Breast cancer that spread to the thymus gland

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Oestrogen receptor-positive; progesterone receptor-positive; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: thymus

She had a good response after 4 cycles of abemaciclib, anastrozole and goserelin and continued endocrine treatment with surveillance of the opposite breast.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast Cancer: Christine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christine Handy, Female, 40s

As of March 2023, Christine Handy was speaking as a breast cancer survivor about survivorship, ongoing struggles, grace, courage, and life after diagnosis at age 41.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IIB Breast Cancer Treatment Followed by BRCA1 Testing

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: BRCA1 pathogenic variant

She completed 10 years of endocrine therapy without evidence of breast-cancer recurrence.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Triple-Negative Bilateral Breast Cancer Treated With Surgery, Radiation, and Oral Chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage I

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; germline BRCA1 pathogenic variant confirmed later

She completed radiotherapy and 2 years of tegafur-uracil without evidence of breast-cancer recurrence.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lesley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lesley Glenn, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone

As of March 2023, Lesley was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after an initial Stage IIB diagnosis and bone spread, and was advocating for better metastatic survivorship care and patient-centered research.

The Patient StoryRead more →

HER2-positive breast cancer on hemodialysis: partial response to T-DM1 then no metabolically active disease

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

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2/neu-positive; E-cadherin-positive; Ki-67 55-60%; luminal B type

As of March 2023, after 12 total cycles of T-DM1 and modified radical mastectomy, PET-CT showed no metabolically active disease, and she continued endocrine therapy and dialysis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Rare breast blood-vessel cancer (angiosarcoma) in a teenage girl

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: Testing for Li-Fraumeni syndrome and POT1 mutation was inconclusive; no inherited cancer predisposition was established

She remained in remission 3 years after diagnosis and continued annual MRI surveillance of the reconstructed and opposite breasts.

PubMed CentralRead more →

BRCA2 Breast Cancer: Sue's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sue Friedman, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: BRCA2 mutation

As of February 2023, Sue Friedman was a long-term breast cancer survivor and founder of FORCE after a BRCA2-associated breast cancer and recurrence; the video is educational and does not state current active disease, NED, or metastatic status for Sue.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage II Breast Cancer: Renée's Patient Story

Patient Info: Renée, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Not genetically inherited; breast cancer linked by her team to prior doxorubicin exposure and total-body radiation

As of February 2023, Renée described stable health, working treatments, good bloodwork, and ongoing long-term hormone/anti-cancer therapy; she did not consider herself cancer-free and preferred survivor/thriver language.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Rare breast cancer subtype that recurred years later in a more aggressive form

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CD117 focally positive in the transformed component; high Ki-67; hormone-receptor status was unknown at the original diagnosis

Metastatic Site: lungs

One year after treatment for the late chest-wall recurrence, CT showed another local recurrence and metastatic nodules in both lungs. She chose to continue treatment elsewhere.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV BRCA Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Langley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Langley Perer, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: inherited BRCA mutation

Metastatic Site: brain, bones, leptomeninges

After 1 year on a PARP inhibitor, Langley’s metastatic breast cancer remained in check without progression and some lesions had begun to shrink.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage I Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Carol's Survivor Story

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

Carol recovered from lumpectomy for stage 1A disease and was doing well on an aromatase inhibitor, with occasional hot flashes.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lucy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lucy E., Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation; triple-negative breast cancer

As of January 2023, Lucy had been told she was all-clear/cancer-free after chemotherapy, had undergone double mastectomy with staged reconstruction planning, and was continuing close oncology reviews every 3-4 months.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lucy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lucy, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation; triple-negative breast cancer

As of January 2023, Lucy had gone through fertility preservation, chemotherapy, and double mastectomy for Stage II grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer with BRCA1 mutation; no NED or recurrence status was stated.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage II HER2-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Lanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lanie Jones, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; Li-Fraumeni syndrome / TP53 mutation; BRCA-negative

As of January 2023, Lanie was living with Li-Fraumeni syndrome after 5 cancer diagnoses and was on lifelong maintenance chemotherapy while advocating for genetic testing and specialized surveillance.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage II Breast Cancer: Annie's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Annie was still receiving care for Stage II breast cancer after completing chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, with lumpectomy, lymphadenectomy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy still ahead in her plan.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →

Stage II Breast Cancer: Daniela's Survivor Story

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

Daniela was declared cancer-free in March 2024 after mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for Stage II breast cancer.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Joanna's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Joanna, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

By late 2023, Joanna had completed treatment for Stage III breast cancer, was no longer taking medication, and described herself as living free of cancer.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Catriona's Survivor Story

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

Catriona described herself as a breast cancer survivor who had recovered after treatment and was focused on long-term wellbeing and family.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Toni's Patient Story

Patient Info: Toni | Stage I

Toni had recently been diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer and was preparing to begin treatment.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Aria's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Aria was living with Stage IV breast cancer and undergoing hormone therapy after choosing not to have recommended surgery.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Karen's Patient Story

Patient Info: Karen, Female, 50s | Stage I

Karen was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer in October 2023 and was receiving ongoing chemotherapy as part of a recommended plan that also included lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Shuyuan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shuyuan | Stage I

Shuyuan is continuing radiation therapy and expects ongoing treatment and follow-up over the next 2 years.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Diana's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Diana was receiving treatment for Stage III breast cancer after quadrantectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, unilateral oncological mammoplasty, and lymph-node removal.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →