Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Stable Brain Metastases During Niraparib Maintenance for Ovarian Cancer

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

Biomarkers: CA-125 4019 kU/L; pathogenic germline BRCA1 mutation

Metastatic Site: brain

After 17 months of niraparib, her brain metastases remained stable. She had a performance status of 0 and reported a full, normal quality of life.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
A patient, who was diagnosed with Gastric CancerGastric Cancer

Gastric Cancer Metastasis to the Hand Treated With Radiation

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

Metastatic Site: liver|adrenal glands|left hand bones

Radiation relieved the hand pain and swelling and restored movement. At 6 months, he remained alive and pain-free in the hand, while the underlying metastatic gastric cancer remained present.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Brittney, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Brittney's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Brittney Rinella, Female, Under 40

As of August 2019, Brittney was cancer-free 4 years after breast cancer treatment with double mastectomy and 4 chemotherapy rounds plus goserelin injections to help preserve ovarian function; she later gave birth to her son.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Nocardia Infection Mimicked Breast Cancer Lung Metastases

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

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

The lung nodules resolved with antibiotics and proved infectious rather than metastatic; she remained in good health at the last follow-up in January 2019.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric Squamous Cell CarcinomaGastric Cancer

Primary gastric squamous cell carcinoma with early chest metastases

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

Biomarkers: HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: lungs, distant lymph nodes

Twelve months after chemotherapy began, the metastatic chest lesions had not progressed and showed minor regression.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Osimertinib Improved Spinal Cord Metastases in Long-Standing Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: Initial surgical specimen: no detected EGFR mutation and ALK-negative. Later pleural-fluid tumor: acquired EGFR T790M mutation with no other detected EGFR mutation.

Metastatic Site: cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes; bone; brain;…

Osimertinib improved neurologic function and kept the lung cancer stable for 14 months; he later died from bacterial pneumonia.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Margaret, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Margaret's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Margaret, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: Genetic testing negative; specific inherited gene not named

As of June 2019, Margaret was in remission after treatment for Stage II breast cancer with double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Margaret, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer Survivor Story: Chemo, Double Mastectomy, Radiation, Reconstruction

Patient Info: Margaret, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: Oncotype DX score reported around 16-18; genetic testing negative; specific inherited gene not named

As of June 2019, Margaret was in remission after Stage II IDC treated with double mastectomy, AC/Taxol chemotherapy, radiation, and reconstruction.

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

Colon Cancer and a Separate Liposarcoma Recurring at the Same Time

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

Metastatic Site: liver|pelvic lymph node

Follow-up imaging showed no evidence of colon cancer after FOLFIRI produced a complete response in the liver and pelvic lymph node. He remained without evidence of disease 1.7 years after recurrence.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
SA
Lung Cancer

Speech and Swallowing Support After Lung Cancer Relapse

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

Metastatic Site: both lungs

The lung cancer relapsed with mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph-node involvement and metastases in both lungs. Ongoing speech and swallowing support prevented reported dysphagia complications.

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

Rectal Signet Ring Cell Cancer With Rapid, Unusual Metastatic Spread

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, Under 40 | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|lumbosacral vertebrae|bone marrow|right…

The cancer recurred 3 months after surgery and spread rapidly to the peritoneum, bones, bone marrow, orbit, and skin. He later entered palliative care.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
OM
Colorectal Cancer

Oxaliplatin-Related Muscle Breakdown During Colorectal Cancer Treatment

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

Biomarkers: CEA 1.01 ng/mL; CA 19-9 <0.6 U/mL

He recovered fully from rhabdomyolysis, completed adjuvant capecitabine, and entered follow-up without evidence of cancer recurrence.

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

Ovarian Cancer Relapse Causing Fluid Around the Heart

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

Biomarkers: PAX8 positive; CK7 positive; WT1 positive; p53 positive; ER positive; PR negative; isolated PMS2 loss; MSH2 retained; MSH6 retained; MLH1 retained; two BRCA1 variants of uncertain significance

Metastatic Site: omentum|pericardium

She was alive after completing chemotherapy for the pericardial relapse and was receiving olaparib maintenance. The fluid around the heart did not recur immediately after the surgical window.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Mucinous gastric cancer presenting with an iris metastasis

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

Metastatic Site: iris, peritoneum, para-aortic and mesenteric lymph…

She died of aspiration pneumonia 8 months after presentation. Autopsy confirmed persistent invasive gastric cancer with metastatic spread.

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

Hormone Problems During Nivolumab Treatment for Advanced Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR/ALK/ROS1/BRAF wild type

Metastatic Site: abdominal wall|brain

She was living with Stage IVA lung cancer after about 1 year of nivolumab. Thyroid levels normalized after levothyroxine adjustment, and continued endocrine monitoring was planned for treatment-related pituitary dysfunction.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer