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

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive / hormone-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver; bones; lymph nodes; stomach

As of December 2022, Bethany was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after recurrence to the liver, bones, lymph nodes, and stomach, and was on lifelong maintenance treatment after disease shrinkage.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Stephanie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female, Under 40

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

As of October 2022, Stephanie had completed treatment for triple-negative breast cancer in January 2022, follow-up tests showed she was cancer-free, and she had no evidence of cancer.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Stage IV PIK3CA Breast Cancer: Abigail's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive breast cancer with PIK3CA mutation and germline ATM mutation; later PD-L1 somatic change reported. HER2 not stated.

Metastatic Site: Bone, including femurs, spine, and humeri; later liver

As of October 2022, Abigail was living with Stage IV hormone-positive metastatic breast cancer after years of treatment, bone-dominant disease that later involved the liver, targeted therapies, genomic testing, and advocacy around clinical trials and patient research participation.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Breast Cancer: Sharon's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sharon Kovach, Female, 60s

Sharon, age 63 at the time of the story, had remained in remission since completing treatment for recurrence in 2003.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Metastatic Breast Cancer Reclassified After NTRK Fusion Testing

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ETV6-NTRK3 fusion detected in tissue but not circulating tumor DNA; ER low-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative; PD-L1-negative; germline CHEK2 variant of uncertain significance

Metastatic Site: lungs and pleura; hilar, mediastinal and retrocaval…

After tissue testing identified an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion, treatment with larotrectinib produced a rapid clinical and radiological response.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Recurrent Malignant Phyllodes Tumor Requiring Major Chest Wall Reconstruction

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Two months after completing postoperative chemotherapy and radiation, she developed pneumonia and respiratory failure and died.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lianne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lianne Kraemer, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Six years after brain metastases were diagnosed, Lianne remained in active follow-up with scans and treatment decisions every 8 weeks while living with metastatic breast cancer.

Dana-FarberRead more →

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Feyama's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Feyama Ashby, Female

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of September 2022, Feyama had completed chemotherapy, lumpectomy with lymph-node removal, reconstruction, and 6 weeks of VMAT radiation, and was entering close monitoring for 5 years before survivorship clinic follow-up.

MD AndersonRead more →

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Kara's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kara Niewohner, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: BRCA2 mutation; triple-negative

No trace of breast cancer remained after the September 2021 double mastectomy, and no radiation or additional breast-cancer treatment was needed.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Cancer in Accessory Breast Tissue Under Both Arms in a Man

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

Biomarkers: Left tumor: HER2-positive by gene amplification; ER-negative; PR-negative; Ki-67 70%; p53 staining 80%

After surgery removed both accessory-breast cancers, he continued with adjuvant paclitaxel, trastuzumab and radiation.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast radiation completed after severe vertigo during COVID-19 vaccination

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

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

Four weeks after completing radiation, her skin reaction was improving and she had returned to work briefly, although vertigo was still present.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Recurring in Groin Lymph Nodes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: right inguinal lymph node; right iliac/pelvic lymph…

Her condition deteriorated after 3 cycles of palliative capecitabine. She developed vomiting, headache and seizures concerning for brain metastases and died about 4 months after the groin metastasis was detected.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage III Breast Cancer: Christal's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christal Love, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: hormone-positive; HER2-negative

After chemotherapy complications, surgery, radiation, later preventive removal of the other breast and reconstruction, Christal remained cancer-free for more than 5 years as of June 2022.

City of HopeRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lise's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lise Pass, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone

Living with metastatic breast cancer for nearly a decade, feeling well and continuing nightly oral chemotherapy after 5 years of monthly infusions.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Breast Cancer: Kehau's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kehau Matsumoto, Female, 70+

Kehau had 5 years without a breast cancer recurrence after her 2006 mastectomy, and at the latest report she said she had no signs of cancer.

Stage III Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Marlena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marlena Murphy, Female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: triple-negative

Later testing found cancer cells after Marlena noticed a small bump under her right arm. She died on July 3, 2024.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Daneen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Daneen, Female, 50s

Daneen underwent double mastectomy and reconstruction, started radiation and had been taking anastrozole for 2 years when she shared her story.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage I HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Faye's Patient Story

Patient Info: Faye Ruopp, Female, 60s | Stage I

Biomarkers: ER-positive

Completed lumpectomy and radiation and began long-term hormone therapy in September 2014.

Dana-FarberRead more →

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Tamara's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tamara, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of April 2022, Tamara was 4 years from HER2-positive breast cancer treatment and still in periodic follow-up before reaching the 5-year mark after treatment.

BRCA1 Breast Cancer: Janice's Patient Story

Patient Info: Janice Dolnick, female

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

Janice had a 21-year history that included 2 rounds of breast cancer treatment and a bilateral mastectomy before a separate primary peritoneal cancer was diagnosed in 2018.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage I Breast Cancer: Lorena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lorena, Female | Stage I

As of April 2022, Lorena was nearly 3 years into recovery from Stage I breast cancer after double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and ongoing tamoxifen.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jo's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jo, Female, 50s

Jo recovered well from bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. She remained on monthly Zoladex and daily anastrozole, with no chemotherapy or radiation required.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Recurrent Lobular Breast Cancer Spread to the Opposite Armpit Lymph Node

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

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

Metastatic Site: Contralateral right axillary lymph node

After surgery for the recurrence and removal of the opposite-side axillary nodes, the patient proceeded with adjuvant chemotherapy and remained in active treatment.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Eileen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Eileen, Female

As of March 2022, Eileen described herself as having no evidence of disease after double mastectomy, multiple surgeries for necrosis complications, and oophorectomy with benign biopsy findings, while continuing 4-month oncology follow-up.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →