Breast Cancer: Teri's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Teri

Her cancer is in remission, and she continues hormone therapy.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →

Stage II Breast Cancer: Alicia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Alicia, Female, 50s | Stage II

As of 2023, Alicia had undergone Stage II breast cancer treatment with mastectomy, hormone therapy, and DIEP flap reconstruction, with no treatment side effects described and a focus on recovery and wellbeing.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →

Stage I Breast Cancer: Lauren's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lauren | Stage I

Lauren remained in active care with radiation therapy and hormone therapy ongoing.

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HR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Annette's Patient Story

Patient Info: Annette La Fontaine, Female

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

As of January 2023, Annette was in survivorship after bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction and was taking a daily aromatase inhibitor to reduce recurrence risk while rebuilding body confidence and emotional well-being.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Bethany's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive / hormone-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver; bones; lymph nodes; stomach

As of December 2022, Bethany was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after recurrence to the liver, bones, lymph nodes, and stomach, and was on lifelong maintenance treatment after disease shrinkage.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Breast Cancer: Sharon's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sharon Kovach, Female, 60s

Sharon, age 63 at the time of the story, had remained in remission since completing treatment for recurrence in 2003.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Metastatic Breast Cancer Reclassified After NTRK Fusion Testing

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ETV6-NTRK3 fusion detected in tissue but not circulating tumor DNA; ER low-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative; PD-L1-negative; germline CHEK2 variant of uncertain significance

Metastatic Site: lungs and pleura; hilar, mediastinal and retrocaval…

After tissue testing identified an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion, treatment with larotrectinib produced a rapid clinical and radiological response.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lianne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lianne Kraemer, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Six years after brain metastases were diagnosed, Lianne remained in active follow-up with scans and treatment decisions every 8 weeks while living with metastatic breast cancer.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Kara's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kara Niewohner, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: BRCA2 mutation; triple-negative

No trace of breast cancer remained after the September 2021 double mastectomy, and no radiation or additional breast-cancer treatment was needed.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Cancer in Accessory Breast Tissue Under Both Arms in a Man

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

Biomarkers: Left tumor: HER2-positive by gene amplification; ER-negative; PR-negative; Ki-67 70%; p53 staining 80%

After surgery removed both accessory-breast cancers, he continued with adjuvant paclitaxel, trastuzumab and radiation.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast radiation completed after severe vertigo during COVID-19 vaccination

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

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

Four weeks after completing radiation, her skin reaction was improving and she had returned to work briefly, although vertigo was still present.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Daneen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Daneen, Female, 50s

Daneen underwent double mastectomy and reconstruction, started radiation and had been taking anastrozole for 2 years when she shared her story.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Breast Cancer: Kehau's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kehau Matsumoto, Female, 70+

Kehau had 5 years without a breast cancer recurrence after her 2006 mastectomy, and at the latest report she said she had no signs of cancer.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Simone's Patient Story

Patient Info: Simone Saint Laurent, Female

Simone had moved into follow-up care and was considered to have a past history of cancer while continuing breast-reconstruction follow-up, with possible future revisions and yearly exams.

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Tamara's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tamara, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of April 2022, Tamara was 4 years from HER2-positive breast cancer treatment and still in periodic follow-up before reaching the 5-year mark after treatment.

BRCA1 Breast Cancer: Janice's Patient Story

Patient Info: Janice Dolnick, female

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

Janice had a 21-year history that included 2 rounds of breast cancer treatment and a bilateral mastectomy before a separate primary peritoneal cancer was diagnosed in 2018.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage I Breast Cancer: Lorena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lorena, Female | Stage I

As of April 2022, Lorena was nearly 3 years into recovery from Stage I breast cancer after double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and ongoing tamoxifen.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jo's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jo, Female, 50s

Jo recovered well from bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. She remained on monthly Zoladex and daily anastrozole, with no chemotherapy or radiation required.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Recurrent Lobular Breast Cancer Spread to the Opposite Armpit Lymph Node

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

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

Metastatic Site: Contralateral right axillary lymph node

After surgery for the recurrence and removal of the opposite-side axillary nodes, the patient proceeded with adjuvant chemotherapy and remained in active treatment.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Eileen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Eileen, Female

As of March 2022, Eileen described herself as having no evidence of disease after double mastectomy, multiple surgeries for necrosis complications, and oophorectomy with benign biopsy findings, while continuing 4-month oncology follow-up.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Severe Esophageal Narrowing After Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s

The breast tumor shrank slightly and was considered stable before mastectomy. Her major subsequent problem was persistent treatment-related esophageal narrowing that required nutritional support and later a removable esophageal stent.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage II HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: María's Survivor Story

Patient Info: María Ángeles, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of March 2022, María Ángeles was 4 years from diagnosis after completing 14 chemotherapy sessions, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, 21 radiation sessions, and trastuzumab for Stage II HER2-positive breast cancer.

BRCA1 Breast Cancer: Mary's Patient Story

Patient Info: Mary Anne Marshall, female

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

After the November 2017 double mastectomy, pathology showed clean margins and no lymph node invasion, and no additional breast cancer treatment was needed.

MD AndersonRead more →