BRCA2-Mutated Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Controlled for 30 Months With Olaparib

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1-negative; BRCA2 mutation; ATM mutation; EGFR-negative; ALK-negative

Metastatic Site: brain

Olaparib provided about 30 months of disease control, and PET imaging remained overall stable when a separate new breast primary was found in February 2023.

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Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Jaclyn's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jaclyn (Jackie) VanRaaphorst | Stage III

Biomarkers: FRα-positive; CA-125 monitored

AACR later reported that Jackie died on January 16, 2025.

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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Lung cancer in a young adult mistaken for recurring pneumonia

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage III

Biomarkers: KRAS mutation

Two months after discharge, he began carboplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab and had received 2 cycles.

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Lung cancer immunotherapy causing sudden heart inflammation and type 1 diabetes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage III

Her acute symptoms resolved, cardiac function returned to her baseline ejection fraction of 32% at 1 month and durvalumab remained permanently discontinued while oncology, endocrine and cardiac follow-up continued.

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Ovarian Cancer: Jennifer's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jennifer Thorn, Female, 40s

Living with ovarian cancer and continuing gemcitabine after about 2 years of treatment.

Dana-FarberRead more →

HER2-Positive Acantholytic Squamous Breast Cancer Responds Completely to Preoperative Therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, female

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; postoperative residual in-situ disease ER-positive and PR-positive

The invasive cancer achieved a pathologic complete response, and she had no recurrence or metastasis during 1.5 years of follow-up.

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Stage I BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Carol's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Carol Arnhart | Stage I

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

After staging surgery and 6 rounds of carboplatin and paclitaxel, she reported no evidence of ovarian cancer.

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HER2-positive metastatic lung cancer treated with trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu)

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ERBB2/HER2 copy-number gain of at least 20 copies; TP53 C242fs; CDK12 copy-number gain; tumour mutational burden 3.2 mutations/Mb

Metastatic Site: lungs / multiple pulmonary nodules

Trastuzumab deruxtecan reduced the pulmonary nodules by more than 50% at 3 months and produced a documented response lasting 13.8 months.

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Stage IV Ovarian Cancer Complicated by Anti-Yo Cerebellar Degeneration

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CA-125: 1767 kU/L; anti-Yo antibodies positive in serum and cerebrospinal fluid

Her anti-Yo paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration progressed despite methylprednisolone and plasma exchange. Care became palliative, and she died 2 months after hospital admission.

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Severe kidney inflammation after pembrolizumab for lung adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

The primary lung tumor enlarged after pembrolizumab was stopped, and carboplatin plus paclitaxel was started in October 2021.

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Afatinib-related kidney injury during treatment for EGFR-positive metastatic lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive.

Metastatic Site: pleura

He continued maintenance bevacizumab and atezolizumab after four combination courses for metastatic disease while his renal function remained impaired but stable.

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Stage IIIC Ovarian Cancer Found During Preoperative Screening

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: BRCA1 pathogenic variant on homologous recombination deficiency testing; germline BRCA1 pathogenic variant

At approximately 1 year after surgery, she was alive without evidence of recurrence while continuing olaparib and bevacizumab maintenance therapy.

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Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lucy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lucy E., Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation; triple-negative breast cancer

As of January 2023, Lucy had been told she was all-clear/cancer-free after chemotherapy, had undergone double mastectomy with staged reconstruction planning, and was continuing close oncology reviews every 3-4 months.

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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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Stage IV Lung Cancer Reached Remission After Severe Nerve Damage and Neck Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: left cervical lymph nodes

Considered in complete remission after cervical lymph-node surgery, with no clinical or radiological progression 24 months after systemic treatment; alive and back at work 3 years after diagnosis.

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Recurrent Malignant Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumor Treated With Multiple Therapies

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: PIK3CA, and ATM mutations; ER negative; PR negative

She experienced repeated pelvic and lung recurrences. Platinum-based treatment produced a complete PET-CT response and olaparib maintenance provided about 1 year without progression before a 5 mm lung recurrence was surgically removed.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Caused Severe Circulation Problems in Her Fingers and Toes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

The digital ischaemia improved after gemcitabine was stopped, without revascularisation, debridement or amputation, although a small necrotic fingertip area persisted at 3 months. Metastatic breast cancer treatment continued with further systemic lines after progression.

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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.

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Recurrent Ovarian Cancer and Olaparib-Related Skin Toxicity

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|liver

The latest chemotherapy was effective, and she was alive without signs of another recurrence at the last documented follow-up.

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Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Shyreece's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shyreece, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK rearrangement / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of March 2022, Shyreece was a long-term Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer survivor with later brain metastases, ongoing treatment decisions, and advocacy focused on biomarker testing, trials, and disparities in Black lung cancer care.

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Early kidney injury after first-line treatment for lung adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

Kidney function improved after a short prednisone course, and he later continued cancer care with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel.

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Stage IV ovarian cancer complicated by a spontaneous vaginal fistula

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

After postoperative chemotherapy, she was clinically well and imaging showed no visible tumor during 8 months of follow-up.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Diana's Survivor Story

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

Diana described herself as being in remission while continuing low-toxicity antineoplastic monotherapy. She remained in active follow-up and focused on rebuilding daily life.

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