Multifocal stage IIIA lung adenocarcinoma responding to nivolumab

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

Biomarkers: CK7-positive; TTF-1-positive; napsin-A-positive; PD-L1 85% positive.

The biopsied lung nodule nearly resolved after four nivolumab cycles, and the remaining pulmonary nodules were stable at 24 months.

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Tomma Hargraves: Choosing to Help Other Patients after Surviving Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Tomma Hargraves | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

After treatment and a later recurrence, Tomma went many years without further cancer treatment and became a patient navigator and advocate. She died on September 7, 2023.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Kirby's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kirby Lewis, Male | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: lung|spine

Kirby was living with metastatic breast cancer, and his most recent scans showed the right-lung tumor was stable with no signs of progression while he continued fulvestrant and palbociclib.

Stage IV Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Eva's Patient Story

Patient Info: Eva Joseph | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Triple-negative

Metastatic Site: lungs, sternum

On ongoing atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel, Eva’s lung and sternum tumors became very small and were being kept at bay while she felt well enough to enjoy short trips.

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

Patient Info: Tomma Hargraves, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

After a later brain and lymph-node relapse was brought under control, Tomma had no further cancer treatment and remained active in survivorship advocacy. She died on September 7, 2023.

Stage III Breast Cancer: Christine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christine Cosby | Stage III

At the latest report, there was no sign of cancer in Christine’s body and she had recovered enough to return to work part time.

Ovarian Cancer: Stacy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stacy Saravo, female

After treatment, Stacy was active in survivorship, peer support, patient education, hiking, and scent-work activities with her dog.

A benign liver granuloma mimicked rectal-cancer recurrence after chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s

Rectal resection showed a pathologic complete response, and the enlarging liver lesion was repeatedly confirmed as non-malignant granulomatous inflammation rather than metastatic recurrence.

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Portal-vein thrombosis after surgery and chemotherapy for Stage III gastric cancer — Case 1

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

At 6 months of follow-up after treatment for the thrombosis, no hepatic decompensation or liver cirrhosis had developed.

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Portal-vein thrombosis after surgery and chemotherapy for Stage III gastric cancer — Case 2

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

Two months into follow-up after the thrombosis, no hepatic decompensation or liver cirrhosis had been identified.

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Triple-negative breast cancer developing beside a large breast cyst

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

Biomarkers: ER negative; PR negative; HER2 negative; Ki-67 >50%; p53 negative for overexpression, triple negative

She recovered after treatment with no clinical evidence of regional or distant recurrence.

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Stage III Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Ximena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ximena Nardelli, Female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive

As of February 2020, Ximena had completed mastectomy, 16 chemotherapy sessions, and 21 radiation treatments for Stage III hormone-positive invasive ductal carcinoma and was continuing planned 5-year hormone therapy.

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More than 10 years living with relapsing extensive-stage small cell lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: Chromogranin-positive.

Metastatic Site: pleura; pancreas; left kidney and perinephric region

After five treatment lines and several metastatic relapses over more than 10 years, his latest irinotecan and carboplatin course produced another partial response and he was doing well at the last follow-up.

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Stage IV Gastric Cancer: Faye's Patient Story

Patient Info: Faye Hood, female, 70+ | Stage IV

After surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, Faye recovered, returned to exercise and completed a half-marathon 1 year later.

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Late-onset mania revealed advanced small cell lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: ACTH-producing tumor with ACTH 776 pg/mL and morning cortisol 206.8 micrograms/dL.

Metastatic Site: right lung; liver

He died a few months after diagnosis from aspiration pneumonia and multiorgan failure in the setting of rapidly deteriorating stage IV small cell lung cancer.

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A reversible brain syndrome after chemotherapy for stage IIB lung cancer

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

Her seizure-related neurological findings resolved during hospitalization, and she was discharged without neurological symptoms after chemotherapy was stopped.

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Gastric cancer diagnosed during late pregnancy after severe gastrointestinal bleeding

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s

Biomarkers: HER2-negative

Six months after emergency surgery, chemotherapy and radiation were still ongoing.

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Early breast cancer followed 19 years later by a radiation-related breast sarcoma

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

Biomarkers: Strongly ER-positive; strongly PR-positive.

The stage IA breast carcinoma remained disease-free for 19 years; a later right-breast mass was a separate radiation-induced sarcoma rather than recurrent carcinoma.

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Small cell lung cancer found through a disabling paraneoplastic neuropathy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Anti-CRMP5 antibody-positive.

She completed chemotherapy and radiation and entered oncology follow-up, while the disabling sensory and motor neuropathy persisted and rehabilitation continued.

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An unusual paratesticular metastasis from colon cancer

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

Biomarkers: CK20-positive; CDX2-positive; CK7-negative.

Metastatic Site: lungs; right paratesticular soft tissue

He recovered well after removal of the paratesticular metastasis and continued treatment for metastatic colon cancer with his oncology team.

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Dramatic chemotherapy response in stage IIIB triple-negative breast cancer

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; BRCA1-negative; BRCA2-negative; germline FLCN c.1285delC associated with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome; tumor TP53 p.T150fs.

Eighteen months after surgery, she had no recurrence following a dramatic chemotherapy response, bilateral mastectomy, chest-wall radiation, and adjuvant capecitabine.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Dan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Dan DiNardo, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Left femoral ball/hip; spine; lymph nodes; chest

As of January 2020, Dan was living with metastatic recurrent male breast cancer on ongoing hormone-blocking therapy plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor after surgery and hip radiation; his cancer had shown no growth for 1 year.

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Breast Cancer: Constance's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Constance Porter, Female

As of January 2020, Constance was cancer-free 3 years after breast cancer diagnosis, while living with permanent hair loss, joint pain from anastrozole, and occasional leg cramps.

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Lung Cancer: Keith's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Keith Medovich, Male, 60s

As of January 2020, Keith was rid of lung cancer after 2003 chemotherapy and radiation, but required ongoing management of severe late radiation-related airway stenosis with a custom patient-specific stent.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →