Radiation for Stage 4 Breast Cancer: 155 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 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 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.

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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.

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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 Breast Cancer: Lie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lie Huang, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Lie Huang had Stage IV breast cancer treated with interventional therapy, cryotherapy, natural therapy, and radiotherapy; about 1 year later, the tumor had shrunk from egg-sized to 1 cm and lost activity.

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 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 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.

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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.

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Stage IV breast cancer with brain metastasis responding to chemotherapy, Gamma Knife, and targeted therapy story

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Brain

After Stage IV breast cancer with brain metastasis, chemotherapy made the breast lump disappear within 2 months, Gamma Knife treated the brain tumor, and she continued molecular targeted therapy while living with little change in daily life.

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 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 →

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 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.

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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 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.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Betty's Patient Story

Patient Info: Betty Jean, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Spine; ribs; liver

As of June 2026, Betty Jean was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after bone involvement in the spine/ribs and later progression to the liver, with treatment including targeted therapy, radiation, and chemotherapy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

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

Patient Info: Erin, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; later tumor responded to androgen signaling

Metastatic Site: Lung; brain

As of June 2026, Erin was living with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer involving lung and brain, with tumors shrinking on ongoing Gemzar plus carboplatin chemotherapy every 2 weeks.

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.

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My Metastatic Breast Cancer Spread To My BRAIN!

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

Metastatic Site: brain

As of May 2026, the patient was living with metastatic breast cancer involving the brain, receiving 2 brain-directed chemotherapy infusions every 3 weeks, and describing the disease as chronic rather than a death sentence.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Gynna's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bone

As of May 2026, Gynna was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer in the bones; after progression in June 2025, she had a partial response by December 2025 and continued indefinite treatment.