Supportive Care for Breast Cancer: 140 Real Stories

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

Onjalai, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II BRCA2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Onjalai's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Onjalai Brown, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Patient-specific biomarker/genetic result not reported; family history suggests BRCA2 mutation

After lumpectomy, 20 rounds of chemotherapy and 36 rounds of radiation for Stage II invasive ductal carcinoma with lymph-node involvement, Onjalai had been cancer-free for 3 years as of May 2025.

City of Hope
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast cancer first discovered after it had already spread to the spinal cord

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

Biomarkers: Estrogen receptor-positive; progesterone receptor-negative; HER2 score 0

Metastatic Site: intramedullary spinal cord (D11-D12); bilateral…

Her paraplegia did not improve after spinal radiation, and she died from disease progression 3 months after the breast-cancer diagnosis.

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

Lung inflammation from pembrolizumab immunotherapy returned months after stopping treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: Estrogen receptor-negative; progesterone receptor-negative; HER2-negative

Surgery confirmed a pathologic complete response, and she remained in breast-cancer remission during routine follow-up after treatment for recurrent pembrolizumab-related pneumonitis.

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

Breast cancer history: atypical pelvic fracture after long-term zoledronic acid

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Prior breast cancer treatment had been completed; CT during fracture evaluation showed no metastatic disease, and the atypical iliac wing fracture healed progressively with conservative care and teriparatide.

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

Breast cancer survivor with synchronous intercostal nerve schwannomas mimicking metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: Breast cancer biomarkers not reported; schwannomas were S100-positive

After prior breast cancer treatment, later D6-D7/rib lesions were proven to be S100-positive schwannomas rather than metastases, and surgical removal relieved the patient’s rib-cage numbness and pain.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
India, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: India's Survivor Story

Patient Info: India Robinson, Female, 40s | Stage II

As of January 2025, India had completed Stage II breast cancer treatment and had returned to work, the gym and daily life after robotic lymphatic microsurgery resolved breast lymphedema; the story does not explicitly state NED.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV luminal B breast cancer with liver, bone, and bone marrow metastases

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

Biomarkers: ER 90% positive; PR 20% positive; HER2-negative; Ki-67 60%; luminal B

Metastatic Site: liver, bone, bone marrow

The patient had marked clinical and hematologic improvement on leuprorelin, letrozole, ribociclib, and zoledronic acid, with sustained complete remission reported for 4 months from September to December 2023 and monthly follow-up advised.

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

Stage IIIA HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer with radiation-induced brachial plexopathy

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

Biomarkers: HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer with pathogenic ATM and PALB2 variants plus an ATM VUS.

Approximately 3.5 years after radiation therapy, there was no evidence of breast cancer recurrence, but severe radiation-induced brachial plexopathy, fibrosis, telangiectasias, and lymphedema-related symptoms required ongoing supportive care.

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

Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer metastatic to the pituitary: surgery and disease-free follow-up

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

Biomarkers: ER 2+; PR 1+; HER2 0; GATA3 positive; CA125 elevated

Metastatic Site: pituitary

Disease-free 11 months after surgical resection of pituitary metastasis from prior hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, with postoperative recovery supported by antibiotics, hormone replacement/supportive therapy, and electrolyte management.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
TB
Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer in remission after chemotherapy and pembrolizumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

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

Triple-negative breast cancer was in remission, with PET-CT showing no new primary or secondary tumors, while pembrolizumab-related adrenal insufficiency required ongoing endocrine management.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Erica, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Erica's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Erica Watson, Female, 50s

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

As of October 2024, Erica had no evidence of disease after triple-negative breast cancer showed a complete response to 16 chemotherapy treatments, lumpectomy, reconstructive surgery and 15 rounds of radiation.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
BC
Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Liz's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Liz O'Riordan, Female

As of September 2024, Liz O'Riordan was a three-time breast cancer survivor, former breast surgeon, author, and advocate speaking openly about depression and CBT during cancer recovery.

Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful (LBBC)
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Hormone receptor-positive invasive lobular carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; Ki-67 20%

Three-month follow-up showed the biopsy-related pseudoaneurysm had thrombosed and regressed, clearing the way for planned neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery; cancer response after planned treatment was not yet available.

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

ER-positive breast cancer: mastectomy after hormone therapy

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

Biomarkers: Breast cancer was ER+ and HER2-low/negative. PR changed from positive on biopsy to negative on final pathology; HNA-1 antibody found for neutropenia.

Stage IIA ER-positive invasive ductal breast cancer had no recurrence 3 years after endocrine therapy and total mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy; autoimmune neutropenia was monitored rather than directly treated.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Erica, who was diagnosed with Stage 0 Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 0 DCIS breast cancer: disease-free after treatment

Patient Info: Erica, Female | Stage 0

Biomarkers: BRCA-negative

As of August 2024, Erica described herself as cancer-free after Stage 0 DCIS treated with double mastectomy and reconstruction, with peace of mind about recurrence risk.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 4 invasive ductal carcinoma: metastatic disease with bone involvement managed successfully

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

Biomarkers: ER <1%; PR 0%; HER2 score 3+; Ki-67 60%

Metastatic Site: bone (12th thoracic vertebra/T12)

Stage IV HER2-positive breast cancer had improved T12 bone metastasis, major breast-tumor regression on trastuzumab deruxtecan, and pathologic complete response in the breast after mastectomy; durable systemic disease status was not reported.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast cancer history with painful implant capsule: no recurrence or BIA-ALCL found

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Implant/capsule pathology showed necrotic tissue only; no tumor cells, CD30 signal, bacteria

The painful implant/capsule episode did not show breast cancer recurrence or BIA-ALCL on pathology; symptoms and cancer concern improved after implant removal, while oral flumatinib maintenance for acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia continued.

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

Triple-positive breast cancer: complete response to targeted therapy

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

Biomarkers: Triple-positive breast cancer; SBDS variants present; no detected TP53 variant on MyeloSeq.

Metastatic Site: liver

Stage IV triple-positive breast cancer with liver metastasis achieved complete response after paclitaxel, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and G-CSF support; complete response was maintained for 18 months after treatment initiation while on maintenance HER2-directed and endocrine therapy.

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

Stage IV triple-negative breast cancer in remission: CBD and exercise for neuropathy

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer. Blood and immune inflammation measures were tracked during neuropathy care.

Metastatic Site: liver

She was in remission for more than 5 years after Stage IV breast cancer with a solitary liver metastasis, while later managing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with CBD and an exercise program that improved symptoms and function.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Allison, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Allison's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Allison Tierney, Female | Stage I

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

As of May 2024, Allison had recently completed her cancer treatment journey and reported successful hair preservation with cold capping during Taxol chemotherapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Sex, dating and intimacy after breast cancer with Charlene Douglas

Patient Info: Anonymized

As of April 2024, this survivorship-focused discussion addressed sex, dating, and intimacy after breast cancer treatment, with practical guidance from Charlene Douglas.

So Now I've Got Breast Cancer
OutcomeCare Ongoing