw and neck infection mimicked breast cancer spread ten years after treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Ten years after mastectomy and radiation, she remained on adjuvant hormone therapy; the new jaw and neck lesions were actinomycosis rather than breast-cancer spread.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Kirby's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kirby Lewis, Male | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: lung|spine

Kirby was living with metastatic breast cancer, and his most recent scans showed the right-lung tumor was stable with no signs of progression while he continued fulvestrant and palbociclib.

Stage IV BRCA2 Breast Cancer: Lisa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lisa Quinn, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Inherited BRCA2 mutation

Metastatic Site: bone, liver

Lisa Quinn died on August 30, 2021, after sharing her experience with metastatic breast cancer and advocating for cancer research funding.

Stage III Breast Cancer: Christine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christine Cosby | Stage III

At the latest report, there was no sign of cancer in Christine’s body and she had recovered enough to return to work part time.

A second breast cancer arising in a previously known cyst

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: ER >95% positive; PR >95% positive; HER2 negative; Ki-67 11–50%; p53 negative for overexpression

She completed right-breast radiation and was continuing anastrozole 1 mg daily as adjuvant endocrine therapy.

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Stage III Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Ximena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ximena Nardelli, Female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive

As of February 2020, Ximena had completed mastectomy, 16 chemotherapy sessions, and 21 radiation treatments for Stage III hormone-positive invasive ductal carcinoma and was continuing planned 5-year hormone therapy.

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Early breast cancer followed 19 years later by a radiation-related breast sarcoma

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

Biomarkers: Strongly ER-positive; strongly PR-positive.

The stage IA breast carcinoma remained disease-free for 19 years; a later right-breast mass was a separate radiation-induced sarcoma rather than recurrent carcinoma.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Dan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Dan DiNardo, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Left femoral ball/hip; spine; lymph nodes; chest

As of January 2020, Dan was living with metastatic recurrent male breast cancer on ongoing hormone-blocking therapy plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor after surgery and hip radiation; his cancer had shown no growth for 1 year.

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Breast Cancer: Constance's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Constance Porter, Female

As of January 2020, Constance was cancer-free 3 years after breast cancer diagnosis, while living with permanent hair loss, joint pain from anastrozole, and occasional leg cramps.

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Metastatic ER-positive breast cancer complicated by osteonecrosis of the jaw

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive.

Metastatic Site: bone (sternum, spine, pelvis, and proximal femur)

After progressive metastatic bone disease and severe medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, she entered end-of-life care and died three weeks after discharge to a nursing home.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Marese's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Marese | Stage II

Marese said the breast cancer was in remission after completing active treatment, and she continued hormone therapy to help maintain remission.

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Breast Cancer: Serena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Serena

Serena completed surgery and radiation and is currently undergoing hormone therapy.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Jaidive's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jaidive, Female, 40s | Stage II

Jaidive was declared cancer-free on 11 November 2021 after lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and tamoxifen/hormone therapy for Stage II breast cancer, while continuing specialist appointments and medication.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Audrey's Patient Story

Patient Info: Audrey, Female, 60s | Stage I

Audrey completed quadrantectomy and radiation therapy for Stage I breast cancer and remained on hormone therapy, with lymphatic drainage and physical therapy for lymphedema and pain-related effects.

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N

Patient Info: N | Stage I

Biomarkers: No inherited BRCA variant identified.

N completed lumpectomy and radiation and continued hormone therapy while adjusting to life after treatment.

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