Mastectomy for Stage 4 Breast Cancer: 131 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.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →

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 →

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

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: bones

Amy learned within weeks of bilateral mastectomy that invasive lobular breast cancer had involved lymph nodes and spread to her bones, changing her diagnosis from Stage I to Stage IV.

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 HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Regina's Patient Story

Patient Info: Regina Ritter, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver | Lung

At the 2013 interview, Regina was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer after liver metastasis at diagnosis, later recurrence, and inoperable lung metastasis treated with oral chemotherapy.

Krankheitserfahrungen.deRead more →

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

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain | Liver

Leftfootforward was diagnosed with Stage IIB HER2-positive breast cancer in 2010 and metastatic brain/liver disease in 2012; after systemic therapy, Gamma Knife, craniotomy for necrotic tissue, partial liver lobectomy, and resumed Herceptin, her latest scans showed no evidence of disease.

BreastCancer.org (ES)Read more →

Stage IV BRCA Breast Cancer: Carolina's Patient Story

Patient Info: Carolina, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: BRCA mutation

Metastatic Site: Not specified

Carolina had metastatic breast cancer from the start, completed bilateral mastectomy, multiple surgeries, 6 months of chemotherapy, and 25 radiation sessions, and still had reconstructive procedures remaining.

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: 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 →

How Learning To Ask For Help Can Make Life With MBC Easier

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

Biomarkers: Not explicitly reported; HER2-targeted treatment with Herceptin and Tykerb reported

Metastatic Site: Brain; liver

Living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer involving brain and liver; latest scans showed no evidence of disease, and she reported spending most of her Stage IV life in NED status.

breastcancer.orgRead 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 →

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

Patient Info: Tiffany Andrews, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; ER-negative at recurrence

Metastatic Site: lungs|brain

Tiffany is living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer and continues treatment through a clinical trial after progression in the lungs and brain.

MD AndersonRead more →

Rare Breast Neuroendocrine Cancer That Recurred in the Liver

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

Biomarkers: Chromogranin-positive; synaptophysin-positive; GATA-3-positive; ER-positive; PR negative on repeat biopsy and 40% positive on the mastectomy specimen; HER2-negative; Ki-67 85–95%

Metastatic Site: Liver; abdominal lymph nodes

After temporary responses to surgery and repeated chemotherapy, the cancer returned repeatedly in the liver and had spread to abdominal lymph nodes by May 2025. A new chemotherapy regimen 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 HER2-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Renee's Patient Story

Patient Info: Renee N., Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of June 2026, Renee’s public story described living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer as a chronic illness, after brain radiation and while on Kadcyla every 3 weeks with stable scans reported in December 2019 and early March 2020.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Amy’s Stage 4 Hormone-Positive Lobular Breast Cancer Story

Patient Info: Amy, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: Spine; pelvis

Amy was living with de novo stage 4 lobular breast cancer involving the spine and pelvis and remained active in rural-patient advocacy.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead 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 →

Stage IIB triple-negative metaplastic breast cancer with early metastatic recurrence: durable response to pembrolizumab-based therapy

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative metaplastic breast cancer with PD-L1 CPS 83.2, BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: lung, sternum

As of May 2026, she had more than 30 months of disease control after pembrolizumab-based therapy for early recurrent metastatic metaplastic breast cancer, with only mild residual sternal uptake and no disease progression.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV BRCA Breast Cancer: Maralee's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: BRCA mutation

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of May 2026, Maralee had no evidence of active disease after prior Stage IV breast cancer with brain metastasis, had stopped the PARP inhibitor after 2 years, remained without brain recurrence long enough to pursue pregnancy, and gave birth to a second daughter.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Erica's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: Bone — ribs, sternum, spine, femur/right hip, shoulder…

Living with stable Stage IV hormone-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer involving multiple bones, currently managed with monthly hormone-suppressant injections and monitoring.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Metastatic invasive lobular breast cancer with stomach, ovarian, peritoneal, rectal, and jejunal spread

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

Biomarkers: Primary tumor and gastric metastasis were ER/PR positive and HER2 negative; GATA3 supported breast origin in the metastasis.

Metastatic Site: stomach; ovaries; peritoneum; rectum; jejunum

During 2025, she remained under active oncologic management for metastatic invasive lobular breast cancer with gastrointestinal, ovarian, peritoneal, rectal, and jejunal involvement.

PubMed CentralRead more →

ER-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer with rare paranasal sinus and skull metastasis

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

Biomarkers: Primary and paranasal sinus metastasis were ER positive, PR negative, HER2 positive; GATA3 supported breast origin in metastasis.

Metastatic Site: left frontal sinus; ethmoid air cells; posterior…

The paranasal sinus/skull metastasis did not respond to palliative radiotherapy; her condition deteriorated and she died 2 years after her initial presentation to the treating facility.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage 4 breast cancer: 4 years and counting

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: hormone receptor-positive; HER2 1+. Metastatic recurrence: triple-negative breast cancer.

Metastatic Site: liver, bone, lung, supraclavicular lymph nodes,…

After response of choroidal metastases to eye radiation plus sacituzumab govitecan, disease progressed in February 2023 with cerebellar and pituitary brain lesions; she developed obstructive hydrocephalus, entered hospice in May 2023, and died in June 2023.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer with sacituzumab-govitecan pneumonitis and progression

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

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

Metastatic Site: lung

Sacituzumab-govitecan pneumonitis improved with corticosteroids and half-dose rechallenge did not reproduce pneumonitis, but follow-up CT showed one new pulmonary metastasis and enlargement of previous lung metastases; PFS on sacituzumab govitecan was 5.37 months.

PubMed CentralRead more →