Chemotherapy: 1,904 Real Stories

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

Belsy, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Belsy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Belsy, Female, 40s

Belsy was declared cancer-free in March 2023 after breast-conserving surgery/lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, with no significant treatment side effects described.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Katie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Katie's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Stomach | Pelvis | Spine

Katie was living with metastatic ILC involving the stomach wall, pelvis, and spine while taking ribociclib (Kisqali) with letrozole, with improved stomach findings and stable spine metastases after 6 rounds.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeResponding Well
Beth, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Beth's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bone

Beth first received chemotherapy and hormone therapy for Stage II pleomorphic ILC in 2005, then developed bone metastases 16 years later and continued living actively with metastatic disease, including a later progression.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Lucy, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lucy's Survivor Story

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

Lucy was treated for Stage III invasive lobular carcinoma with double mastectomy, aggressive chemotherapy, and radiation, and later celebrated 20 years with no evidence of disease.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Alma, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Alma's Patient Story

Patient Info: Alma, Female | Stage II

Alma had Stage II invasive lobular carcinoma treated with lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and planned 10 years of tamoxifen, then found a local recurrence 4.5 years after diagnosis.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Tanya, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Tanya's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tanya, Female, 40s | Stage II

Biomarkers: Genetic testing negative; Oncotype DX score 27; MammaPrint low risk; ER-positive

Tanya had Stage II ER-positive breast cancer with a large lobular tumor found on MRI, underwent bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, completed 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and started tamoxifen.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Stéphanie, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Stéphanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stéphanie Lévesque | Stage III

Biomarkers: Biomarker testing performed; results not reported

Stage III colorectal cancer with chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, ileostomy, and serious treatment complications; care was still ongoing almost 1 year after diagnosis.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Karen, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Karen's Patient Story

Patient Info: Karen, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Rare mutation affecting about 3% of lung cancer patients; mutation not named

Metastatic Site: Rib/bone involvement reported through recurrent tumor…

More than 8 years after initial Stage II lung cancer, Karen had a Stage IV recurrence requiring removal of a tumor and 2 ribs; she remained active and hopeful, but ongoing targeted treatment is not specifically stated.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Jameelah, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jameelah's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jameelah Mahmoud, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

No evidence of disease after laparoscopic colon surgery and 8 rounds of chemotherapy for Stage III colorectal cancer; remains in surveillance while processing visible and invisible survivorship scars.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Laura, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Laura Greco: Stage IV Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Laura Greco, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK translocation / ALK-driven; MET amplification; EGFR amplification reported in brain tumor

Metastatic Site: Brain

Laura Greco passed away on July 14, 2024 after Stage IIIA ALK-driven lung cancer later metastasized to the brain and required repeated brain-directed treatment and targeted therapy.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeIn Memory
Kelly, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer: Kelly's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kelly Brophy, Female

Family-reported colon cancer story: Kelly Brophy’s mother had early-stage colon cancer in 2011, later developed an inoperable colon mass found through screening in 2015, and died in 2017 at age 54.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeIn Memory
Amber, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Amber's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amber Madden, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Comprehensive hereditary cancer genetic testing negative; tumor biomarkers not reported

Metastatic Site: Liver

Stage III colon cancer upstaged to Stage IV after liver metastasis was found; after colectomy, chemotherapy, liver surgery, and more chemotherapy, CT scans in May, August, and November 2025 showed no evidence of active cancer.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Pete, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Pete's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Pete Di Stefano, 40s | Stage III

Completed surgery and 3 months of FOLFOX chemotherapy for Stage IIIB transverse colon cancer; latest NED status is not reported, so this is best classified as survivorship / surveillance.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
Karina, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Karina's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Karina Bandera, Female, 40s | Stage III

Recovering after treatment for Stage IIIC rectal cancer, including chemotherapy, surgery, sepsis complication, ileostomy, more chemotherapy, and ileostomy reversal; she reported doing well, but explicit NED/remission status is not stated.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
Sydney, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Sydney Stoner: Stage IIIB to Stage IV colon cancer with liver and lung involvement

Patient Info: Sydney Stoner, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs

Progressed from Stage IIIB colon cancer to Stage IV disease involving the liver and lungs; treated with surgery/ileostomy/reversal, FOLFOX/FOLFIRI, lung radiation, liver ablation/resection, capecitabine, and ongoing Lonsurf + Avastin.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Janice, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Janice's Patient Story

Patient Info: Janice Johnson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CEA tumor marker elevated after colectomy; biomarker/genomic test results not reported

Metastatic Site: Lungs

Ongoing care for Stage IV colorectal cancer after colectomy, years of chemotherapy, radiation, lung resections for metastatic disease, and pelvic stent exchanges every 3 months.

American Cancer Society
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Mila, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Mila's Patient Story

Patient Info: Mila Gardon, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Neck lymph nodes; skull; iliac bone

Stage IV lung cancer with spread to neck lymph nodes, skull, and iliac bone responded after cryotherapy and interventional therapy; lung tumors disappeared and tumor marker normalized, but the source does not state full remission or NED.

Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou (Lung)
OutcomeResponding Well
Donna, who was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Donna's Patient Story

Patient Info: Donna Thompson, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive lung cancer reported during recurrence; initial tumor biomarker status not reported

Recurrent NSCLC after earlier Stage II surgery and limited chemotherapy; later EGFR-targeted therapy caused kidney failure, 2 new spots were radiated in July 2025, and new nodules are under watchful monitoring.

GO2 Foundation
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Linnea, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

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

Patient Info: Linnea Olson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-rearranged lung cancer

Metastatic Site: Lungs / intrapulmonary disease

Living long term with Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC; ALK-targeted clinical trials controlled disease for years but were described as disease control rather than cure.

Massachusetts General Hospital
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Usha, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

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

Patient Info: Usha Jain, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Tumor genetic profile available for navigation review, but specific results are not reported

Stage IV NSCLC after nearly 2 years of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, followed by watchful monitoring with routine scans; clinical trials were reviewed but not pursued.

GO2 Foundation
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Robbie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Robbie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Robbie, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Estrogen receptor-positive / ER-positive

Metastatic Site: Bone; liver

Living with metastatic breast cancer involving bone and liver after earlier DCIS and Stage II ER-positive breast cancer; ongoing treatment at Mass General focused on stabilization and long-term disease management.

Massachusetts General Hospital
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Glenna, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Glenna's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Glenna, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2 mutation confirmed by blood and tissue biopsy biomarker testing

Stage IV HER2-mutated NSCLC with first-line chemotherapy failure, then ongoing Enhertu from September 2023 and official NED/no evidence of disease status.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Dianne, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I Breast Cancer: Dianne's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Dianne Austin, Female, 40s | Stage I

Disease-free after treatment for early Stage I breast cancer, with chemotherapy and radiation completed and ongoing survivorship focused on resilience, hair loss recovery, and advocacy for better wig access for women of color.

Massachusetts General Hospital
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED