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 Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

A difficult breast-reconstruction infection after breast cancer treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

After wide debridement and prolonged antibiotic treatment, the breast and abdominal wounds healed, imaging showed resolution of the subcutaneous infection, and no infection recurrence was seen over three years.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
Marlene, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Marlene's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marlene | Stage IV

By November 2023, Marlene said the stage IV breast cancer had advanced and she was no longer receiving treatment.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Martha, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Martha's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Martha

Martha said the breast cancer was in remission while she continued Letrozol hormone therapy.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Recurrent Breast Cancer With a Benign-Appearing Chest-Wall Rash

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: mediastinal lymph nodes

She had recurrent chest-wall and mediastinal metastatic disease; a later rash biopsy showed dermatitis rather than another skin recurrence.

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

Lobular Breast Cancer Spread Into a Nasal Tumor

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

Biomarkers: Metastatic lobular focus: ER 8/8; PR 8/8; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative.

Metastatic Site: liver; bone; right nasal cavity within an olfactory…

The nasal lesion was removed with no residual local disease on imaging, and capecitabine was restarted while oncology follow-up continued for metastatic breast cancer.

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

Dramatic chemotherapy response in stage IIIB triple-negative breast cancer

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; BRCA1-negative; BRCA2-negative; germline FLCN c.1285delC associated with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome; tumor TP53 p.T150fs.

Eighteen months after surgery, she had no recurrence following a dramatic chemotherapy response, bilateral mastectomy, chest-wall radiation, and adjuvant capecitabine.

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

Breast Cancer: Constance's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Constance Porter, Female

As of January 2020, Constance was cancer-free 3 years after breast cancer diagnosis, while living with permanent hair loss, joint pain from anastrozole, and occasional leg cramps.

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

Metastatic ER-positive breast cancer complicated by osteonecrosis of the jaw

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive.

Metastatic Site: bone (sternum, spine, pelvis, and proximal femur)

After progressive metastatic bone disease and severe medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, she entered end-of-life care and died three weeks after discharge to a nursing home.

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

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Natalia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Natalia Padron, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No hereditary breast-cancer mutation identified

Metastatic Site: pelvic organs; ovaries

As of November 2019, Natalia was living about 5 years after a terminal metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, using daily treatment/medications to help control the cancer and advocating for the metastatic breast cancer community.

YouTube (ES search)
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Liver Mimicking Cirrhosis

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

Biomarkers: Original cancer: HER2-negative and PR-positive. Liver recurrence: ER-positive.

Metastatic Site: liver

The breast cancer recurred in the liver after 14 years, produced pseudocirrhosis and portal-hypertension complications, and she died from hepatorenal syndrome five weeks after presentation.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
MB
Breast Cancer

Metastatic Breast Cancer Presenting With Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive.

Metastatic Site: bone; bone marrow

At seven months, she was doing well with a marked response on PET imaging, normalized right-heart pressures, and ongoing systemic treatment with palbociclib.

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

Nocardia Infection Mimicked Breast Cancer Lung Metastases

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

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

The lung nodules resolved with antibiotics and proved infectious rather than metastatic; she remained in good health at the last follow-up in January 2019.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
AN
Breast Cancer

A Nerve Block Relieved Severe Back Pain From Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis

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

Metastatic Site: bone (T4–T5 vertebrae)

The nerve block reduced her pain score from 8/10 to below 2, avoided rescue analgesia for 24 hours, and was repeated when severe metastatic pain returned.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Jennifer, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I Breast Cancer: Jennifer's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jennifer Buckland, Female, 40s | Stage I

As of November 2018, Jennifer was cancer-free after Stage I breast cancer treatment that included 12 weekly taxane chemotherapy treatments and cooling-cap support that helped prevent hair loss.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Natalia, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Natalia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Natalia | Stage II

Natalia was declared cancer-free on February 21, 2024, and continued regular follow-up while taking letrozole.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED