Targeted Therapy for Stage 4 Breast Cancer: 145 Real Stories

145 stories match breast cancer, stage 4 and targeted therapy. 104 of them mention chemotherapy.

Kate, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Kate's Story: How I Lean Into Every Day With MBC

Patient Info: Kate | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive, HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: liver

7+ years living with de novo metastatic ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with liver metastases while remaining on first-line palbociclib and letrozole.

breastcancer.org
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Nathalie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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 Stories
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Kattysmith, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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.org
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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.

AZ Oncology Japan
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Leftfootforward, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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)
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Pilar, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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

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

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-positive

Pilar was living with metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer, continuing systemic treatment with Zoladex, aromatase inhibitors, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab, and managing side effects with rehabilitation support.

MatchTrial Historias Reales
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Katie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

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 Alliance
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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.org
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Jennifer, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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

Patient Info: Jennifer Feinberg, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

8+ years after her initial breast cancer diagnosis, she was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastases and receiving trastuzumab as her tenth line of treatment.

Dana-Farber
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Tiffany, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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 Anderson
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast cancer spread into a separate kidney cancer

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

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

Metastatic Site: bone|kidney

The kidney surgery unexpectedly confirmed a new breast-cancer metastasis, changing her breast cancer status to systemic progression. A new systemic treatment was planned.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Alison, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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 Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer / Remission
Shari, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

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.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer / Ongoing Therapy
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Hidden metastatic breast cancer found in bone marrow during blood-cancer monitoring

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive

Metastatic Site: bone marrow, bone

More than 7 years after metastatic breast carcinoma was first identified in 2018, she had stable skeletal disease and ongoing biochemical improvement on palbociclib plus fulvestrant in March 2026.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
Betty, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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 Story
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Renee, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

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 Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Bethany, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Bethany's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bones; liver; lymph nodes; stomach

As of June 2026, Bethany was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer and responding well to maintenance treatment, with scans described as phenomenal and disease areas shrinking or disappearing.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

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 Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Maralee, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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 Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Erica, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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 Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

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 Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer