Colon Cancer Returned in a Mesenteric Lymph Node 2 Years After Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

The recurrent disease was removed with negative margins in a curative-intent operation. At 8 months, his weight was stable and his energy was improving.

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HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Tamara's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tamara, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of April 2022, Tamara was 4 years from HER2-positive breast cancer treatment and still in periodic follow-up before reaching the 5-year mark after treatment.

Recurrent Ovarian Cancer and Olaparib-Related Skin Toxicity

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|liver

The latest chemotherapy was effective, and she was alive without signs of another recurrence at the last documented follow-up.

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Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Karen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Karen Howley LaCamera, 50s | Stage III

The REGN4018 clinical trial put Karen’s ovarian cancer into remission, which had lasted nearly a year when the story was written, with follow-up every 6 weeks.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Metastatic hepatoid gastric adenocarcinoma achieving complete remission with sintilimab

Patient Info: Anonymized, male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: AFP markedly elevated

Metastatic Site: liver

By the fifth sintilimab cycle, gastroscopy showed no gastric tumor, CT showed no liver metastases and AFP had normalized; complete remission was confirmed and remained stable during subsequent treatment.

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Recurrent Lobular Breast Cancer Spread to the Opposite Armpit Lymph Node

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

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

Metastatic Site: Contralateral right axillary lymph node

After surgery for the recurrence and removal of the opposite-side axillary nodes, the patient proceeded with adjuvant chemotherapy and remained in active treatment.

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Severe Esophageal Narrowing After Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s

The breast tumor shrank slightly and was considered stable before mastectomy. Her major subsequent problem was persistent treatment-related esophageal narrowing that required nutritional support and later a removable esophageal stent.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Cindi's Survivor Story

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

Metastatic Site: Liver; abdominal lining/peritoneum

As of March 2022, Cindi had no recurrence more than 1 year after a clinical trial with nivolumab, investigational anti-tumor vaccine, chemotherapy, and surgery produced a complete pathologic response with no living cancer cells.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Stage II HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: María's Survivor Story

Patient Info: María Ángeles, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of March 2022, María Ángeles was 4 years from diagnosis after completing 14 chemotherapy sessions, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, 21 radiation sessions, and trastuzumab for Stage II HER2-positive breast cancer.

BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Mary's Patient Story

Patient Info: Mary Anne Marshall, female

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

She completed a difficult 2-year ovarian cancer treatment course and was alive 4 years into her combined cancer journey.

MD AndersonRead more →

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Shyreece's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shyreece, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK rearrangement / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of March 2022, Shyreece was a long-term Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer survivor with later brain metastases, ongoing treatment decisions, and advocacy focused on biomarker testing, trials, and disparities in Black lung cancer care.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Lung Cancer Patient Stories: Clinical Trials (& Patient Self-Advocacy!) | Shyreece’s Story (3 of 4)

Patient Info: Shyreece Pompey, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Actionable biomarker identified by biomarker testing; specific mutation not stated

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of March 2022, Shyreece was living with Stage IV lung cancer after moving from an initial chemotherapy cocktail to an unnamed targeted therapy pill and later participating in a clinical trial.

The Patient StoryRead more →

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

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of March 2022, Loli was living with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer involving the liver and receiving clinical-trial treatment with chemotherapy every 21 days.

HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer responding to trastuzumab deruxtecan rechallenge

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: liver

After trastuzumab deruxtecan was restarted, his symptoms improved after the first cycle and imaging showed tumor shrinkage after 3 cycles. He was still receiving treatment without progression at the latest follow-up.

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Ovarian Cancer Metastasis to the Cervical Spinal Canal

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: brain|cervical intradural extramedullary space

Her neck and shoulder pain resolved after spinal surgery, but she developed recurrent brain disease and died from cachexia 4 months after the spinal operation.

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Rare HER2-positive mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the breast

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

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

She remained on systemic chemotherapy at the latest documented point, 6 months after starting treatment.

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Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Stephanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female, 60s

As of February 2022, Stephanie was living with locoregional recurrent ILC after extensive surgery and ongoing treatment with Ibrance/Femara, with recent bone, abdomen, and chest scans showing no new cancer growth and continued Femara without chemotherapy.

Lobular Breast Cancer AllianceRead more →

Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Caroline's Patient Story

Patient Info: Caroline McGuirk, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: pelvic bone

Caroline continued follow-up care and regular infusions to control Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Francisco's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Francisco Goyoaga, Male, 50s

As of February 2022, Francisco had overcome colorectal cancer after chemotherapy and ostomy-related treatment and no longer needed the ostomy bag.

Long-term erlotinib treatment alongside worsening kidney vasculitis

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

Metastatic Site: bone

Bone metastases showed osteosclerotic change after erlotinib began, and the drug continued because he was benefiting from treatment despite worsening renal vasculitis.

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Severe kidney injury during pembrolizumab-based treatment for lung adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

Kidney function stabilized during six months of follow-up, and he later began a modified cancer regimen containing SAR408701.

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Early kidney injury after first-line treatment for lung adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

Kidney function improved after a short prednisone course, and he later continued cancer care with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel.

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Severe immune-related kidney and lung toxicity during treatment for lung adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

Corticosteroid treatment returned kidney function to baseline, but worsening immune-related lung toxicity led him and his family to choose palliative care.

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Kidney inflammation during maintenance treatment for lung adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s

Kidney function remained stable during three months of follow-up after prednisone was started for biopsy-confirmed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis.

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