Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer Discovered During Trigeminal Neuralgia Evaluation

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

Three months after surgery, she had recovered well from debulking and 6 total chemotherapy cycles, with complete macroscopic clearance achieved at surgery. Trigeminal-neuralgia symptoms persisted and continued to require daily medication.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Jeanine, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

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

Patient Info: Jeanine, Female | Stage III

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

Jeanine completed chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomy, and post-surgery radiation after her disease was restaged from Stage II to Stage III, and she described continued active oncology care and advocacy as of June 2021.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Susie's, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Susie's's Patient Story

Patient Info: Susie's daughter, Female, 40s

As of May 2021, Susie’s daughter was living after treatment for an 8 cm invasive lobular carcinoma and dealing with side effects from different endocrine therapies, while Susie became active in ILC advocacy and research support.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
MB
Breast Cancer

Male breast cancer discovered after years of stiff-person syndrome

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; anti-amphiphysin antibody positive at 1:64; hereditary cancer panel negative for pathogenic germline variants.

He completed curative-intent breast cancer treatment and reported substantial improvement in upper-body stiffness, although lower-extremity stiffness, cramps, and unsteadiness persisted.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast cancer returned in the stomach and peritoneum after three years in remission

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: Initial breast tumor: ER 95%, PR 5%, HER2-negative, Nottingham grade 2. Metastatic peritoneal tumor: ER 80%

Metastatic Site: stomach; peritoneum

After metastatic breast cancer was confirmed in the stomach and peritoneum, she chose palliative care and inpatient hospice and died a few weeks later.

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

Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery for lung cancer that spread to the foot

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: PD-L1 20%; no actionable mutations on next-generation sequencing.

She had a significant response after four cycles of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab, and the resected lung nodule contained fibrosis and scar without carcinoma; further systemic treatment and radiation were under consideration.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung CancerLung Cancer

Immunotherapy and surgery for adenosquamous lung cancer with brain metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: PD-L1 positive; no actionable mutations on next-generation sequencing.

After chemotherapy, 19 cycles of pembrolizumab, and right middle lobectomy, she was off immunotherapy and under observation in remission.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Metastatic Gastric Cancer Causing Severe Hormone-Related Complications

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

Biomarkers: HER2 negative; Ki-67 70%; CD56 positive; synaptophysin positive; weak chromogranin expression; ectopic ACTH secretion; elevated serum chromogranin A

Metastatic Site: liver

His liver metastases enlarged despite carboplatin, and his weight loss, appetite, and mobility worsened. He received palliative care during a later admission and died a few days afterward.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Joy, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Joy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Joy Albi

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Joy was in complete remission after the breast tumor was removed and she completed systemic chemotherapy.

Dana-Farber
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Lung CancerLung Cancer

Strong Response to Pembrolizumab-Based Therapy for Pleomorphic Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-negative; ALK-negative; ROS1-negative; PD-L1 TPS 90%-100%.

A marked response followed four combination cycles, and maintenance pembrolizumab remained ongoing seven months after treatment began.

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

Pembrolizumab Controlled Metastatic Pleomorphic Lung Cancer After Chemotherapy Failed

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-negative; ALK-negative; ROS1-negative; BRAF-negative; PD-L1 TPS 60%-70%; BRCA2, and TP53 mutations; tumor mutation burden 42 mutations/Mb; no actionable alteration.

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland; left adrenal gland; bone

Tumor diameter had decreased at 11 months, and pembrolizumab remained ongoing at 12 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Lung Cancer Metastases to Both Kidneys Causing Kidney Failure

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: PD-L1 highly expressed

Metastatic Site: brain|bilateral kidneys|lungs

The cancer progressed in both kidneys and lungs despite treatment, causing dialysis-dependent kidney failure. He later developed severe respiratory illness and died 5 days after readmission.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Rachel, who was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Rachel's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Rachel Chua Bradley, Female, 50s

As of April 2021, Rachel had completed treatment for recurrent non-small cell lung cancer, was not on maintenance cancer medication, and returned to MD Anderson every 6 months for checkups.

MD Anderson
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
SH
Lung Cancer

Severe headache during chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s

After the regimen change, he completed five chemotherapy cycles, remained free of severe headache, and had improvement in chest pain, cough, and breathing.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Hillary, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Hillary's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Hillary, Female, 50s

As of April 2021, Hillary had completed surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, lymphedema rehabilitation and staged reconstruction for node-positive breast cancer, with return toward normal life; no formal stage or NED status was stated.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
Brandon, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Brandon's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Brandon Dale, Male, 50s | Stage III

As of April 2021, Brandon was cancer-free 3 years after Stage III rectal cancer treatment, living normally with a permanent colostomy.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Montessa, who was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Cancer Survivor Story: Navigating Life with Lung Cancer (3/3)

Patient Info: Montessa Lee, Female, Under 40

As of March 2021, Montessa was a small cell lung cancer survivor and patient advocate after chemotherapy, radiation, and brain radiation; no cancer-free/NED claim or metastatic site was stated.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

HER2-positive left breast cancer treated with trastuzumab and mastectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2/CerbB2 strongly positive; BRCA1/2 negative for known pathogenic variants; FANCA variant of uncertain significance.

She remained alive, asymptomatic, and disease-free while undergoing annual surveillance after treatment for the left HER2-positive breast cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED