Stage I Breast Cancer: Susanna's Patient Story

Patient Info: Susanna | Stage I

Susanna was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer after noticing a swollen breast and completed lumpectomy and chemotherapy while working to preserve normal life and relationships.

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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: Catherine's Survivor Story

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

As of 2020, Catherine had completed lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for Stage II breast cancer and was in remission, while managing fatigue, hair loss, and peripheral neuropathy.

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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 II Breast Cancer: Jenny's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jenny | Stage II

Jenny completed the treatment plan recommended by her doctors and later described herself as courageous, optimistic, and thankful while continuing to fear recurrence or metastasis.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Catalina's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Catalina, Female, 50s | Stage III

Catalina described herself as being in remission after oral chemotherapy, while continuing medication for pain.

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Stage IIIA breast cancer treated alongside a synchronous colon cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage III

Two years after surgery, she remained well with no CT evidence of metastasis or recurrence while continuing endocrine therapy and six-monthly follow-up.

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Breast Cancer: Alexandria's Patient Story

Patient Info: Alexandria, Female, Under 40

As of December 2019, Alexandria was receiving chemotherapy after single mastectomy and fertility preservation; no final outcome, stage, or biomarker status was stated.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Natalia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Natalia Padron, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No hereditary breast-cancer mutation identified

Metastatic Site: pelvic organs; ovaries

As of November 2019, Natalia was living about 5 years after a terminal metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, using daily treatment/medications to help control the cancer and advocating for the metastatic breast cancer community.

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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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Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Liver Mimicking Cirrhosis

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

Biomarkers: Original cancer: HER2-negative and PR-positive. Liver recurrence: ER-positive.

Metastatic Site: liver

The breast cancer recurred in the liver after 14 years, produced pseudocirrhosis and portal-hypertension complications, and she died from hepatorenal syndrome five weeks after presentation.

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Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Melanie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Melanie Nix, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation; triple-negative breast cancer

Melanie remained cancer-free after treatment while continuing ongoing oncology monitoring because of her BRCA1 mutation and family history.

Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Suzanne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Suzanne Kulliver, Female | Stage I

Suzanne completed breast cancer treatment in June 2016 and reported feeling great, exercising regularly, and returning to her busy routine.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Janet's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Janet Klein, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone: left iliac bone

Janet’s Stage 1 breast cancer later recurred and metastasized to the left iliac bone, but she had no sign of cancer from January 2010 onward while continuing palbociclib plus letrozole.

Breast Cancer: Jeanette's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeanette Stephens-El, Female, 40s

Thirteen years after her 2003 diagnosis, Jeanette described herself as a breast cancer survivor and was active in patient advocacy and fundraising for cancer research.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lori's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lori Marx-Rubiner, Female | Stage IV

AACR reported that Lori Marx-Rubiner died on August 2, 2017.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Mariann's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Mariann Lotenero, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer

As of October 2019, Mariann reported she no longer had cancer after prior triple-negative breast cancer treatment and had improved sensation and body comfort about 2 years after DIEP reconstruction with nerve reconnection.

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

Patient Info: Kate Watson, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Chest lymph nodes; spine; pelvis; femur

As of October 2019, Kate had been in remission for about 3 years with regular PET scans showing no evidence of active disease, while continuing monthly HER2-targeted maintenance treatment.

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Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Parotid Gland Eight Years Later

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

Biomarkers: Primary breast tumor: ER-positive and HER2-positive. Parotid metastasis: ER-positive, PR-negative, and HER2-positive.

Metastatic Site: left parotid gland

The isolated parotid metastasis was completely resected, one-month PET-CT showed no significant abnormality, and endocrine therapy continued with exemestane.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Presenting With Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive.

Metastatic Site: bone; bone marrow

At seven months, she was doing well with a marked response on PET imaging, normalized right-heart pressures, and ongoing systemic treatment with palbociclib.

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Unexpected Miscarriage During Tamoxifen Treatment for Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Four years after mastectomy, she remained on tamoxifen and recent imaging of the opposite breast was normal.

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Morphea After Breast Reconstruction Mimicked Cellulitis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Her postoperative skin plaques were considered morphea rather than infection, and conservative management was chosen because similar episodes had resolved spontaneously.

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Breast Cancer: Brittney's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Brittney Rinella, Female, Under 40

As of August 2019, Brittney was cancer-free 4 years after breast cancer treatment with double mastectomy and 4 chemotherapy rounds plus goserelin injections to help preserve ovarian function; she later gave birth to her son.

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Nocardia Infection Mimicked Breast Cancer Lung Metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage III

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

The lung nodules resolved with antibiotics and proved infectious rather than metastatic; she remained in good health at the last follow-up in January 2019.

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