Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

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

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer with brain and adrenal progression after prolonged disease control

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

Biomarkers: Small-cell lung cancer markers included CD56, CgA and TTF-1; Ki-67 was 80%.

Metastatic Site: brain, right adrenal gland, left adrenal gland

After 31 months of stability on second-line anlotinib with palliative chemoradiotherapy, disease progressed in July 2024 with new brain lesions and adrenal progression; the patient declined additional systemic options and continued anlotinib.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IVA EGFR L858R lung adenocarcinoma with malignant effusions and thrombosis

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 21 L858R mutation; TTF-1 weak positive; Napsin A positive; p40 negative; Ki-67 about 10%

Metastatic Site: malignant pleural effusion; malignant pericardial…

As of May 2025, abdominal pain had resolved, splenic infarction had not progressed, thromboembolic events were regressing, no new thrombus formation was seen, and outpatient follow-up continued while he remained on cancer and anticoagulation management.

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

Stage IIIA squamous lung cancer with pathologic complete response after immunochemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 TPS 90%; PD-L1 CPS 100%; EGFR p.G719S 24.9%; EGFR p.S768I 24.6%; TP53 p.S183* 7.2%; TMB 0.0 Muts/Mb

Systematic imaging in March 2025 showed no recurrence or metastasis, with postoperative disease-free survival longer than 30 months and overall survival longer than 34 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast cancer survivorship: radiation-related esophageal stricture and H. heilmannii gastritis treated after therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: Breast tumor biomarkers not reported; initial gastric biopsies H. pylori-negative; repeat gastric biopsies showed H. heilmannii organisms

After completing breast cancer surgery and chemoradiotherapy, post-treatment dysphagia and gastritis resolved with esophageal dilation, proton pump inhibitor therapy, and bismuth-based quadruple therapy for H. heilmannii.

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

Stage IVA lung adenosquamous carcinoma: complete response after paclitaxel, nedaplatin, and tislelizumab

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

Biomarkers: Adenosquamous lung cancer markers; PD-L1 TPS 18%; KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, FLT1 mutation; TMB 3.7

Metastatic Site: pleura/chest wall, cervical lymph nodes, axillary…

As of March 30, 2025, he maintained complete response with normal tumor markers, no radiologic evidence of progression or recurrence, and progression-free survival of 46.5 months after paclitaxel/nedaplatin/tislelizumab followed by maintenance tislelizumab.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage 4 colorectal cancer: complete response with panitumumab and FOLFOX4

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

Biomarkers: KRAS/NRAS/BRAF wild type; MSS/pMMR; HER2 not overexpressed. CEA and CA19-9 were elevated.

Metastatic Site: periaortic and pelvic lymph nodes; left ovary/adnexa

As of November 2024, she was alive and continuing second-line FOLFIRI with stable disease after prior complete remission on panitumumab plus FOLFOX4 and later progression with ovarian metastasis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Courtney, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage III HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Courtney's Patient Story

Patient Info: Courtney, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

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

As of June 2025, Courtney was recovering from Stage III ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative ILC treatment after double mastectomy, Taxotere/Cytoxan chemotherapy, and 25 rounds of radiation, with reconstructive surgery delayed by radiation skin injury.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Paige, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Paige's Patient Story

Patient Info: Paige Cipher, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Paige had Stage III rectal cancer and was still in treatment. After 6 rounds of chemotherapy, the tumor had shrunk but was not gone; as of June 2025, she had just completed round 7, had 1 more round planned, and expected surgery in about 3 weeks.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
Jackson, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jackson's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jackson, Male, Under 40 | Stage III

Jackson completed surgery and chemotherapy for Stage III colon cancer. After his final infusion on January 28, 2025, Signatera was negative, chest and abdomen CTs were clear, tumor-marker bloodwork was negative, and he was declared in remission/no evidence of disease; a later CT in June 2025 was also clear.

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

HER2-positive breast cancer with metastatic recurrence and complete response to T-DM1

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

Biomarkers: HER2 IHC 3+ and hormone receptor-negative in primary and metastatic breast cancer; no liver metastases seen.

Metastatic Site: major pectoralis muscle, lung, broncho-hilar lymph…

After complete radiologic response on T-DM1, treatment was stopped after 22 months because of porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder. Seven months later, she remained asymptomatic and under surveillance with no signs of recurrent disease.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Limited-stage small cell lung cancer with no recurrence after 14 years

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: SCLC markers: CD56/TTF-1 positive. Essential thrombocythemia had JAK2 . Cancer predisposition gene testing was negative.

More than 14 years after limited-stage SCLC diagnosis, surveillance imaging confirmed no recurrence, while essential thrombocythemia remained controlled with weekly Pegasys.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Alexis, who was diagnosed with Stage III Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage III Lung Cancer: Alexis's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Alexis, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: No lung tumor biomarker reported

Alexis had Stage III pulmonary neuroendocrine/carcinoid cancer treated with removal of the entire left lung and 4 months of adjuvant pill chemotherapy. Follow-up scans after chemotherapy were clear, and her doctor called the status no evidence of disease; she continues long-term surveillance.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Julie, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer: Julie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Julie Goodrich

Nearly 2 years after surgery and 12 rounds of chemotherapy, Julie described herself as doing well.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeNot reported
Jenny, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Jenny's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jenny Apple, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 20 mutation

Metastatic Site: brain

Jenny Apple had nonsmoking lung adenocarcinoma with an EGFR exon 20 mutation. Her cancer was first found at Stage IIIA / near IIIB and later progressed to Stage IV with brain metastases. She died before the June 2025 story from her husband Kyle.

The Patient Story
OutcomeIn Memory
Jay, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jay's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jay, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver

Jay was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in 2013 with extensive liver metastases. After surgery, systemic chemotherapy, hepatic arterial infusion pump therapy, liver resection, ablations, and prolonged chemotherapy, he became clear by 2016 and later described long-term survivorship.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
SM
Breast Cancer

Severe Melioidosis During Chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer

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

A 58-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer developed life-threatening melioidosis and severe low blood counts after her sixth chemotherapy cycle, requiring intensive infection treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
Kathleen, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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

Patient Info: Kathleen McEvoy-Schufreider, female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: liver, bones

Kathleen continued long-term treatment for metastatic breast cancer, including infusions every 3 weeks after resuming the PATINA regimen outside the trial.

Dana-Farber
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage I Pleomorphic Lung Cancer Recurring With Bone Metastasis Within Five Months

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 high; no detected driver mutation

Metastatic Site: bone

PET-CT in December 2024 showed a partial response. As of February 2025, he remained on sintilimab and bevacizumab maintenance with about 9 months of progression-free survival after recurrence treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well