Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Lori's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lori | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: ovary

After a September 2024 recurrence and surgery in October, Lori said she was in remission and was being monitored with monthly blood work.

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Stage IV PIK3CA Breast Cancer: Abigail's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive breast cancer with PIK3CA mutation and germline ATM mutation; later PD-L1 somatic change reported. HER2 not stated.

Metastatic Site: Bone, including femurs, spine, and humeri; later liver

As of October 2022, Abigail was living with Stage IV hormone-positive metastatic breast cancer after years of treatment, bone-dominant disease that later involved the liver, targeted therapies, genomic testing, and advocacy around clinical trials and patient research participation.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Ovarian Cancer Can Present Unique Challenges Around Gender

Patient Info: Anonymized, 40s

At annual follow-up, the ovarian cancer remained in remission with no recurrences since treatment ended in December 2009.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Susie's's Patient Story

Patient Info: Susie's daughter, Female, 40s

As of May 2021, Susie’s daughter was living after treatment for an 8 cm invasive lobular carcinoma and dealing with side effects from different endocrine therapies, while Susie became active in ILC advocacy and research support.

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Severe immune thrombocytopenia during treatment for metastatic colon cancer

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

Biomarkers: KRAS-mutated; microsatellite stable; BRAF-wild type.

Metastatic Site: bilateral ovaries; pelvis; peritoneum; mesenteric…

After multiple metastatic recurrences and treatment changes, she died from progressive colon cancer; oxaliplatin had been permanently stopped after antibody-confirmed immune thrombocytopenia.

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Kidney Complications After Treatment for Stage IV Ovarian Cancer

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

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|left lymph node

No further ovarian-cancer progression was observed during the 10 months after kidney biopsy. The nephrotic syndrome reached partial remission after immunosuppressive treatment was stopped and supportive care continued.

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A uterine mass revealed a rare metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma

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

Biomarkers: CK7-positive; TTF-1-positive; CK20-negative; PAX8-negative; GATA3-negative.

Metastatic Site: uterus within a leiomyoma

Twelve months after removal of the uterine metastasis, she remained well with normal surveillance imaging and no concern for recurrent disease.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Natalia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Natalia Padron, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No hereditary breast-cancer mutation identified

Metastatic Site: pelvic organs; ovaries

As of November 2019, Natalia was living about 5 years after a terminal metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, using daily treatment/medications to help control the cancer and advocating for the metastatic breast cancer community.

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Stage I Ovarian Cancer: Mary's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Mary “Dicey” Jackson Scroggins, 40s | Stage I

Nearly 2 decades after treatment, Dicey remained free of ovarian-cancer recurrence.

Stage III BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Patty's Patient Story

Patient Info: Patty Klein, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

Patty was able to continue the olaparib plus BKM120 clinical trial as long as her tumor remained controlled. She later died.

Stage I Breast Cancer: Aura's Patient Story

Patient Info: Aura, Female, 40s | Stage I

Aura completed mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, hysterectomy, and chemotherapy for Stage I breast cancer and remained on hormone therapy, with ongoing concerns but no documented recurrence or progression.

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Stage II HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Cath's Survivor Story

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

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

Cath was declared cancer-free in June 2024 after Stage II luminal A ER-positive/PR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer treated with surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy, though she continued to manage long-term side effects and recurrence fear.

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Stage IV Ovarian Cancer With 20 Years of Tumor-Free Survival

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

Biomarkers: BRCA1 negative, BRCA2 negative

Metastatic Site: peritoneum, liver, right adrenal gland

Regular follow-up found no recurrence or other tumor, and at 20 years of follow-up she remained tumor-free with good health and quality of life.

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Ovarian Cancer: Leslie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Leslie Medley-Russell, female

Biomarkers: CA-125 elevated at recurrence

After treatment for the January 2017 recurrence, she had no evidence of disease at the time of the story.

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Stage II BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Barb's Patient Story

Patient Info: Barb White, female, 50s | Stage II

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

Barb completed chemotherapy in June 2014 and later described being able to move forward after treatment.

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Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Dianne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Dianne Simpson, female, 70+ | Stage III

Dianne completed treatment in April 2017 after chemotherapy, hysterectomy and a pembrolizumab clinical trial and was looking ahead to survivorship.

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Stage I Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumor Found Alongside Colon and Adrenal Cancers

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage I

More than 2 years after diagnosis, she had no sites of recurrence or metastatic disease and continued gynecologic oncology surveillance.

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Colorectal Cancer: Theresa's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Theresa Cotton, Female, 40s

As of January 2017, Theresa was cancer-free for more than 5 years after colorectal cancer treatment that included complete hysterectomy, permanent colostomy, chemotherapy and 28 radiation treatments.

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BRCA1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Nadine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Nadine Beech, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: Germline BRCA1 mutation for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer risk; lung cancer biomarker not reported

As of November 2016, Nadine was cancer-free after right bilobectomy for recurrent non-small cell lung cancer, following 19 years of lung cancer management that included left lower lobectomy, surveillance, Tarceva, and risk-reducing surgery for germline BRCA1.

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Ovarian Adenosquamous Cancer Treated With Surgery and Chemotherapy

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

Five and a half years after chemotherapy, she remained free of recurrence.

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Rare Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig Tumor With Rhabdomyosarcoma Tissue

Patient Info: Anonymized, 70+ | Stage I

Seven months after surgery, she returned with widespread recurrent disease and severe complications, including pulmonary embolism and right-sided heart failure, and died 15 days after admission while receiving palliative care.

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Ovarian Cancer With Severe Dermatomyositis During Treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s | Stage III

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

She continued paclitaxel and carboplatin while being treated for severe dermatomyositis and later described herself as finally on the mend.

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Stage I Ovarian Squamous Cell Cancer Found After Abdominal Pain and Urinary Retention

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

At 21 months after surgery, she had no clinically identifiable recurrence.

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Stage I Ovarian Squamous Cell Cancer Found in a Long-Standing Dermoid Cyst

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage I

At 22 months after treatment, she had no clinically identifiable recurrence.

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