Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

Allison, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Allison's Survivor Story

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

As of August 2020, Allison reported no evidence of disease on follow-up scans while continuing survivorship care after rectal-cancer treatment.

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

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Linked to a Rare Immune-Related Neurological Syndrome

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: HER2-positive in both foci; one focus ER-negative/PR-positive with Ki-67 45%; second focus ER-negative/PR-negative with Ki-67 35%; anti-Yo antibodies positive in serum and CSF; tumour-susceptibility gene panel negative

At 1 year, she had completed trastuzumab, continued tamoxifen, and had no evidence of recurrent breast cancer; intensive rehabilitation improved her mobility, although balance and right-sided neurological deficits persisted.

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

Metastatic Lung Cancer Responded Completely After a Change in Immunotherapy

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

Biomarkers: TTF-1-positive; napsin-positive; PD-L1 0%; high tumour mutational burden; no actionable mutations

Metastatic Site: bone (left iliac bone, acetabulum and thoracic…

After progression on nivolumab, atezolizumab produced a complete response by the 6-month scan; after 35 cycles, the response remained sustained, he was alive and well, and no immune-related adverse effects were documented.

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

Small-Cell Lung Cancer First Appeared as Rapidly Worsening Nerve Damage

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Anti-Hu-positive; anti-CV2/CRMP5-positive; anti-SOX1-positive

Despite six cycles of carboplatin and etoposide and intensive treatment for the paraneoplastic neuropathy, her neurological condition progressed; after a thrombocytopenia-related brain haemorrhage, she entered palliative care and died within weeks.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Doris, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Doris's Patient Story

Patient Info: Doris, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lungs

As of August 2020, Doris was living with Stage IV breast cancer metastatic to the lungs after chemotherapy and bilateral mastectomies, and the story asked for help so she could continue treatment.

YouTube (ES search)
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Recurrent Breast Cancer With a Benign-Appearing Chest-Wall Rash

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: ER-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative.

Metastatic Site: mediastinal lymph nodes

She had recurrent chest-wall and mediastinal metastatic disease; a later rash biopsy showed dermatitis rather than another skin recurrence.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Heart Failure and Electrical Conduction Changes During Trastuzumab Treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; ER-positive

Trastuzumab was suspended after acute heart failure and electrical conduction abnormalities; 4 weeks later, left ventricular function recovered and the ECG returned to normal during cardio-oncology follow-up.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
Brooks, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Brooks's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Brooks Bell, Female | Stage III

As of July 2020, Brooks had no cancer found during follow-up colonoscopy, though new polyps were removed or biopsied and repeat colonoscopy was recommended in 1 year because polyps appeared to return quickly.

Colorectal Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Young woman with ductal breast cancer and bleeding gastric metastases

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

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

Metastatic Site: pancreas|liver|kidney|stomach

After rapid progression to the pancreas, liver, kidney and stomach, she chose palliative care and died 1 month after presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Caitlin, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Caitlin's Patient Story

Patient Info: Caitlin J., Female, Under 40 | Stage II

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

As of July 2020, Caitlin had completed lumpectomy, AC chemotherapy, Taxol, and 33 radiation treatments for Stage IIB ER-positive, PR-positive IDC and was continuing monthly Lupron plus daily anastrozole.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Lobular Breast Cancer Spread Into a Nasal Tumor

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

Biomarkers: Metastatic lobular focus: ER 8/8; PR 8/8; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative.

Metastatic Site: liver; bone; right nasal cavity within an olfactory…

The nasal lesion was removed with no residual local disease on imaging, and capecitabine was restarted while oncology follow-up continued for metastatic breast cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage III rectal adenocarcinoma with concurrent intermediate-risk prostate cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

Biomarkers: Rectal cancer CEA was not elevated. Prostate cancer PSA was high before treatment and low after radiation.

The rectal tumor achieved pathologic complete response with no residual tumor and 0 of 13 lymph nodes involved. Surveillance CT at 10 months showed no local recurrence or distant metastasis, and PSA remained low 1 year after operation.

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

Fatal Bowel Infection After the First Chemotherapy Cycle for Early HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

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

Nine days after the first TCH cycle, she developed fulminant febrile neutropenia and Clostridium septicum sepsis with extensive bowel ischaemia; despite emergency treatment and resuscitation, she died 4 hours after hospital arrival.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Kristine, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Kristine's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kristine, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Lymph nodes; chest wall; upper lungs

As of May 2020, Kristine was living with recurrent metastatic breast cancer involving lymph nodes, chest wall and upper lungs, after surgery and radiation, with daily oral chemotherapy helping keep cancer controlled.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Barbara, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colon Cancer Stories: Barbara Majeski

Patient Info: Barbara Majeski, Female, 40s | Stage III

As of May 2020, Barbara was approaching the 5-year mark after Stage III colon cancer, with blood tests every 6 months and annual scans reported as good/clear.

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

Pleomorphic lung cancer responding to pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 tumor proportion score >75%; EGFR negative; ROS1 negative; ALK fusion negative

Metastatic Site: right 8th rib, left adrenal gland

His general condition improved as the tumors shrank, and he remained well 7 months after diagnosis with maintenance pembrolizumab planned.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Christine, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Christine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christine Hodgdon, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Christine had no evidence of disease after 1 year and continued HER2-targeted treatment with regular surveillance scans.

AACR
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Howard, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Howard's Patient Story

Patient Info: Howard Brown, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|liver

Howard was living with metastatic colon cancer and undergoing CT scans every 90 days, with further treatment depending on whether scans showed recurrence or progression.

AACR
OutcomeLiving With Cancer