Melissa’s Stage 1 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Story

Patient Info: Melissa Berry, Female, 40s | Stage I

Biomarkers: BRCA-positive carrier status; ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative

Melissa described herself as a 10-year triple-negative breast cancer survivor and said she remained without evidence of disease, with annual oncology follow-up.

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Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Megan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Megan Claire Chase, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2 not reported

As of July 2023, Megan-Claire was in survivorship after Stage II invasive lobular breast cancer, with clear early scans but significant long-term effects, surgical menopause, chronic pain, fatigue, chemo brain, and inability to tolerate recurrence-prevention medications.

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Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Stephanie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: Oncotype DX score 7

As of July 2023, Stephanie was in ongoing survivorship after unilateral mastectomy for ILC, with no lymph node spread, no chemotherapy or radiation, and a planned 10-year tamoxifen course begun in January 2019.

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Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Megan-Claire's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Megan-Claire, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

As of July 2023, Megan-Claire had completed chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery with reconstruction/reduction, and 33 radiation rounds, and was living with long-term effects including neuropathy, scarring, fatigue, and radiation trauma; no recurrence or NED status was stated.

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Stage III Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Nikki's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive

As of July 2023, Nikki had completed 7 chemotherapy rounds for Stage III inflammatory hormone-positive breast cancer, had no sign of distant spread on PET scans, and was preparing for single mastectomy, radiation, and long-term hormone therapy.

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Stage III HER2-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Nikki's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nikki, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; hormone receptor-positive

After 7 chemotherapy rounds, imaging showed no visible disease, but the team expected possible microscopic cancer. A single mastectomy, radiation and long-term hormone therapy were still planned, so she was not classified as cancer-free.

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Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lucinda's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lucinda Rudolph, Female, 60s

As of June 2023, Lucinda was living well after treatment for locally advanced recurrent invasive lobular breast cancer, taking exemestane, receiving supportive care for neuropathy, and returning to MD Anderson every 6 months for checkups.

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Reconstructive surgery technique fixes tissue death after mastectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive in both breast cancers

The reconstructive wound was completely healed at 2 months, and she continued tamoxifen with ongoing follow-up.

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Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Cynthia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Cynthia, Female | Stage II

As of June 2023, Cynthia described herself as cancer-free and about 4 years out from treatment, while continuing normal follow-up and managing survivorship effects including nerve pain, stiffness, and severe fragrance-related skin allergy after radiation.

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Cynthia: Stage II Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Cynthia, Female | Stage II

Cynthia completed surgery and 25 rounds of radiation for Stage IIB invasive ductal carcinoma and was about 4 years into survivorship with normal follow-up, ongoing physical effects, and breast cancer education advocacy.

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Stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Neda's Survivor Story

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

Neda had completed surgery, 24 CMF treatments and 25 radiation treatments. She was regaining energy, had started endocrine therapy and was preparing to add another recurrence-reduction medicine.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage III Breast Cancer: Sarah's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Estrogen/progesterone-sensitive breast cancer mentioned; exact receptor labels not reported

As of June 2023, Sarah had lived through incurable salivary gland cancer and Stage III breast cancer, completed major breast cancer treatment, paused hormone therapy to pursue IVF under medical guidance, delivered her daughter at 48, and was advocating for people with cancer; no cancer-free or NED status was stated.

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Stage III HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Sarah's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sarah McDonald, Female, 40s | Stage III

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

Sarah was 10 years from diagnosis without a recurrence and described the breast cancer as successfully treated. She later paused hormone therapy, completed IVF and gave birth at age 48.

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BRCA1 Breast Cancer: Carol's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Carol Arnhart

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

She had a complete pathologic response to breast chemotherapy and later reported no evidence of breast cancer.

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Stage III HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Christine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christine Elliott, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: Estrogen receptor-positive; HER2 and progesterone receptor status not reported

As of May 2023, Christine was about 3 years from diagnosis and in survivorship after chemotherapy, lumpectomy, and radiation. She reported lasting physical and emotional effects but did not state a formal NED status.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Valerie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Valerie Frank, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone, lung, liver

Living with Stage IV breast cancer after recurrence in the bones, lungs and liver in January 2022, with oncology and palliative care support.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Breast tumor (phyllodes tumor) initially mistaken for a scar

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Ultrasound 6 months after treatment showed no local recurrence and no metastatic lymph nodes.

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Stage IV HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Abigail's Patient Story

Patient Info: Abigail Myers, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: bones, brain

Abigail continued living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after about 8 years of multiple treatment lines, including therapy for bone and brain metastases.

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Chemotherapy complication: methotrexate absorbed into the bloodstream after spinal injection

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; Oncotype DX Recurrence Score 20

Metastatic Site: leptomeninges / central nervous system; brain

Five months after leptomeningeal carcinomatosis was recognised, she developed a new 2 cm brain lesion and neurological decline. Her family chose supportive care, and she died 10 days after transfer to inpatient hospice.

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Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Tara's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: Estrogen-based breast cancer

As of April 2023, Tara was in survivorship after bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders for Stage II ILC, with clear margins, clear lymph nodes, right-breast LCIS, and no chemotherapy because of cardiac risk.

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Breast Cancer: Debbie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Debbie Bliss, Female

As of March 2023, Debbie Bliss was living in survivorship after thymus cancer and breast cancer, had accepted her post-mastectomy body, and remained active in her knitwear-design career.

Breast cancer that spread to the thymus gland

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Oestrogen receptor-positive; progesterone receptor-positive; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: thymus

She had a good response after 4 cycles of abemaciclib, anastrozole and goserelin and continued endocrine treatment with surveillance of the opposite breast.

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Stage IIB Breast Cancer Treatment Followed by BRCA1 Testing

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: BRCA1 pathogenic variant

She completed 10 years of endocrine therapy without evidence of breast-cancer recurrence.

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Triple-Negative Bilateral Breast Cancer Treated With Surgery, Radiation, and Oral Chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage I

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; germline BRCA1 pathogenic variant confirmed later

She completed radiotherapy and 2 years of tegafur-uracil without evidence of breast-cancer recurrence.

PubMed CentralRead more →