Stage II HER2-Positive Breast Cancer With Anti-Yo Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage II

Biomarkers: HER2 positive

Her severe anti-Yo paraneoplastic cerebellar syndrome did not meaningfully respond to IVIG or cancer treatment. She became wheelchair-dependent and ultimately required long-term care, with only moderate improvement in ataxia after rehabilitation.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Causing Severe Shoulder and Arm Pain

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: bone

Progressive nodal disease caused disabling brachial-plexus pain. She died about 3 months after placement of the intrathecal pain catheter.

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Breast Cancer: Ken's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ken Gremling, Male, 70+

Ken's mastectomy removed all of the cancer, and his clinicians expected a full recovery while he continued tamoxifen.

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Breast Cancer: Jane's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jane Gremling, Female, 60s

Jane's mastectomy removed all of the cancer, and her clinicians expected a full recovery while she continued tamoxifen and prepared for reconstruction.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Jennifer's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jennifer Buckland, Female, 40s | Stage I

As of November 2018, Jennifer was cancer-free after Stage I breast cancer treatment that included 12 weekly taxane chemotherapy treatments and cooling-cap support that helped prevent hair loss.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Breast Cancer Recurring 18 Years After Mastectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: sternum|lungs|pleura|chest wall

She died during respiratory decline caused by both metastatic breast cancer in the lungs and a separate primary lung cancer.

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Lobular Breast Cancer Spreading to an Eye Muscle

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative; CK7-positive

Metastatic Site: bones|left superior oblique eye muscle

The eye-muscle metastasis entered complete local remission, while bone disease was stable after 6 months of weekly paclitaxel and denosumab.

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Breast Cancer: Ingrid's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ingrid, Female

As of October 2018, PET imaging showed one breast tumor had disappeared, the second had lost much of its hypermetabolic aggressiveness, and no other malignancy or metastasis was seen; she remained in treatment.

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Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Julie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Julie Martin, Female | Stage I

Julie completed surgery and a five-day proton-radiation course for stage I breast cancer and continued annual mammographic surveillance.

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Recurrent Breast Cancer Initially Mistaken for Organising Pneumonia

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: ER-positive and GATA3-positive atypical pleural-fluid cells

Metastatic Site: lungs

After 12 months of first-line hormone therapy for metastatic recurrence, she had significant clinical and radiological improvement and remained on treatment.

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Recurrent HER2-Positive Breast Cancer With Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2 3+; anti-Yo antibody positive

Her neurological symptoms continued to progress despite cancer-directed treatment; postoperative recovery was uncomplicated.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Deidre's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Deidre Smith, Female, 40s | Stage I

As of August 2018, Deidre had completed Stage I breast cancer treatment with bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstruction and described survivorship with a changed outlook and strong family support.

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Triple-Negative Micropapillary Mucinous Breast Cancer After a Nondiagnostic Biopsy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative, triple negative

The invasive tumor was removed with clear margins, with no malignancy in the sentinel lymph nodes.

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Breast cancer recurrence involving the bladder and bones

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Initial breast cancer: ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative. Bladder metastasis: ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2 1+.

Metastatic Site: bladder, bone, rectosigmoid region, anorectal region

She died in October 2016 from pulmonary haemorrhage, 47 months after metastatic disease was diagnosed.

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Breast cancer presenting with severe coordination problems and facial weakness

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

At 6 months after surgery, her neurological dysfunction had not improved but had not worsened. She still required assistance with self-care and had a poor quality of life.

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What It’s Like When Your Dad Has Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized

She was a six-year breast cancer survivor.

Dana-FarberRead more →

BRCA2 Breast Cancer: Jeffrey's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeffrey Collins, male, 40s

Biomarkers: BRCA2 mutation

Jeffrey Collins died from male breast cancer at age 47.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Breast implant rupture decades after bilateral breast cancer treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

In 2016, the excised left breast mass was a fibrous capsule measuring 8 × 6 × 4 mm and was negative for tumor. She had no postoperative complications at 7- and 30-day follow-up after implant removal.

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Breast cancer treatment alongside severe pemphigus vulgaris

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Breast-cancer endocrine treatment was ongoing while her pemphigus required a separate treatment strategy; she was followed for 18 months.

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Breast cancer spreading to the colon, rectum and peritoneal surfaces

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

Biomarkers: Primary tumor: ER >80% positive; PR 50–60% positive; HER2 negative; E-cadherin positive. Later colorectal metastases: ER positive; PR negative; HER2 negative; CK7 positive; CK20 negative; CDX2 negative.

Metastatic Site: colon, rectum, peritoneum, diaphragm, liver, bowel,…

Metastatic breast cancer was subsequently confirmed in the colon and rectum, with later laparoscopic biopsies showing peritoneal and additional intra-abdominal metastatic disease.

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Breast cancer recurrence presenting with numb chin syndrome

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

Metastatic Site: sternum, left mandibular foramen

She was discharged ambulatory without lower-limb pain, although left mandibular numbness persisted, with monthly oncology follow-up planned.

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Severe patent blue dye allergy during planned breast cancer surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

The repeat operation proceeded without blue dyes and without another perioperative allergic reaction.

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Luminal A breast cancer growing over 1 year in a 76-year-old woman

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

Biomarkers: ER positive; PR negative; HER2 negative; Ki-67 20%

She had recovered from surgery and completed radiotherapy about 4 months after the initial operation, with adjuvant hormonal therapy planned.

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Occult lobular breast cancer presenting as an orbital metastasis

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

Biomarkers: ER positive; PR positive; HER2 negative; CK7 positive; CK CAM5.2 positive; E-cadherin negative

Metastatic Site: left orbit, bone

The orbital metastasis decreased with treatment and systemic disease remained controlled on hormonal therapy during 5 years of clinical follow-up.

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