Supportive Care for Breast Cancer: 140 Real Stories

140 stories match breast cancer and supportive care. 98 of them mention surgery.

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage I Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Male breast cancer history complicated by suspected bone disease and later IgG-kappa multiple myeloma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage I

Biomarkers: Breast cancer was ER/PR-positive and HER2-negative by FISH. Later workup showed IgG-kappa multiple myeloma with IgH rearrangement.

The patient achieved very good partial response after KBD and completed autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with engraftment, but later died of a novel coronavirus infection.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated with pembrolizumab trial complicated by acquired lipodystrophy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: HER2-negative breast cancer. Metabolic changes occurred during/after pembrolizumab.

As of December 2025, breast cancer treatment had included neoadjuvant chemotherapy/pembrolizumab, surgery, adjuvant pembrolizumab, and endocrine therapy; CT did not show recurrence during weight-loss evaluation, but she required ongoing metabolic care for pembrolizumab-associated acquired generalized lipodystrophy.

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

Breast cancer found during workup for progressive hearing loss and paraneoplastic cochleovestibulopathy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Breast cancer was ER ~100% and HER2 2+; CK/CK7/GATA3 supported breast origin. Neuronal autoantibodies were suspected but not identified.

As of December 2025, she remained on endocrine therapy, and serial chest CT at 1-year follow-up showed reduction in right axillary lymph-node size; hearing outcome after cochlear implantation was not assessable.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Recurrent breast cancer complicated by T-DXd-associated dermatomyositis and interstitial lung disease

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor had weak ER/AR, PR-negative, HER2 0. Recurrence became ER/PR/AR-negative, HER2-low, PD-L1 CPS ~30.

The cancer progressed after adjuvant therapy and again after 6 cycles of gemcitabine/carboplatin. Trastuzumab deruxtecan was followed by dermatomyositis features and interstitial pneumonia, with symptoms worsening despite glucocorticoid treatment after continued exposure.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast cancer history with severe MSSA infective endocarditis and vascular complications

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Her breast cancer treatment was historical; the active episode was MSSA infective endocarditis with embolic complications, treated successfully with antibiotics, hepatic artery embolization, and aortic valve replacement, followed by asymptomatic 3-month outpatient review.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage 0 Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

HER2-positive DCIS with KLHL11 encephalitis and pulmonary adenocarcinoma in situ

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage 0

Biomarkers: Breast DCIS was ER/PR positive and HER2 positive

After local breast treatment and later lung resection, she was asymptomatic on levetiracetam and tamoxifen, with no recurrent fever, seizures, or ataxia reported.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
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
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 Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-positive breast cancer: AC-THP treatment completed after infusion-port salvage

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

She completed the planned breast-cancer treatment course after successful port salvage, had no recurrence of port-site skin thinning or exposure over the next 2 years, and the port was removed in October 2024.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
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
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IIIA triple-negative breast cancer with hypercalcemia from parathyroid adenoma

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

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

As of October 2025, evaluation for post-chemotherapy weakness showed no local breast cancer recurrence, no lymphadenopathy, and no bone metastases; hypercalcemia resolved after parathyroid adenoma removal while breast cancer care remained ongoing.

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

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

Patient Info: Melissa Fouts, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: Outside the lungs / pleural area

As of September 2025, Melissa had been on low-dose eribulin for almost 7 years; 6 metastatic nodules outside the lungs had shrunk and stabilized, with 3 nearly undetectable on scans.

MD Anderson
OutcomeResponding Well
Angela, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I Breast Cancer: Angela's Patient Story

Patient Info: Angela George, Female, 40s | Stage I

Biomarkers: Not explicitly reported; Herceptin was given

As of September 2025, Angela was approaching 5 years from her Stage I breast cancer diagnosis, had completed bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, Herceptin, and oophorectomy, and remained on daily estrogen-reducing medication with oncology visits every 6 months; the source does not explicitly state NED.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Margarita, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Margarita's Patient Story

Patient Info: Margarita “Mickey” Miller, Female

Mickey had completed breast-cancer treatment and was rebuilding her strength through a structured survivorship program while preparing to return to triathlons.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer to the mandible with later lung and liver spread

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

Biomarkers: ER/PR negative, HER2 weak-to-moderate.

Metastatic Site: mandible/bone, lungs, liver

She died 6 months after diagnosis of mandibular metastasis from breast cancer, after further spread to the lungs and liver.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast AdenocarcinomaBreast Cancer

Metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer complicated by medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive breast cancer. Jaw workup focused on osteonecrosis

Metastatic Site: bone / osseous metastasis

The case focused on metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer complicated by medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw after antiresorptive therapy; dental pain improved transiently after oral-surgery interventions, but systemic cancer response was not described.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Dolly, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Dolly's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Dolly Chua, Female

As of July 2025, Dolly had completed surgery for breast and thyroid tumors, described feeling wonderful and strong, and remained connected to follow-up care; the source does not explicitly state NED or recurrence status.

City of Hope
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast cancer survivorship: radiation-related esophageal stricture and H. heilmannii gastritis treated after therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: Breast tumor biomarkers not reported; initial gastric biopsies H. pylori-negative; repeat gastric biopsies showed H. heilmannii organisms

After completing breast cancer surgery and chemoradiotherapy, post-treatment dysphagia and gastritis resolved with esophageal dilation, proton pump inhibitor therapy, and bismuth-based quadruple therapy for H. heilmannii.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment