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.

Christina, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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

Patient Info: Christina, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver; lymph nodes

Christina was living with Stage IV HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Treatment had cleared the liver disease and removed the visible breast tumor, but small armpit lymph-node disease required radiation and she continued IV treatment every 3 weeks.

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

Stage IV ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer with synchronous gastric and bone metastases

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

Biomarkers: Gastric metastasis showed ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2 0 lobular breast cancer. Breast primary was ER/PR-positive, HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: bone; stomach/gastric

At 2-month follow-up, upper-GI symptoms had improved, anastrozole plus palbociclib was tolerated, and CT showed stable disease with persistent diffuse osseous metastases; no further follow-up was available.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive lobular breast cancer with colonic metastases treated with colectomy and capecitabine

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

Biomarkers: Breast and colon metastatic samples were ER+ and HER2-; PR varied by sample

Metastatic Site: colon; perivisceral lymph nodes

After laparoscopic left colectomy and capecitabine for colonic metastases, follow-up showed no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence or progression at 8 months postoperatively.

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

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

Patient Info: Sonja Rideout, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; Tempus testing later indicated immunotherapy as an option

Metastatic Site: Lungs; liver; bone: tailbone; thoracic lymph nodes

As of January 2026, Sonja was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer after spread to lungs and liver, later tailbone and thoracic lymph nodes, and had moved to weekly carboplatin/gemcitabine plus monthly immunotherapy.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2 mutations: complete metabolic response to trastuzumab deruxtecan

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2-low/dubious staining and HER2 FISH-negative; somatic ERBB2/HER2 and mutations.

Metastatic Site: iliac bone lesions / bone metastases

As of January 2026, metastatic triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2 mutations had a sustained complete metabolic response to trastuzumab deruxtecan for 20 months, with dose reduction for neutropenia and no pulmonary toxicity.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer Discovered After Widespread Bone Metastases

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

Biomarkers: ER 90–95%; PR 90–95%; HER2 IHC 0; Ki-67 5%; germline BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: bone, bone marrow

She was receiving ongoing letrozole and ribociclib for Stage IV hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with diffuse bone involvement.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Metastatic Breast Cancer Causing Bile Duct Obstruction and Liver Failure

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Metastatic biopsy ER-negative, PR-negative, HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: bone, liver, common bile duct

Her metastatic breast cancer progressed rapidly with diffuse liver involvement and bile-duct invasion, leading to liver failure and death 28 days after admission.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV ER/PR-positive breast cancer with retinal vein and artery occlusion during endocrine-targeted therapy

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

Biomarkers: ER 70%; PR 100%; HER2-negative; Ki-67 10%

Metastatic Site: bone (cranial vault, right first rib, sternum, D5, D6,…

As of November 2025, she continued care for Stage IV ER/PR-positive breast cancer with bone metastases while also managing severe left-eye retinal vascular occlusion and limited visual recovery.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast AdenocarcinomaBreast Cancer

Synchronous EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma and metastatic breast cancer: surgery and adjuvant therapy

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

Biomarkers: Two cancers: lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR exon 19 deletion; breast cancer ER-positive, PR-low, HER2 non-amplified.

Metastatic Site: lung

Follow-up CT on 26 December 2024 showed no recurrence, with disease-free survival estimated at 27 months to 1 April 2025 while on icotinib and letrozole maintenance.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-positive breast cancer: brain recurrence, T-DXd liver injury, and later progression

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; hormone receptor-negative; grade 3 infiltrative breast carcinoma

Metastatic Site: brain; thoracic lymph nodes

As of October 2025, the patient had developed brain and thoracic nodal recurrence after HER2-directed treatment, experienced T-DXd-associated liver injury, progressed after later paclitaxel/trastuzumab, and died at home in December 2024 under palliative care.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Paul, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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

Patient Info: Paul Forgette, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; triple-positive breast cancer; CHEK2 mutation

Metastatic Site: Bones; lymph nodes

By October 2025, 9 months after starting Enhertu, Paul’s Stage IV HER2-positive male breast cancer was described as dormant, not cured, with continued City of Hope care and integrative support.

City of Hope
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Nicole, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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

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

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

Metastatic Site: liver

Nicole remained in active treatment for liver-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, with meaningful response after switching to an antibody-drug conjugate and then undergoing mastectomy.

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

Stage IV Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Dalitso's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: bone: spine, ribs, sternum, hip sockets

Dalitso had severe Stage IV bone-metastatic breast cancer with hospice-level symptoms and later bone progression, but subsequent imaging after a new treatment approach showed no visible active disease.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
Marissa, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

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

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

Biomarkers: BRCA2 mutation; HER2-negative; PARP inhibitor resistance/progression described

Metastatic Site: bone marrow / bone; lymph nodes; skull lesions

Marissa’s breast tumors resolved after hormone blockers, but she remained in active treatment for Stage IV disease involving bone marrow/bone, lymph nodes, and skull lesions.

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

ER/PR/HER2-positive breast cancer: gallbladder, liver, lung, pleural, and bone metastases after incomplete adjuvant therapy

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

Biomarkers: Triple-positive breast cancer. Gallbladder metastasis kept ER/PR/HER2 positivity and Ki-67 >40%; markers supported breast origin.

Metastatic Site: gallbladder, liver, lung/pleura, bone

The patient died 3 years and 10 months after lumpectomy after metastatic ER/PR/HER2-positive breast cancer involved the gallbladder, liver, lungs/pleura, and bones following incomplete adjuvant therapy and loss to surveillance.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Nikoo, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Nikoo's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: BRCA1/2 negative; PIK3 mutation reported on liquid biopsy

Metastatic Site: Peritoneal/abdominal lining; abdominal lymph nodes

Nikoo had Stage I invasive lobular breast cancer in 2003 and developed Stage IV metastatic recurrence in 2022 after about 19 years. As of October 2025, she was living with metastatic lobular breast cancer, had moved through multiple systemic options, and was participating in a Phase 1 clinical trial.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Dana, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Dana's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Liver; bones; lymph nodes

As of October 2025, Dana was living with stable Stage IV metastatic breast cancer involving the liver, bones, and lymph nodes, controlled with targeted therapy and hormone blockers while also managing bipolar disorder and treatment-related mental health effects.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Maria, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Maria's Patient Story

Patient Info: Maria, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone (spine, clavicle, rib, thigh bone, scapula);…

Maria initially had a clean PET scan after chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and targeted/endocrine therapy, but later developed Stage IV metastatic breast cancer involving multiple bone sites, with lung and cervical-region involvement also described. As of September 2025, she remained on treatment and did not have an available clinical trial option.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSetback / Progression