Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

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

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Metastatic Colorectal Cancer With NRG1 Fusion Controlled for Years With Afatinib

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

Biomarkers: MATN-NRG1 fusion; no KRAS alteration detected

Afatinib controlled her metastatic colorectal cancer for 136 weeks. After resection of the remaining target lesion in September 2022, she remained alive with no progression as of October 2024.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

NRG1-Fusion Colorectal Cancer Progressing on Afatinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+

Biomarkers: CD74-NRG1 fusion; no KRAS alteration detected

The cancer progressed clinically after 8 weeks on afatinib. She died in November 2021.

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

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Albita's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Described as wild type; no hereditary genetic marker reported

Metastatic Site: liver

Albita had Stage IV colon cancer with liver metastases. As of April 2025, the only active cancer she described was still in the liver, with 3 spots remaining after chemotherapy, radiation, liver resection, hysterectomy/colon surgery, ileostomy, and ongoing/planned liver-directed treatment.

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

Breast Cancer in a Woman Carrying Both BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage I

Biomarkers: ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative, BRCA1 pathogenic variant, BRCA2 pathogenic variant

Remained free of recurrence 17 months after treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Michelle, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Michelle: Stage IV Colorectal Cancer

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

Metastatic Site: Ovary | Femoral nerve region

As of April 2025, Michelle described living as a Stage IV colorectal cancer survivor after FOLFOX, major surgery, 2.5 years with no evidence of disease, and a later PET-detected recurrence involving the femoral nerve region.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSetback / Progression
MT
Breast Cancer

Metaplastic triple-negative breast cancer: near-complete response to taxane/carboplatin before surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; CA 15-3 elevated, triple negative

As of April 2025, imaging after taxane/carboplatin showed a near-complete morpho-metabolic response in the right breast and major reduction of axillary nodal disease, followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Harjeet, who was diagnosed with Blood CancerBlood Cancer

Blood Cancer: Harjeet's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Harjeet Kaur, Female, Under 40

As of April 2025, Harjeet Kaur was a Stage IV rare blood cancer survivor and patient advocate; external survivor profiles describe NED after stem cell transplant.

Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful (LBBC)
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-amplified primary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the breast: surgery and adjuvant treatment

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

Biomarkers: HER2-amplified / HER2 3+; ER/PR-negative; Ki-67 ~50%; p53 high; microsatellite stable. No clinically significant inherited mutation reported.

As of November 2024, she had more than 104 months of disease-free survival after breast-conserving surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy, EC-T chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for Stage IIA HER2-amplified primary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the breast.

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

Metastatic lung squamous cell carcinoma: no recurrence after chemoimmunotherapy and pembrolizumab maintenance

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; PD-L1 TPS 95%; TTF-1-negative; p40-positive

Metastatic Site: mediastinal lymph nodes; bilateral lung nodules

As of April 2025, PET/CT 3 years after treatment initiation showed no sign of recurrence after carboplatin, nab-paclitaxel, pembrolizumab, and 2 years of pembrolizumab monotherapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Kasey, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Kasey's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: CEA elevated; no genomic biomarker reported

Metastatic Site: liver

Kasey was diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer in February 2024 and progressed to Stage IV disease with a liver lesion in September 2024. As of April 2025, she was continuing chemotherapy after liver surgery.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage III colon cancer followed by a second gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: KRAS-mutated, NRAS-negative, BRAF-negative

After surgery and 4 cycles of CAPEOX, imaging initially showed no metastases. Later imaging showed new bilobar liver lesions, and a separate primary gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma was diagnosed about 1 year after the colon cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
Chloe, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Chloe's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Chloe, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: Familial adenomatous polyposis

As of April 2025, Chloe was in remission after emergency surgery with a stoma and 4 rounds of IV/oral chemotherapy for Stage III FAP-associated colon adenocarcinoma.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Lung inflammation from pembrolizumab immunotherapy returned months after stopping treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: Estrogen receptor-negative; progesterone receptor-negative; HER2-negative

Surgery confirmed a pathologic complete response, and she remained in breast-cancer remission during routine follow-up after treatment for recurrent pembrolizumab-related pneumonitis.

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

Small Cell Lung Cancer That Spread to the Ear Canal

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

Metastatic Site: external auditory canal, middle ear, pancreas, bone

The metastatic lesions initially shrank and his hearing and ear pain improved, but he died 15 months after diagnosis.

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

Metastatic lung adenocarcinoma: pembrolizumab response complicated by pulmonary arterial hypertension

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

Biomarkers: CK7-positive; TTF-1-positive; p40 focally positive; high tumor mutational burden; no targetable mutations identified

Metastatic Site: right axillary lymph node; right hilar lymph nodes;…

As of April 2025, the patient was tolerating single-agent pemetrexed without evidence of lung cancer progression, while pulmonary arterial hypertension symptoms had improved on riociguat and macitentan.

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

Metastatic Neuroendocrine Breast Cancer With Severe Hormone Overproduction

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative, PR focally positive, HER2-negative, PIK3CA mutation

Metastatic Site: liver, bone

Died after rapid deterioration and cardiac arrest during progressive metastatic disease.

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

Stage 4 SMARCA4-deficient lung cancer: ongoing treatment response

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

Biomarkers: SMARCA4-deficient lung cancer with BRG-1 loss, CK/CK7 positive, Ki-67 >40%. CEA

Metastatic Site: sigmoid colon, left adrenal gland

After colon metastasis surgery, continued radiotherapy, and later gemcitabine/nedaplatin/bevacizumab/camrelizumab for adrenal metastasis, the cancer showed a favorable response with no further recurrence or new metastasis reported.

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

HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastases: responding well to T-DXd

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-positive / HER2 IHC 3+

Metastatic Site: brain (left cerebellum, left frontal lobe, medulla)

After 14 months and 19 doses of T-DXd, brain metastases remained controlled with no symptomatic or radiological relapse and no severe T-DXd-related adverse events.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well