Treatment-Refractory Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treated With Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes

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

Biomarkers: Germline BRCA1 pathogenic variant; later triple-negative phenotype

Metastatic Site: skin, lungs, bones

Tumor burden briefly decreased after tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, but she developed severe treatment complications followed by rapid cancer relapse and died about 1 month after the TIL/IL-2 treatment began.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast Cancer Recurs After a 19-Year Remission and Responds to Later Chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: PR-positive, ER-negative, HER2-negative. Recurrence: ER-positive, PR-negative

Metastatic Site: bones

The cancer recurred after a 19-year remission and later spread to bone. More than 21 years after the original diagnosis, she had marked tumor shrinkage, was in good general condition, and had 10 months of progression-free survival after utidelone plus capecitabine.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Male Breast Cancer Controlled for Years Through Multiple Lines of Targeted and Endocrine Therapy

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive; later ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2-negative; PIK3CA mutation; germline BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: bones, pleura, liver

After a 5-year and 6-month disease-free interval, the cancer recurred in bone and later progressed to the pleura and liver. He died in January 2021, more than 13 years after his 2007 breast-cancer diagnosis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Male breast cancer in both breasts linked to Klinefelter syndrome, initially missed

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: spine / bone

With advanced metastatic disease and an estimated prognosis of weeks or less, care focused on symptom relief under the palliative-care team.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Adenoid Cystic Breast Cancer Spreads to the Kidney, Lungs, Bone and Spleen

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative

Metastatic Site: kidneys, lungs, spleen, bone, lymph nodes

The cancer progressed from an initial kidney metastasis to widespread disease involving the lungs, spleen, right kidney, lymph nodes, and C4 vertebra. By May 2022 she had worsening cachexia and pain, and best supportive care was recommended.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast cancer lung metastasis treated with a minimally invasive freezing procedure

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; ER-negative

Metastatic Site: lungs

Follow-up PET/CT at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after cryoablation showed no progression or new lesions without systemic therapy.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Brenda's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Brenda, Female, 40s

Brenda completed mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and an oophorectomy. She remained on anastrozole and a CDK4/6 inhibitor when she shared her story.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

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

Patient Info: Olivia Franz, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Bones; distant lymph nodes

As of October 2023, Olivia continued to show no evidence of disease on scans while receiving maintenance trastuzumab and pertuzumab every 3 weeks and zoledronic acid every 3 months for bone health.

MD AndersonRead more →

Exercise Trainer Helps Detect Brain Metastases in a Woman With Long-Standing Metastatic Breast Cancer

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

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

Metastatic Site: liver, bones, lymph nodes, kidney, brain

She died 5 months after the brain metastases were diagnosed, roughly 7 years after her original 2014 breast-cancer diagnosis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

New Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Develops During Olaparib Treatment for a Separate Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s

Biomarkers: Triple-negative; germline BRCA2 mutation; BRCA2 reversion mutation

A woman receiving olaparib for BRCA2-mutated metastatic lung cancer developed a separate 14 mm triple-negative breast cancer with a BRCA2 reversion mutation.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Leigh's Patient Story

Patient Info: Leigh, Female

Leigh died in June 2022 from complications of ovarian cancer. Her lobular breast cancer experience led her to co-found the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance and build a lasting patient-advocacy legacy.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage IV Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: April's Patient Story

Patient Info: April Donaldson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; BRCA1 positive

Metastatic Site: Lungs

As of September 2023, April was living with Stage IV metastatic triple-negative breast cancer in the lungs; scans were stable in February but showed growth again in July, and PARP inhibitor therapy was being planned.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Kelly's Stage 3 Breast Cancer Story: “I’m Still Here & THRIVING!"

Patient Info: Kelly Thomas, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: Initial triple-negative breast cancer; after surgery

As of August 2023, Kelly was 5 years from her Stage IIIC triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis with no recurrence reported.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Susan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Susan, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: BRCA negative; earlier breast cancer described as triple-negative; later breast cancer estrogen-positive and progesterone-positive; HER2 not reported

As of August 2023, Susan was living after multiple breast cancer diagnoses, including a later estrogen-positive/progesterone-positive non-metastatic breast cancer treated with bilateral mastectomy and ongoing 5-year estrogen-blocker therapy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Susan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Susan, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: 2021 breast cancer described as estrogen-positive and progesterone-positive; HER2 not reported. First breast cancer biomarker status not reported.

As of August 2023, Susan was living in survivorship after a first breast cancer treated with lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation and a later separate breast cancer treated with bilateral mastectomy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Megan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Megan Claire Chase, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2 not reported

As of July 2023, Megan-Claire was in survivorship after Stage II invasive lobular breast cancer, with clear early scans but significant long-term effects, surgical menopause, chronic pain, fatigue, chemo brain, and inability to tolerate recurrence-prevention medications.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Megan-Claire's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Megan-Claire, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

As of July 2023, Megan-Claire had completed chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery with reconstruction/reduction, and 33 radiation rounds, and was living with long-term effects including neuropathy, scarring, fatigue, and radiation trauma; no recurrence or NED status was stated.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage III Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Nikki's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive

As of July 2023, Nikki had completed 7 chemotherapy rounds for Stage III inflammatory hormone-positive breast cancer, had no sign of distant spread on PET scans, and was preparing for single mastectomy, radiation, and long-term hormone therapy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage III HER2-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Nikki's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nikki, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; hormone receptor-positive

After 7 chemotherapy rounds, imaging showed no visible disease, but the team expected possible microscopic cancer. A single mastectomy, radiation and long-term hormone therapy were still planned, so she was not classified as cancer-free.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lucinda's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lucinda Rudolph, Female, 60s

As of June 2023, Lucinda was living well after treatment for locally advanced recurrent invasive lobular breast cancer, taking exemestane, receiving supportive care for neuropathy, and returning to MD Anderson every 6 months for checkups.

MD AndersonRead more →

Reconstructive surgery technique fixes tissue death after mastectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive in both breast cancers

The reconstructive wound was completely healed at 2 months, and she continued tamoxifen with ongoing follow-up.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Cynthia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Cynthia, Female | Stage II

As of June 2023, Cynthia described herself as cancer-free and about 4 years out from treatment, while continuing normal follow-up and managing survivorship effects including nerve pain, stiffness, and severe fragrance-related skin allergy after radiation.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Cynthia: Stage II Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Cynthia, Female | Stage II

Cynthia completed surgery and 25 rounds of radiation for Stage IIB invasive ductal carcinoma and was about 4 years into survivorship with normal follow-up, ongoing physical effects, and breast cancer education advocacy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Neda's Survivor Story

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

Neda had completed surgery, 24 CMF treatments and 25 radiation treatments. She was regaining energy, had started endocrine therapy and was preparing to add another recurrence-reduction medicine.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →