Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

Kevin, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer: Kevin's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kevin

After 6 rounds of chemotherapy over about 3 months, the cancer had progressed and Kevin’s sigmoid was fully obstructed.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Metastatic gastric cancer with an ATM mutation responding to olaparib

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

Biomarkers: Pathogenic germline ATM mutation, HER2-negative, PD-L1 15%

Metastatic Site: peritoneum

He had a deep response lasting about 18 months, but imaging in December 2023 again showed peritoneal carcinomatosis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Paula, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Paula's Patient Story

Patient Info: Paula | Stage II

Paula was receiving chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for stage 2 breast cancer, with additional treatments included in the recommended plan.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Metastatic invasive lobular breast carcinoma to pancreas: biliary stent and paclitaxel

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

Biomarkers: Primary breast tumor was triple-negative. Pancreatic metastasis was ER-positive/GATA-positive

Metastatic Site: pancreas; coelio-mesenteric lymph nodes

After 21 years of remission, she developed pancreatic and coelio-mesenteric nodal metastases from invasive lobular breast carcinoma; palliative paclitaxel was stopped after 2 courses because her condition deteriorated, and she was lost to follow-up.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Lesley, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer: Lesley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lesley

Lesley was receiving chemotherapy for colorectal cancer after a double diagnosis of cervical and colorectal cancer in June 2024.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IIIA breast cancer history with benign lipid pneumonia mimicking lung malignancy

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

Prior Stage IIIA breast cancer treatment was completed; a later suspicious lung lesion proved to be benign lipid pneumonia rather than recurrence or lung cancer, and she was asymptomatic 1 year after lobectomy with continued surveillance for new right-lung changes.

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

Rectal signet ring cell cancer with an unusual metastasis into a lipoma

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

Metastatic Site: subcutaneous abdominal wall lipoma, peritoneum

Peritoneal carcinomatosis developed during adjuvant FOLFOX. Second-line chemotherapy was proposed, and he died 12 months later.

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

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Agnes's Patient Story

Patient Info: Agnes, 50s | Stage IV

She is living with Stage IV colorectal cancer and remains on palliative chemotherapy while waiting to learn whether surgery could become an option.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

BRCA2-Positive Breast Cancer in a Woman With Down Syndrome

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

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

Metastatic Site: lungs, bones

The cancer later progressed with lung and bone metastases and extensive cancer spread through lymphatic vessels in both lungs. She died 59 months after breast surgery.

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

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jeff's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeff Williams, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs

As of December 2023, Jeff was living with recurrent Stage IV colorectal cancer, had recently developed more lung tumors, continued chemotherapy locally every 2 weeks, and returned to UT MD Anderson every 3 months for scans.

MD Anderson
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Chantal, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Chantal's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; BRCA1 mutation

As of December 2023, Chantal reported that she did not currently have cancer, was followed by medical oncology every 3-4 months, and used Signatera testing because tumor markers were not reliable for her.

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

HER2-Positive Mucoepidermoid Breast Cancer With 61 Months Without Recurrence

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s

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

She was alive without signs of recurrence after 61 months of follow-up, providing just over 5 years of documented follow-up for this second primary breast cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Presenting With Painful Finger Ischemia

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: CA-125: 90.6 kU/L after 4 cycles of chemotherapy

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|omentum

She continued chemotherapy and palliative symptom management after debulking surgery. She died from an intracranial hemorrhage 10 months after her original presentation.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Five Years Without Breast Cancer Recurrence Despite a Markedly Elevated CA 15-3

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive

Five years after her Stage I breast-cancer diagnosis, breast imaging and systemic evaluation showed no evidence of recurrence. The markedly elevated CA 15-3 was traced to a separate renal tumor and normalized after nephrectomy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED