Stage I Breast Cancer: Krista's Patient Story

Patient Info: Krista, Female | Stage I

Biomarkers: ATM mutation; hormone receptor-positive; HER2-negative; Oncotype DX score 1

As of May 2025, Krista had undergone double mastectomy with flap reconstruction for Stage IA hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and was taking tamoxifen with minimal early side effects.

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Stage 0 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Kathleen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kathleen, Female | Stage 0

Kathleen completed surgery-focused treatment for DCIS with a very small invasive lobular component. No chemotherapy was needed, endocrine therapy was discussed but not required, and she continued imaging surveillance and advocacy in the flat community.

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Facing Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Chance’s Story

Patient Info: Chance, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; BRCA1 mutation

As of February 2025, Chance described follow-up after Stage II BRCA1-associated triple-negative breast cancer and stated that she did not currently have cancer, while continuing close surveillance.

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Two sisters with invasive lobular breast cancer and a shared CDH1 mutation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: Both sisters had pathogenic CDH1 p.. Breast cancers were HER2-negative; older sister also had a PTCH1 variant of uncertain significance.

As of January 2025, both sisters were under ongoing hereditary diffuse gastric cancer surveillance with annual EGD after breast cancer treatment; no signs of HDGC or metastatic breast cancer were reported.

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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.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lisa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lisa Ordmandy, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Spine/bone: C2 and L3 vertebrae

As of June 2024, Lisa was living with metastatic breast cancer as a chronic illness, had recovered mobility after November 2023 spine surgery, continued close MD Anderson monitoring, and was being evaluated for possible clinical trials.

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Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Samantha's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Samantha Salway, Female, Under 40

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

As of May 2024, Samantha had delivered a healthy baby, completed chemotherapy, lumpectomy, radiation and additional chemotherapy, had no current evidence of cancer, and remained under close monitoring.

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Early-stage breast cancer (DCIS) in a male patient

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

He chose annual imaging surveillance of the remaining left breast after deferring chemoprevention.

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Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Chantal's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Chantal, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; BRCA1 mutation

As of December 2023, Chantal reported that she did not currently have cancer, was followed by medical oncology every 3-4 months, and used Signatera testing because tumor markers were not reliable for her.

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Breast cancer lung metastasis treated with a minimally invasive freezing procedure

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; ER-negative

Metastatic Site: lungs

Follow-up PET/CT at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after cryoablation showed no progression or new lesions without systemic therapy.

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Early-stage breast cancer (DCIS) found unexpectedly within a benign breast lump

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

At 6 months she was asymptomatic with no palpable breast or axillary masses and entered annual MRI surveillance.

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Kelly's Stage 3 Breast Cancer Story: “I’m Still Here & THRIVING!"

Patient Info: Kelly Thomas, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: Initial triple-negative breast cancer; after surgery

As of August 2023, Kelly was 5 years from her Stage IIIC triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis with no recurrence reported.

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HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Susan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Susan, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: 2021 breast cancer described as estrogen-positive and progesterone-positive; HER2 not reported. First breast cancer biomarker status not reported.

As of August 2023, Susan was living in survivorship after a first breast cancer treated with lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation and a later separate breast cancer treated with bilateral mastectomy.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Britney's Patient Story

Patient Info: Britney Beadle, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone; liver; brain; lungs

As of August 2023, Britney was living with Stage IV breast cancer on Enhertu every 21 days, with liver clear and bone/lung disease showing regression on the latest described scan.

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Stage I Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Melissa's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: BRCA mutation reported; triple-negative breast cancer

As of July 2023, Melissa was a 10-year Stage I triple-negative breast cancer survivor with no recurrence reported.

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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: 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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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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Metastatic breast cancer with a blood condition that mimicked multiple myeloma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Oestrogen receptor-positive

Metastatic Site: bone

Her pain came under control and the metastatic breast cancer remained stable for approximately 5 years. MGUS did not progress to myeloma, and she later died from causes unrelated to cancer.

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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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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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Rare breast blood-vessel cancer (angiosarcoma) in a teenage girl

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: Testing for Li-Fraumeni syndrome and POT1 mutation was inconclusive; no inherited cancer predisposition was established

She remained in remission 3 years after diagnosis and continued annual MRI surveillance of the reconstructed and opposite breasts.

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Rare breast cancer subtype that recurred years later in a more aggressive form

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CD117 focally positive in the transformed component; high Ki-67; hormone-receptor status was unknown at the original diagnosis

Metastatic Site: lungs

One year after treatment for the late chest-wall recurrence, CT showed another local recurrence and metastatic nodules in both lungs. She chose to continue treatment elsewhere.

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Stage II HER2-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Lanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lanie Jones, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; Li-Fraumeni syndrome / TP53 mutation; BRCA-negative

As of January 2023, Lanie was living with Li-Fraumeni syndrome after 5 cancer diagnoses and was on lifelong maintenance chemotherapy while advocating for genetic testing and specialized surveillance.

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