Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Kidney damage as a rare side effect of durvalumab immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

The lung-cancer burden decreased during treatment. Durvalumab was stopped because of nephrotic syndrome, which achieved sustained complete remission with prednisolone.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung cancer: persistent cough led to diagnosis

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

Biomarkers: KRAS and TP53 ; PD-L1 TPS 95%. Other common lung drivers were not detected.

Metastatic Site: liver, left adrenal gland, lymph nodes, pleural…

After more than 2 years of disease control and partial response on antiangiogenic therapy plus sintilimab, the patient developed fulminant immune-checkpoint-inhibitor-induced type 1 diabetes with severe diabetic ketoacidosis, inflammatory crisis, sepsis, and died shortly after discharge against medical advice.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Kina, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Kina's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kina, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Lungs; lymph node

As of January 2026, Kina described herself as technically having no cancer/no evidence of disease after lung resections, though confirmatory CT was still pending and she was still recovering from complications.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma With Bone and Leptomeningeal Metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; acquired EGFR T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: bone, leptomeninges

In May 2025, leptomeningeal disease remained present and he continued combination chemotherapy with bevacizumab and high-dose furmonertinib, leaving hospital in stable condition after cycle 8.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast cancer survivor developed Ramsay Hunt syndrome with vertigo

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Breast cancer biomarkers not reported. Ramsay Hunt syndrome was diagnosed clinically.

Breast cancer treatment had been completed years earlier. The later neurological episode improved partially after antiviral therapy, steroids, pain control, betahistine, acupuncture, and vestibular rehabilitation, with mild residual dizziness and facial weakness at 3 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Lynch-associated lung and colorectal cancers responded to immunotherapy

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

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H pattern with MLH1/PMS2 loss and germline MLH1 mutation; KRAS and PTEN mutations; PD-L1 TPS 15%.

Metastatic Site: right paraspinal metastatic lesion from lung…

After starting iparomlimab plus tuvonralimab, pleural and pelvic disease improved, intestinal wall involvement decreased further after 5 cycles, the paraspinal lung metastasis remained stable, tumor markers stayed normal, and treatment continued.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Sonja, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Sonja's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sonja Rideout, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; Tempus testing later indicated immunotherapy as an option

Metastatic Site: Lungs; liver; bone: tailbone; thoracic lymph nodes

As of January 2026, Sonja was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer after spread to lungs and liver, later tailbone and thoracic lymph nodes, and had moved to weekly carboplatin/gemcitabine plus monthly immunotherapy.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Kristie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Kristie's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: liver

Kristie is living with Stage IV colon cancer with liver recurrence, prior chemotherapy/radiation/surgery/ablation, and a planned liver resection option after second-opinion review.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2 mutations: complete metabolic response to trastuzumab deruxtecan

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2-low/dubious staining and HER2 FISH-negative; somatic ERBB2/HER2 and mutations.

Metastatic Site: iliac bone lesions / bone metastases

As of January 2026, metastatic triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2 mutations had a sustained complete metabolic response to trastuzumab deruxtecan for 20 months, with dose reduction for neutropenia and no pulmonary toxicity.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage III Breast Cancer Treatment Complicated by Coronary Thrombosis

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; Ki-67 25–30%

She achieved complete remission about 12 months after the myocardial infarction and remained in complete oncologic remission at 44 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Sian, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Sian's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sian Bevans, Female, 50s | Stage II

Biomarkers: Triple-positive

Sian was 11 years past diagnosis, completed 10 years of maintenance medication in May 2025, and reported feeling more like herself; no recurrence was described.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Lea, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lea's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bone: hip sockets, femurs, spine; liver

As of January 2026, Lea was living with metastatic breast cancer involving bone and liver and was in active treatment with Taxol after progression changed her treatment plan.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Scott, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Scott's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Scott Zeff, Male, 60s | Stage IV

As of January 2026, Scott had finished treatment for Stage IV rectal cancer, the cancer had not spread to other areas, and he was recovering with a temporary ileostomy while moving forward cancer-free.

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

Stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer complicated by immunotherapy endocrine toxicity

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PgR-negative/PR-negative; HER2 0; Ki-67 70%; triple-negative breast cancer

After neoadjuvant therapy complicated by immune-related hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and suspected hypophysitis, surgery showed residual ypT1c ypN0 triple-negative disease. Pembrolizumab was stopped, adjuvant capecitabine was completed in June 2025, and endocrine replacement/follow-up continued.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

MET exon 14 skipping lung adenocarcinoma: sequential MET-TKI toxicity and ongoing chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: MET exon 14 skipping mutation; EGFR negative; ALK negative; ROS1 negative; PD-L1 tumor proportion score 10%

Metastatic Site: pleura

The cancer recurred with pleural dissemination after surgery and adjuvant UFT. Sequential MET inhibitors and systemic therapies provided periods of disease control but were limited by ILD and non-ILD toxicities; at the report, he remained on carboplatin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Stage IV gastric cancer with benign breast hemangioma during ramucirumab therapy

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

Biomarkers: Gastric cancer: HER2 negative, PD-L1 TPS >=5%

Metastatic Site: peritoneum; preaortic lymph nodes; omentum

After initial response to FOLFOX/nivolumab and temporary benefit from paclitaxel/ramucirumab and FOLFIRI, the gastric cancer progressed to massive ascites. Trifluridine/tipiracil was attempted, but she died from rapid disease progression.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

KRAS G12C Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with synchronous urothelial carcinoma and durable response

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

Biomarkers: Lung adenocarcinoma: KRAS ; PD-L1 TPS 5%. Urothelial carcinoma: GATA3-positive; CK7-positive; TTF1-negative.

Metastatic Site: homolateral pulmonary metastases and N2 lymph nodes…

After enfortumab vedotin, the urothelial carcinoma reached complete radiologic response and the lung cancer remained partially responding/stable; treatment was stopped after 16 months, and PET 2 months later showed complete metabolic response.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Metastatic to an Axillary Lymph Node Without Breast Disease

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

Biomarkers: BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: right axillary lymph node

Secondary cytoreductive surgery in April 2025 achieved complete macroscopic cytoreduction, and she was discharged without complications.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with suspected myocardial metastasis responding to afatinib plus chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L861Q; PD-L1 TPS/CPS 65%. TP53, MET and PIK3CA alterations also reported.

Metastatic Site: left ventricular myocardium; mediastinal lymph nodes…

As of December 2025, the suspected left-ventricular myocardial metastasis had shrunk after 2 courses of afatinib plus pemetrexed/cisplatin, and the patient had no cardiovascular events during monitoring.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well