Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Nancy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nancy, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bones

At the time of Brian’s account, Nancy was living with stage 4 lobular breast cancer and remained active in patient advocacy and education.

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Breast Cancer Spread to the Sinuses, Eye Sockets and Skull

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive

Metastatic Site: ethmoid and frontal sinuses; both orbits; multiple…

At 1-year follow-up, the sino-orbital metastases had not progressed on neuroimaging, right-eye visual acuity remained good, and chemoradiotherapy had been tolerated without complication.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Caused Severe Circulation Problems in Her Fingers and Toes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

The digital ischaemia improved after gemcitabine was stopped, without revascularisation, debridement or amputation, although a small necrotic fingertip area persisted at 3 months. Metastatic breast cancer treatment continued with further systemic lines after progression.

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Stage IV PIK3CA Breast Cancer: Abigail's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive breast cancer with PIK3CA mutation and germline ATM mutation; later PD-L1 somatic change reported. HER2 not stated.

Metastatic Site: Bone, including femurs, spine, and humeri; later liver

As of October 2022, Abigail was living with Stage IV hormone-positive metastatic breast cancer after years of treatment, bone-dominant disease that later involved the liver, targeted therapies, genomic testing, and advocacy around clinical trials and patient research participation.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Reclassified After NTRK Fusion Testing

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ETV6-NTRK3 fusion detected in tissue but not circulating tumor DNA; ER low-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative; PD-L1-negative; germline CHEK2 variant of uncertain significance

Metastatic Site: lungs and pleura; hilar, mediastinal and retrocaval…

After tissue testing identified an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion, treatment with larotrectinib produced a rapid clinical and radiological response.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lianne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lianne Kraemer, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Six years after brain metastases were diagnosed, Lianne remained in active follow-up with scans and treatment decisions every 8 weeks while living with metastatic breast cancer.

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

Patient Info: Julie Campbell, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: triple-negative

Julie died on April 17, 2022.

Stage IV Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Anabel's Patient Story

Patient Info: Anabel, Female | Stage IV

As of July 2022, Anabel was living with metastatic infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma after chemotherapy and radiation, using supportive care and clinical-trial participation to focus on quality of life and slowing metastasis.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Recurring in Groin Lymph Nodes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: right inguinal lymph node; right iliac/pelvic lymph…

Her condition deteriorated after 3 cycles of palliative capecitabine. She developed vomiting, headache and seizures concerning for brain metastases and died about 4 months after the groin metastasis was detected.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Duncan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Duncan Finigan, female | Stage IV

Duncan Finigan died peacefully surrounded by her family in 2019.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lise's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lise Pass, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone

Living with metastatic breast cancer for nearly a decade, feeling well and continuing nightly oral chemotherapy after 5 years of monthly infusions.

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How to Advocate for Yourself If You Have Metastatic Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Lisa J. Frank, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Living with Stage IV breast cancer involving the brain and continuing clinical-trial treatment every 3 weeks.

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Teacher travels 600 miles for Dana-Farber care

Patient Info: Pam Zwemer, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone, stomach lining

11+ years after her original breast cancer diagnosis, she was living with Stage IV disease after bone recurrence in 2008 and spread to the stomach lining in 2011, while continuing clinical-trial care and working as a teacher.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Fleur's Patient Story

Patient Info: Fleur Profinet, Female, 40s | Stage IV

As of May 2022, Fleur was living with metastatic breast cancer; she said chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy had made her metastases “sleep,” while fatigue, pain, and mood changes continued.

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Recurrent Lobular Breast Cancer Spread to the Opposite Armpit Lymph Node

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

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

Metastatic Site: Contralateral right axillary lymph node

After surgery for the recurrence and removal of the opposite-side axillary nodes, the patient proceeded with adjuvant chemotherapy and remained in active treatment.

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

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of March 2022, Loli was living with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer involving the liver and receiving clinical-trial treatment with chemotherapy every 21 days.

Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Caroline's Patient Story

Patient Info: Caroline McGuirk, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: pelvic bone

Caroline continued follow-up care and regular infusions to control Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Claire's Patient Story

Patient Info: Claire Jacob, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone

As of February 2022, Claire was living with metastatic breast cancer involving painful bone metastases after recurrence in 2016.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Marie-Pierre's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marie-Pierre Bertrand, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; Bone

As of January 2022, Marie-Pierre was living with chronic metastatic breast cancer after 18 months of chemotherapy, breast surgery, radiation, and ongoing oncology follow-up.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Simone's Patient Story

Patient Info: Simone | Stage IV

Simone has recently been diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer and is awaiting the start of her planned treatment.

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Stage IV BRCA2 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Julie's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: BRCA2 mutation

Metastatic Site: Bone

Julie was first staged IIA with lobular breast cancer in 2019, then learned after chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation that the cancer had spread to her bones, making it Stage IV metastatic disease.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Màrius's Patient Story

Patient Info: Màrius, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone: vertebra/cervical spine and ribs

As of October 2021, Màrius was living with metastatic male breast cancer described as dormant on lifelong medication after chemotherapy, radiation, 3 operations, and cyclin-inhibitor treatment.

Triple-negative breast cancer first discovered through a duodenal metastasis

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; CK7-positive; GATA3-positive; vimentin-positive; CDX2-negative; CK20-negative., triple negative

Metastatic Site: duodenum

She died two days after choosing comfort-focused care, following rapid decline from metastatic triple-negative breast cancer with duodenal involvement and small-bowel obstruction.

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Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Carol's Survivor Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bone

Carol had de novo Stage IV breast cancer with bone metastases, achieved complete remission after chemotherapy, stayed on daily Letrozole for 10 years, then returned to NED/no active disease after Kisqali and Faslodex for bone progression.

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