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 Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Durable brain and leptomeningeal response to pembrolizumab in Stage IV lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 high positive; EGFR negative; BRAF negative; KRAS negative; ROS1 negative; ALK negative

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland, left sixth rib, brain,…

After 29 pembrolizumab cycles over 20 months, imaging showed no leptomeningeal disease, resolution of 3 brain lesions and marked reduction of the dominant frontal lesion; she remained neurologically intact and radiographically stable.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
SI
Breast Cancer

Stage II HER2-Positive Breast Cancer With Anti-Yo Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage II

Biomarkers: HER2 positive

Her severe anti-Yo paraneoplastic cerebellar syndrome did not meaningfully respond to IVIG or cancer treatment. She became wheelchair-dependent and ultimately required long-term care, with only moderate improvement in ataxia after rehabilitation.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
A patient, who was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Metastatic Breast Cancer Causing Severe Shoulder and Arm Pain

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

Metastatic Site: bone

Progressive nodal disease caused disabling brachial-plexus pain. She died about 3 months after placement of the intrathecal pain catheter.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Dena, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

BRCA Ovarian Cancer: Dena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Dena Svoboda, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: BRCA mutation

Nearly 4 years after surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, Dena’s cancer had not recurred, and she continued intravenous chemotherapy every 5 weeks with minimal side effects.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeResponding Well
Jennifer, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I Breast Cancer: Jennifer's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jennifer Buckland, Female, 40s | Stage I

As of November 2018, Jennifer was cancer-free after Stage I breast cancer treatment that included 12 weekly taxane chemotherapy treatments and cooling-cap support that helped prevent hair loss.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast AdenocarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer Recurring 18 Years After Mastectomy

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

Metastatic Site: sternum|lungs|pleura|chest wall

She died during respiratory decline caused by both metastatic breast cancer in the lungs and a separate primary lung cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Lobular Breast Cancer Spreading to an Eye Muscle

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative; CK7-positive

Metastatic Site: bones|left superior oblique eye muscle

The eye-muscle metastasis entered complete local remission, while bone disease was stable after 6 months of weekly paclitaxel and denosumab.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
Anatole, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Anatole's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Anatole Karpovs, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of October 2018, Anatole had no evidence of disease after liver surgery and FOLFIRI for a July 2014 liver recurrence, and had been cancer-free for almost 4 years while recognizing that microscopic disease could still be possible.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
AO
Ovarian Cancer

Advanced Ovarian Cancer Presenting With Dermatomyositis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: CA-125 3169 at diagnosis; later CA-125 rise with progression

After a partial response to second-line chemotherapy, nodal disease progressed again 5 months later and liposomal doxorubicin was planned.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
OC
Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer With Pleural Spread and Recurrent Dermatomyositis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: pleura

She had symptomatic improvement after 2 cycles of carboplatin and liposomal doxorubicin for recurrent disease.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Deidre, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I Breast Cancer: Deidre's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Deidre Smith, Female, 40s | Stage I

As of August 2018, Deidre had completed Stage I breast cancer treatment with bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstruction and described survivorship with a changed outlook and strong family support.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer Causing Severe Cushing Syndrome

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

Biomarkers: Ectopic ACTH secretion with markedly elevated ACTH and cortisol

Metastatic Site: liver|bones

The cancer and hormone syndrome progressed after an initial response, and he died after cardiopulmonary arrest 1 year after diagnosis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Rectal Cancer Spreading to the Thyroid and Bones

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

Biomarkers: CEA 2.75 ng/mL at diagnosis

Metastatic Site: thyroid|bones

His metastatic disease worsened after 3 cycles of bevacizumab and capecitabine. He declined further treatment and died at home within 2 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colon Cancer With Lung Metastasis Alongside a Separate Thyroid Cancer

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

Biomarkers: Rising CEA

Metastatic Site: lungs

A 64-year-old woman had colon cancer involving the lungs while a separate follicular-variant thyroid cancer involved the kidney.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Delayed Adrenal Insufficiency After Nivolumab for Stage IV Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR unmutated; ALK unmutated; ROS1 unmutated

His weakness, fatigue, weight loss, and orthostatic hypotension resolved after hormone replacement, and he returned home independently.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported