Hormone Therapy for Stage 4 Breast Cancer: 135 Real Stories

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Nathalie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nathalie | Stage IV

Nathalie had been living with stage 4 breast cancer for more than three years and remained focused on time with her children.

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Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Ann's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ann, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: peritoneum; intestines/bowel

Ann was living with metastatic invasive lobular breast cancer involving the peritoneum and bowel. After 9 months of recurrence treatment, she underwent successful ileostomy reversal and regained greater freedom to travel.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Goodie16's Story: Grand Mal Seizure Uncovers Metastatic Breast Cancer in the Brain

Patient Info: Goodie16 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Oncotype DX recurrence score 12; ER, PR, and HER2 results not reported

Metastatic Site: brain

After removal and Gamma Knife treatment of a solitary brain metastasis, Goodie16 had a clear brain MRI in March 2016 and a PET scan showing no evidence of disease in September 2015 while continuing hormonal treatment.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Kattysmith's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: lymphatic system; skin/soft-tissue nodules; possible…

After AC chemotherapy, the metastatic nodules shrank markedly. Kattysmith was stable on palbociclib and letrozole with declining tumor markers, while clearly stating that she was not NED.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Rachel's Patient Story

Patient Info: Rachel, Female | Stage IV

Rachel was living with Stage 4 breast cancer for 12 years with hormone treatment, oral chemotherapy, and CT/MRI scans every 3 months; she described her health as very good.

The Christie NHSRead more →

Hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer with later lung metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Lung

The patient had hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer treated with standard therapy, then developed lung metastasis years later and continued molecular targeted therapy indefinitely while asymptomatic from the metastasis.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Silvia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Silvia Litsching, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone | Liver

Silvia lived for many years with metastatic breast cancer involving bone and liver, receiving repeated systemic, radiation, liver-directed, bone-directed, complementary, and rehabilitation-based care while remaining active and positive.

Krankheitserfahrungen.deRead more →

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Pilar's Patient Story

Patient Info: Pilar, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-positive

Pilar was living with metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer, continuing systemic treatment with Zoladex, aromatase inhibitors, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab, and managing side effects with rehabilitation support.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Manuela's Patient Story

Patient Info: Manuela Weber, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Peritoneum

Manuela was living with metastatic breast cancer involving the peritoneum, with aromatase-inhibitor therapy still working 6 years after metastases were found despite an initial prognosis of 1-2 years.

Krankheitserfahrungen.deRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Tova's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tova Goldblum, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Metastatic sites not specified

Tova had breast cancer diagnosed in 1992, later lived for many years with metastases, continued long-term Tamoxifen and regular 6-month checks, and used faith, self-help, writing, and long-term planning to live actively with cancer.

Krankheitserfahrungen.deRead more →

Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jeri's Patient Story

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

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

Metastatic Site: Lymph node | Ovaries | Fallopian tubes | Uterus | Bone

Jeri was diagnosed with de novo Stage IV ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2-negative ILC involving lymph node, gynecologic organs, and bone; after progression on 2 estrogen-therapy-based combinations, a different drug stabilized the disease 10 months after diagnosis.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lisa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lisa, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone

Lisa’s 2017 lobular breast cancer was found to be Stage II after bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction; despite tamoxifen, back pain 3 years later led to PET-confirmed metastatic ILC in the bones.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Katie's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Stomach | Pelvis | Spine

Katie was living with metastatic ILC involving the stomach wall, pelvis, and spine while taking ribociclib (Kisqali) with letrozole, with improved stomach findings and stable spine metastases after 6 rounds.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Beth's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bone

Beth first received chemotherapy and hormone therapy for Stage II pleomorphic ILC in 2005, then developed bone metastases 16 years later and continued living actively with metastatic disease, including a later progression.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Nikoo's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nikoo, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: Peritoneum | Ascites | Possible bone

Nikoo’s early lobular breast cancer treated in 2003 with lumpectomy, radiation, and 5 years of tamoxifen recurred 19 years later as ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic lobular breast cancer involving the peritoneum, ascites, and possible bone.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

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

Patient Info: Robbie, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Estrogen receptor-positive / ER-positive

Metastatic Site: Bone; liver

Living with metastatic breast cancer involving bone and liver after earlier DCIS and Stage II ER-positive breast cancer; ongoing treatment at Mass General focused on stabilization and long-term disease management.

Massachusetts General HospitalRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Amy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amy Mannarino, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Brain

After brain metastasis surgery and 3 radiation sessions, Amy was doing well with no evidence of disease; the source specifically distinguishes NED from being cured or cancer-free in the setting of metastatic disease.

Memorial Sloan KetteringRead more →

Breast cancer spread into a separate kidney cancer

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

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

Metastatic Site: bone|kidney

The kidney surgery unexpectedly confirmed a new breast-cancer metastasis, changing her breast cancer status to systemic progression. A new systemic treatment was planned.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Alison's Survivor Story

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

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

Metastatic Site: Cervical/neck lymph nodes

Alison reported complete remission since August 2017 while continuing intermittent maintenance chemotherapy, most recently 1 month of treatment followed by 2 months off.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Shari's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shari S., Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive, PR-positive and HER2-positive; no inherited cancer mutation was identified

Metastatic Site: Brain; other initial metastatic sites were not named

Systemic imaging after chemotherapy showed no active disease, but brain metastases later required stereotactic radiation. Shari remained stage 4, continued Herceptin every 3 weeks and underwent brain MRI every 3–4 months.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stable Stage IV breast cancer after a serious side effect from abemaciclib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: bone marrow

About 2 years after starting treatment, she remained on reduced-dose abemaciclib without disease progression.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Bethany's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bones; liver; lymph nodes; stomach

As of June 2026, Bethany was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer and responding well to maintenance treatment, with scans described as phenomenal and disease areas shrinking or disappearing.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer with orbital and bone metastases responding to nab-paclitaxel plus everolimus

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

Biomarkers: Primary breast cancer was ER-low, PR/HER2 negative. Orbital metastasis was triple-negative with AKT1 exon 4 mutation.

Metastatic Site: right orbit/orbital mass; bone

At 6-month follow-up, systemic disease was stable, ocular symptoms had significantly improved, orbital metastases were stable on MRI, and the response was described as RECIST partial response/progression-free interval while treatment continued.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast cancer treatment during pregnancy followed by postpartum targeted therapy

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

She achieved a near-complete response after 4 cycles of docetaxel and then continued systemic treatment after delivery.

PubMed CentralRead more →