Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Susan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Susan, Female | Stage I

Biomarkers: ER 100% positive; HER2-negative; progesterone receptor result not reported; multigene testing pending

Susan had completed breast surgery for a small early-stage invasive ductal cancer and was awaiting final pathology and genetic results to determine whether radiation, chemotherapy, and long-term endocrine therapy would be needed.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

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 HospitalRead more →

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Jay's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jay Petri, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-rearranged lung cancer

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer treated through clinical trials at Mass General; he reported being cancer-free for nearly 1.5 years after going through 3 trials.

Massachusetts General HospitalRead more →

Stage I Breast Cancer: Kevin's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kevin Jarvis, Male | Stage I

Biomarkers: Genetic testing inconclusive; receptor status not reported

Early male breast cancer treated with mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy, EC chemotherapy, paclitaxel/Taxol, and ongoing daily tamoxifen; latest source text describes good spirits and continued discussion of risk-reducing surgery, but does not explicitly state NED.

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 CancerRead more →

Stage II BRCA2 Breast Cancer: Rachel's Patient Story

Patient Info: Rachel Zitofsky, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: BRCA2 mutation

Rachel was doing well 4.5 years after Stage II breast cancer diagnosis and continued tamoxifen; her BRCA2 result also led her sister to expanded testing and preventive care.

Memorial Sloan KetteringRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jackie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jackie, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Jackie’s Stage IIIB rectal cancer later recurred as Stage IV/metastatic disease, but early immunotherapy response was strong, with no visible tumor on MD Anderson sigmoid scope about 6 weeks after starting treatment.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage III MSI-High Colorectal Cancer: Tommy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Tommy Allen, Male, 50s | Stage III

Biomarkers: MSI-high; Lynch syndrome

As of November 2025, Tommy was cancer-free 5 years after pembrolizumab, ileostomy, Whipple procedure, partial colectomy, and ileostomy closure for Stage III MSI-high colon cancer with Lynch syndrome.

MD AndersonRead more →

Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Jennifer's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jennifer Rancik, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation; triple-negative breast cancer

Jennifer entered remission in October 2017 after Stage II triple-negative breast cancer treatment and, as of October 2025, reported doing great and being off medications except occasional Zometa.

City of HopeRead more →

HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Sara's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sara Glenn, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: TP53 mutation / Li-Fraumeni syndrome; ER-positive; HER2-negative

As of June 2025, Sara had completed bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction for ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and was on planned 10-year tamoxifen plus intensive Li-Fraumeni syndrome surveillance for herself and her daughters.

City of HopeRead more →

Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Savannah's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Savannah Kaspar, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome genetic testing negative

As of March 2024, Savannah had completed partial colectomy and 4 rounds of adjuvant chemotherapy for Stage II sigmoid colon cancer and had entered surveillance with bloodwork every 3 months.

MD AndersonRead more →

Stage II MSI-High Colorectal Cancer: Shannon's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Shannon, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: MSI-H; Lynch syndrome; MLH1 mutation

As of October 2023, Shannon had no recurrence described while approaching year 5 after Stage IIA colon cancer surgery and continued intensive Lynch syndrome surveillance.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Amanda's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amanda, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Genetic mutations involving colon, kidney, and skin cancer risk were reported; specific genes were not named

As of May 2023, Amanda had completed surgery and chemotherapy for Stage IIA sigmoid colon cancer and was in close surveillance, with CT scans every 6 months, bloodwork every 3 months, colonoscopy follow-up, and normal cancer-marker bloodwork.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage III MSI-High Colorectal Cancer: Amy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Amy Hart, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome; tumor described as Lynch-related but not MSI-high

As of March 2023, Amy’s story described Stage IIIB colorectal/rectal cancer diagnosis, Lynch syndrome confirmation, rapid start of daily radiation, and major surgery planning; no completed-treatment, recurrence, NED, or cancer-free status was stated.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Rare breast blood-vessel cancer (angiosarcoma) in a teenage girl

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: Testing for Li-Fraumeni syndrome and POT1 mutation was inconclusive; no inherited cancer predisposition was established

She remained in remission 3 years after diagnosis and continued annual MRI surveillance of the reconstructed and opposite breasts.

PubMed CentralRead more →

BRCA2 Breast Cancer: Sue's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sue Friedman, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: BRCA2 mutation

As of February 2023, Sue Friedman was a long-term breast cancer survivor and founder of FORCE after a BRCA2-associated breast cancer and recurrence; the video is educational and does not state current active disease, NED, or metastatic status for Sue.

The Patient StoryRead more →

I was in Disbelief When I got Colon Cancer

Patient Info: JJ Singleton, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome

Metastatic Site: Abdominal wall; lymph nodes

After surgery and 12 rounds of FOLFOX, JJ had a clean scan and colonoscopy, but about 6 weeks later cancer recurred outside the colon with spread to the abdominal wall and lymph nodes.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lucy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lucy, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation; triple-negative breast cancer

As of January 2023, Lucy had gone through fertility preservation, chemotherapy, and double mastectomy for Stage II grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer with BRCA1 mutation; no NED or recurrence status was stated.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Stephanie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; genetic testing negative

As of October 2022, Stephanie had completed treatment for triple-negative breast cancer in January 2022, follow-up tests showed she was cancer-free, and she had no evidence of cancer.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Almudena's Survivor Story

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

Metastatic Site: Peritoneum

As of May 2022, Almudena was cancer-free after surgery and 12 chemotherapy sessions, had been medically cleared as cured after 6 years, and continued genetics follow-up because her case was unusual for her age.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Sandra's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sandra Monsonís, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; BRCA-positive

As of November 2021, Sandra felt healthy and happy after treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, BRCA-positive testing, double mastectomy, implant complication care, external prosthesis, and ovary removal to reduce future cancer risk.

Breast Cancer: Tamara's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Tamara Bumpus, Female

Biomarkers: No specific hereditary breast cancer gene identified; strong family history of breast cancer

As of November 2020, Tamara had successful breast cancer removal and DIEP reconstruction after a 2016 diagnosis, with no specific hereditary gene identified despite a strong family history; recurrence status was not reported.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Cancer Survivor Story: Colon Cancer (Lynch Syndrome)

Patient Info: Shannon, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome; MSI-high / dMMR

As of May 2020, Shannon was considered cancer-free after surgery-only treatment for Stage IIA MSI-high/Lynch-associated colon cancer and remained on strict Lynch syndrome surveillance.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Breast Cancer: Heather's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Heather Kokinda, Female, Under 40

As of March 2018, Heather had completed chemotherapy and double mastectomy, had a clear scan before trying to conceive again, and had given birth to another daughter in July 2017.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →