Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

1,904 stories match chemotherapy. 1,436 of them mention surgery.

SI
Breast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Gynna's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bone

As of May 2026, Gynna was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer in the bones; after progression in June 2025, she had a partial response by December 2025 and continued indefinite treatment.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeResponding Well
Lawrence, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Lawrence's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lawrence Henry, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Lung; abdominal lymph nodes

As of May 2026, Lawrence had no evidence of disease on scans since November, no blood-test signs of recurrence, was off colon cancer treatment, and returned to UT MD Anderson every 3 months for checkups.

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

Stage IV Ovarian Cancer First Found Through an Umbilical Metastasis

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

Biomarkers: WT1-positive; CK7-positive; CA-125 321 U/mL at diagnosis

Metastatic Site: umbilicus

After 9 months of bevacizumab maintenance, her clinical and imaging findings remained stable.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
Samantha, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

I Lost My Wife To Metastatic Breast Cancer at 29 Years Old

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

Metastatic Site: rib/bone; lymph nodes; brain; liver

Samantha died from metastatic breast cancer in early January 2026 at age 29 after brain and liver progression, heart failure, and tumor lysis syndrome during her final hospitalization.

The Patient Story
OutcomeIn Memory
Jeffrey, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jeffrey's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jeffrey, Male | Stage III

As of May 2026, Jeffrey reported no evidence of disease, while remaining careful about surveillance language and managing lasting neuropathy after treatment.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Maralee, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV BRCA Breast Cancer: Maralee's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: BRCA mutation

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of May 2026, Maralee had no evidence of active disease after prior Stage IV breast cancer with brain metastasis, had stopped the PARP inhibitor after 2 years, remained without brain recurrence long enough to pursue pregnancy, and gave birth to a second daughter.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Durable response after multiple treatments for ovarian clear cell cancer

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

Biomarkers: HRD-positive; BRCA-negative; ARID1A mutation; PD-L1 CPS 30

She achieved a complete response, completed maintenance immunotherapy in May 2024, and continued anlotinib with normal follow-up imaging and tumor markers.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Kristen, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Kristen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kristen, Female | Stage III

Completed active treatment for Stage III colon cancer and entered survivorship while managing permanent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage IV RET-fusion transverse colon cancer: partial response to selpercatinib after capecitabine progression

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

Biomarkers: Colon cancer had RET fusion, KRAS copy-number gain, low TMB, and no KRAS/NRAS/BRAF hotspot mutations.

Metastatic Site: liver

As of May 2026, she remained on reduced-dose selpercatinib with tolerable toxicity, substantial partial response in liver metastases and the primary tumor, and progression-free survival exceeding 14 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Susie, who was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Susie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Susie, Female | Stage III

As of May 2026, Susie described completed surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for Stage III non-small cell lung cancer and was advocating for smoke-free legislation; no NED status was stated.

Cancer Research UK
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Gastric cancer treatment during hemodialysis after liver recurrence

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

Biomarkers: HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: liver|peritoneum

The cancer progressed in the peritoneum despite treatment, and systemic therapy was stopped in August 2024 before transfer to hospice in October 2024.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Nathan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Nathan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Nathan, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; peritoneal membrane

Declared tumor-free after aggressive treatment for Stage IV colon cancer, including colectomy, FOLFOX chemotherapy, and HIPEC, while continuing to live with treatment effects, an ileostomy, neuropathy, and scan anxiety.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IIIA small-cell lung cancer with anti-NMDAR encephalitis: initial complete response, recurrence, and death

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

Biomarkers: CSF positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies; no tumor molecular biomarkers reported

The patient initially had rapid neurologic recovery and complete radiologic response after carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab, but the primary lung lesion recurred 7 months later and he died 21 months after disease onset.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Multiple primary cancers AdenocarcinomaMultiple primary cancers

Three separate primary cancers: lung squamous carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

Biomarkers: Multiple primaries: lung squamous markers CK5/6 and P40; gastric cancer HER2 negative; liver cancer markers hepatocyte/GPC3/HSP70/CD34.

As of May 2026, all 3 primary cancers were controlled: lung cancer had no recurrence after surgery, gastric cancer remained in sustained remission on sintilimab maintenance, and hepatocellular carcinoma was controlled after ablation; ECOG performance status was 1.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Mariana, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Mariana's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Ovary; abdominal wall/peritoneum

Ongoing treatment for Stage IV colon cancer with good response during chemotherapy, allowing oxaliplatin to be stopped while continuing treatment every 2 weeks.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
SI
Breast Cancer

Stage I luminal A invasive ductal breast cancer with post-treatment cognitive symptoms

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

Biomarkers: ER 100% positive; PR 95% positive; HER2 score 0 / HER2-negative; Ki-67 10%; P63 negative

As of April 2026, the case focused on survivorship after Stage I luminal A breast cancer treatment, with cognitive complaints after chemotherapy and improved MoCA and depression scores after 12 sessions of tDCS; brain metastases had been ruled out.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
David, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: David's Patient Story

Patient Info: David, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lung; tailbone/bone

Had clear scans after multiple treatments for recurrent Stage IV colon cancer, but a later positive Signatera test suggested possible microscopic disease and more treatment was being planned.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Helen, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Helen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Helen, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; pelvis

No active tumors / no evidence of disease after liver-directed treatment, liver surgery/ablation, colon resection, and hysterectomy, though she personally described herself as living with cancer and still planned cleanup treatment.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV squamous NSCLC: durable pembrolizumab response followed by invasive aspergillosis, marrow failure, and death

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 20%

Metastatic Site: bilateral lungs

After durable partial response to pembrolizumab-based therapy, he developed severe pulmonary infection, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, progressive AA-like bone marrow failure with severe cytopenias, declined further treatment, and died at home in early 2025.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
SI
Breast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Jenna's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-negative; BRCA inherited gene mutations negative

As of April 2026, Jenna had completed pregnancy-associated chemotherapy and double mastectomy for Stage II HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with 1 involved lymph node, did not need radiation, and was on hormone therapy for 10 years.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeCare Ongoing