Stage IV BRCA2 Breast Cancer: Lisa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lisa Quinn, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Inherited BRCA2 mutation

Metastatic Site: bone, liver

Lisa Quinn died on August 30, 2021, after sharing her experience with metastatic breast cancer and advocating for cancer research funding.

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.

A second breast cancer arising in a previously known cyst

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: ER >95% positive; PR >95% positive; HER2 negative; Ki-67 11–50%; p53 negative for overexpression

She completed right-breast radiation and was continuing anastrozole 1 mg daily as adjuvant endocrine therapy.

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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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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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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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Metastatic ER-positive breast cancer complicated by osteonecrosis of the jaw

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive.

Metastatic Site: bone (sternum, spine, pelvis, and proximal femur)

After progressive metastatic bone disease and severe medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, she entered end-of-life care and died three weeks after discharge to a nursing home.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Cherie's Survivor Story

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

Cherie completed treatment and described herself as being in remission. She remained concerned about recurrence but shifted her focus toward family and retirement.

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Breast Cancer: Laura's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Laura

Laura said everything was free of malignant cells and was rebuilding her life and career after treatment.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Marese's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Marese | Stage II

Marese said the breast cancer was in remission after completing active treatment, and she continued hormone therapy to help maintain remission.

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Breast Cancer: Serena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Serena

Serena completed surgery and radiation and is currently undergoing hormone therapy.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Jaidive's Survivor Story

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

Jaidive was declared cancer-free on 11 November 2021 after lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and tamoxifen/hormone therapy for Stage II breast cancer, while continuing specialist appointments and medication.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Audrey's Patient Story

Patient Info: Audrey, Female, 60s | Stage I

Audrey completed quadrantectomy and radiation therapy for Stage I breast cancer and remained on hormone therapy, with lymphatic drainage and physical therapy for lymphedema and pain-related effects.

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N

Patient Info: N | Stage I

Biomarkers: No inherited BRCA variant identified.

N completed lumpectomy and radiation and continued hormone therapy while adjusting to life after treatment.

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Ovarian cancer that later spread to an axillary lymph node

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

Metastatic Site: axillary lymph nodes

After later peritoneal progression, additional treatment brought the disease to a stable state through her last recorded visit in July 2019.

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Stage IIIA breast cancer treated alongside a synchronous colon cancer

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

Two years after surgery, she remained well with no CT evidence of metastasis or recurrence while continuing endocrine therapy and six-monthly follow-up.

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Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Liver Mimicking Cirrhosis

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

Biomarkers: Original cancer: HER2-negative and PR-positive. Liver recurrence: ER-positive.

Metastatic Site: liver

The breast cancer recurred in the liver after 14 years, produced pseudocirrhosis and portal-hypertension complications, and she died from hepatorenal syndrome five weeks after presentation.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Janet's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Janet Klein, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone: left iliac bone

Janet’s Stage 1 breast cancer later recurred and metastasized to the left iliac bone, but she had no sign of cancer from January 2010 onward while continuing palbociclib plus letrozole.

Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Parotid Gland Eight Years Later

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

Biomarkers: Primary breast tumor: ER-positive and HER2-positive. Parotid metastasis: ER-positive, PR-negative, and HER2-positive.

Metastatic Site: left parotid gland

The isolated parotid metastasis was completely resected, one-month PET-CT showed no significant abnormality, and endocrine therapy continued with exemestane.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Presenting With Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive.

Metastatic Site: bone; bone marrow

At seven months, she was doing well with a marked response on PET imaging, normalized right-heart pressures, and ongoing systemic treatment with palbociclib.

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Unexpected Miscarriage During Tamoxifen Treatment for Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Four years after mastectomy, she remained on tamoxifen and recent imaging of the opposite breast was normal.

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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.

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Breast Cancer Arising in Ectopic Tissue in the Armpit

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: ER positive; PR positive; HER2 negative

A 43-year-old woman’s presumed axillary cyst proved to be hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer arising in ectopic breast tissue.

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