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

Patient Info: Kelly, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: dMMR; MSI-H

As of September 2023, Kelly remained in remission after 9 dostarlimab immunotherapy infusions for Stage III dMMR/MSI-H rectal cancer, avoiding the expected chemo/radiation/surgery pathway.

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Severe colitis from pembrolizumab immunotherapy requiring additional treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

Infliximab stopped the bleeding and reduced bowel movements from 11–12 to about 3–4 per day within 1 week, allowing discharge. Continued follow-up was needed for the colitis, hepatitis B reactivation risk and lung cancer.

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BRCA2-Mutated Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Controlled for 30 Months With Olaparib

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1-negative; BRCA2 mutation; ATM mutation; EGFR-negative; ALK-negative

Metastatic Site: brain

Olaparib provided about 30 months of disease control, and PET imaging remained overall stable when a separate new breast primary was found in February 2023.

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Stage IV HER2-Positive Colorectal Cancer: Brian's Patient Story

Patient Info: Brian Beck, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: liver

Brian was receiving tucatinib plus trastuzumab on a clinical trial and was working full time 4.5 years after his Stage IV diagnosis.

Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Jaclyn's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jaclyn (Jackie) VanRaaphorst | Stage III

Biomarkers: FRα-positive; CA-125 monitored

AACR later reported that Jackie died on January 16, 2025.

Lung cancer in a young adult mistaken for recurring pneumonia

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage III

Biomarkers: KRAS mutation

Two months after discharge, he began carboplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab and had received 2 cycles.

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Lung cancer immunotherapy causing sudden heart inflammation and type 1 diabetes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage III

Her acute symptoms resolved, cardiac function returned to her baseline ejection fraction of 32% at 1 month and durvalumab remained permanently discontinued while oncology, endocrine and cardiac follow-up continued.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Kelly's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kelly Spill, Female | Stage III

As of August 2023, Kelly was in complete clinical response/NED after 9 dostarlimab treatments over about 6 months, avoiding the initially expected chemoradiation and surgery path.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Brittney's Patient Story

Patient Info: Brittney Beadle, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bones; liver; brain; lungs

As of August 2023, Brittney was living with Stage IV breast cancer on ENHERTU every 21 days, with brain clear for 4.5 years, liver clear, and bone and lung disease regressing.

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MET-mutated lung cancer: testing savolitinib before surgery

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

Biomarkers: MET exon 14 skipping, TP53 and BRAF mutations; PD-L1 expression 5%

Metastatic Site: pleura; mediastinal lymph node

Savolitinib produced a partial radiological response, but surgery confirmed persistent pleural and mediastinal nodal metastases with ypStage IVA disease. He recovered and continued adjuvant savolitinib.

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Stage I Ovarian Cancer: Elle's Patient Story

Patient Info: Elle Simone Scott, Female, Under 40 | Stage I

Living with recurrent ovarian cancer for more than 6 years after her September 2016 diagnosis, with an active clinical trial slowing progression at the May 2023 publication.

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HER2-positive metastatic lung cancer treated with trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu)

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ERBB2/HER2 copy-number gain of at least 20 copies; TP53 C242fs; CDK12 copy-number gain; tumour mutational burden 3.2 mutations/Mb

Metastatic Site: lungs / multiple pulmonary nodules

Trastuzumab deruxtecan reduced the pulmonary nodules by more than 50% at 3 months and produced a documented response lasting 13.8 months.

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Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Karoline's Patient Story

Patient Info: Karoline Strauss, female | Stage III

After resuming etigilimab and nivolumab, the patient felt markedly better; by the eighth infusion, some tumors had disappeared and others were shrinking, and treatment was continuing.

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Severe kidney inflammation after pembrolizumab for lung adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

The primary lung tumor enlarged after pembrolizumab was stopped, and carboplatin plus paclitaxel was started in October 2021.

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Afatinib-related kidney injury during treatment for EGFR-positive metastatic lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive.

Metastatic Site: pleura

He continued maintenance bevacizumab and atezolizumab after four combination courses for metastatic disease while his renal function remained impaired but stable.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: JJ's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Microsatellite-mutated disease mentioned in clinical-trial context; exact MSI/MMR result not otherwise specified

Metastatic Site: Abdominal wall; lymph nodes; stomach/intestinal outlet…

As of January 2023, JJ was living with incurable Stage IV colon cancer on pembrolizumab/Keytruda clinical-trial infusions every 3 weeks; the trial had kept the abdominal tumor mass from spreading and had helped him live beyond the prognosis he feared, but it was not described as curative.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Annie's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Annie was still receiving care for Stage II breast cancer after completing chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, with lumpectomy, lymphadenectomy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy still ahead in her plan.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Grace's Patient Story

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

Grace was still in treatment for Stage II breast cancer, including lumpectomy-based care, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, and reported that treatment was working despite difficult side effects and job loss.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Joanna's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Joanna, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

By late 2023, Joanna had completed treatment for Stage III breast cancer, was no longer taking medication, and described herself as living free of cancer.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Margaret's Patient Story

Patient Info: Margaret | Stage III

Margaret remained hopeful while managing severe treatment effects, sepsis, financial pressure, and reduced time with her children.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer Reached Remission After Severe Nerve Damage and Neck Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: left cervical lymph nodes

Considered in complete remission after cervical lymph-node surgery, with no clinical or radiological progression 24 months after systemic treatment; alive and back at work 3 years after diagnosis.

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Living with Stage 4 Lung Cancer (Plus Radiation & My Follow Up!) | Amy’s Story (3 of 3)

Patient Info: Amy, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: MET amplification

Metastatic Site: Bone/femur and hips; adrenal gland

As of July 2022, Amy was 3.5 years after Stage IV squamous cell lung cancer diagnosis, not NED but stable for about 3 years on Crizotinib with ongoing imaging and local treatment to lung/adrenal sites.

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Stage IV MET Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Amy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Amy, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: MET amplification

Metastatic Site: Bone/femur; lymph nodes; shoulder; adrenal glands;…

As of July 2022, Amy had a rapid and strong response to Crizotinib after MET amplification was found, with pain and lumps improving within about 2 weeks after Keytruda had failed.

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

Patient Info: Amy, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: MET amplification identified later in the series; not known at initial treatment decision

As of July 2022, this first Amy segment covered diagnosis, second opinion, and the initial Keytruda-versus-clinical-trial decision before MET amplification was known; later response is addressed in the following series segments.

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