Radiation for Stage 4 Breast Cancer: 155 Real Stories

Adenoid Cystic Breast Cancer Spreads to the Kidney, Lungs, Bone and Spleen

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative

Metastatic Site: kidneys, lungs, spleen, bone, lymph nodes

The cancer progressed from an initial kidney metastasis to widespread disease involving the lungs, spleen, right kidney, lymph nodes, and C4 vertebra. By May 2022 she had worsening cachexia and pain, and best supportive care was recommended.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Male breast cancer in both breasts linked to Klinefelter syndrome, initially missed

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: spine / bone

With advanced metastatic disease and an estimated prognosis of weeks or less, care focused on symptom relief under the palliative-care team.

PubMed CentralRead 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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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 →

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 →

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 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 →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

Dana-FarberRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

Dana-FarberRead more →

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.

YouTube (FR search)Read more →

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.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast cancer recurrence in the mandibular condyle causing jaw pain

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

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

Metastatic Site: right mandibular condyle with extension into the…

After anastrozole and 60 Gy of radiation, her jaw pain, mouth opening, and function improved, although some discomfort remained and palliative systemic treatment was continuing.

PubMed CentralRead more →

A durable response to trastuzumab in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor ER-positive and PR-positive. Metastatic liver biopsy ER-negative and PR-negative with HER2 IHC 1+ and nonamplified. Later biopsy ER and PR weakly positive at 5%–10%, HER2 IHC 1+ and nonamplified, and ERBB3 p. with evidence of HER2/HER3 pathway activation.

Metastatic Site: lungs; hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes; liver; bone

She had ongoing benefit for more than 10 months on trastuzumab and capecitabine, with improved symptoms, lower tumor markers, and a confirmed partial response.

PubMed CentralRead more →