Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Complicated by a Supplement–Drug Interaction

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

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

Metastatic Site: bones

She resumed ribociclib with letrozole after the supplement was discontinued and the treatment-related neutropenia improved enough to restart therapy.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Sherri's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sherri, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: BRCA1-negative

Metastatic Site: Bone marrow

As of November 2023, Sherri had no evidence of disease on recent breast cancer scans but remained on targeted treatment every 3 weeks and had started oxaliplatin after surgery for a separate Stage III colon cancer.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Metastatic breast cancer: three years in remission with T-DM1 (Kadcyla) treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; hormone receptor-positive

Metastatic Site: liver; spine / bone

T-DM1 produced a complete clinical and radiological response after 7 cycles, sustained for 41 months and 60 cycles while treatment continued.

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Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Corky's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of October 2023, Corky was living with Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer as a chronic condition, receiving ongoing treatment focused on prolonging life and preserving quality of life.

Cleveland ClinicRead 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.

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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.

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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 →

Occult Metastatic Breast Cancer First Appears as a Sternal Mass

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

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

Metastatic Site: sternum

More than 3 years after the sternal mass was first detected, imaging showed no active breast or chest-wall disease and the cancers were described as appearing in remission while she continued tamoxifen.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Britney's Patient Story

Patient Info: Britney Beadle, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone; liver; brain; lungs

As of August 2023, Britney was living with Stage IV breast cancer on Enhertu every 21 days, with liver clear and bone/lung disease showing regression on the latest described scan.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Brittney's Patient Story

Patient Info: Brittney Beadle, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bones; liver; brain; lungs

As of August 2023, Brittney was living with Stage IV breast cancer on ENHERTU every 21 days, with brain clear for 4.5 years, liver clear, and bone and lung disease regressing.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Fadia's Survivor Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bone | Spleen | Lung | Liver | Brain

As of the August 2023 article update, Fadia had recovered after an initial 3-year breast cancer treatment course and later successful brain tumor surgery following repeated cancer involvement in multiple organs.

Metastatic breast cancer with a blood condition that mimicked multiple myeloma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Oestrogen receptor-positive

Metastatic Site: bone

Her pain came under control and the metastatic breast cancer remained stable for approximately 5 years. MGUS did not progress to myeloma, and she later died from causes unrelated to cancer.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Valerie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Valerie Frank, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone, lung, liver

Living with Stage IV breast cancer after recurrence in the bones, lungs and liver in January 2022, with oncology and palliative care support.

Dana-FarberRead more →

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

Patient Info: Abigail Myers, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: bones, brain

Abigail continued living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after about 8 years of multiple treatment lines, including therapy for bone and brain metastases.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Chemotherapy complication: methotrexate absorbed into the bloodstream after spinal injection

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; Oncotype DX Recurrence Score 20

Metastatic Site: leptomeninges / central nervous system; brain

Five months after leptomeningeal carcinomatosis was recognised, she developed a new 2 cm brain lesion and neurological decline. Her family chose supportive care, and she died 10 days after transfer to inpatient hospice.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast cancer that spread to the thymus gland

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Oestrogen receptor-positive; progesterone receptor-positive; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: thymus

She had a good response after 4 cycles of abemaciclib, anastrozole and goserelin and continued endocrine treatment with surveillance of the opposite breast.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lesley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lesley Glenn, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone

As of March 2023, Lesley was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after an initial Stage IIB diagnosis and bone spread, and was advocating for better metastatic survivorship care and patient-centered research.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Rare breast cancer subtype that recurred years later in a more aggressive form

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CD117 focally positive in the transformed component; high Ki-67; hormone-receptor status was unknown at the original diagnosis

Metastatic Site: lungs

One year after treatment for the late chest-wall recurrence, CT showed another local recurrence and metastatic nodules in both lungs. She chose to continue treatment elsewhere.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV BRCA Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Langley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Langley Perer, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: inherited BRCA mutation

Metastatic Site: brain, bones, leptomeninges

After 1 year on a PARP inhibitor, Langley’s metastatic breast cancer remained in check without progression and some lesions had begun to shrink.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Anna's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Anna was living with Stage IV breast cancer and receiving treatment that included lumpectomy surgery, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy as her plan.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Aria's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Aria was living with Stage IV breast cancer and undergoing hormone therapy after choosing not to have recommended surgery.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Adriana's Patient Story

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

Adriana was continuing treatment for stage 4 breast cancer and hoped for a complete response. She remained focused on her children despite substantial emotional and financial strain.

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

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive / hormone-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver; bones; lymph nodes; stomach

As of December 2022, Bethany was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after recurrence to the liver, bones, lymph nodes, and stomach, and was on lifelong maintenance treatment after disease shrinkage.

The Patient StoryRead more →