Lobular Breast Cancer Spread Into a Nasal Tumor

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

Biomarkers: Metastatic lobular focus: ER 8/8; PR 8/8; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative.

Metastatic Site: liver; bone; right nasal cavity within an olfactory…

The nasal lesion was removed with no residual local disease on imaging, and capecitabine was restarted while oncology follow-up continued for metastatic breast cancer.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Bilateral Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Followed by Blood Clots and a Spinal-Fluid Leak

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: Triple-negative

Two years after chemotherapy, a recurrent cerebrospinal-fluid leak was repaired endoscopically and had not recurred at 12 months.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Kristine's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kristine, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Lymph nodes; chest wall; upper lungs

As of May 2020, Kristine was living with recurrent metastatic breast cancer involving lymph nodes, chest wall and upper lungs, after surgery and radiation, with daily oral chemotherapy helping keep cancer controlled.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Breast reconstruction complicated by venous congestion in a woman with sickle cell trait

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

The reconstructed flap was salvaged after postoperative venous congestion, and she was discharged on therapeutic enoxaparin and aspirin.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Jaw and neck infection mimicked breast cancer spread ten years after treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Ten years after mastectomy and radiation, she remained on adjuvant hormone therapy; the new jaw and neck lesions were actinomycosis rather than breast-cancer spread.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Eva's Patient Story

Patient Info: Eva Joseph | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Triple-negative

Metastatic Site: lungs, sternum

On ongoing atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel, Eva’s lung and sternum tumors became very small and were being kept at bay while she felt well enough to enjoy short trips.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Kirby's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kirby Lewis, Male | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: lung|spine

Kirby was living with metastatic breast cancer, and his most recent scans showed the right-lung tumor was stable with no signs of progression while he continued fulvestrant and palbociclib.

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.

Triple-negative breast cancer developing beside a large breast cyst

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

Biomarkers: ER negative; PR negative; HER2 negative; Ki-67 >50%; p53 negative for overexpression, triple negative

She recovered after treatment with no clinical evidence of regional or distant recurrence.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Small hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer found incidentally on chest CT

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: ER 95% positive; PR 70% positive; HER2 negative; Ki-67 11–50%; p53 negative for overexpression

She was receiving adjuvant breast radiation, with at least 5 years of anastrozole planned afterward.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Multifocal ductal carcinoma in situ presenting with breast discharge and a lump

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: ER >80% positive and PR >80% positive on initial biopsy; ER >95% positive on mastectomy specimen; p53 negative for overexpression

She was recovering after mastectomy with clear margins and 0/2 nodes involved, with endocrine therapy still to be discussed.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Encapsulated papillary breast cancer in a 62-year-old man

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

Biomarkers: ER 95% positive; PR 95% positive; HER2 negative; Ki-67 11–50%; p53 negative for overexpression; hereditary cancer panel negative for reported pathogenic mutations including BRCA1 and PALB2

Mastectomy removed a 2.4 cm encapsulated papillary carcinoma with clear margins and 0/3 sentinel nodes involved; systemic adjuvant therapy was not recommended.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

YouTube (ES search)Read more →

Dramatic chemotherapy response in stage IIIB triple-negative breast cancer

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; BRCA1-negative; BRCA2-negative; germline FLCN c.1285delC associated with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome; tumor TP53 p.T150fs.

Eighteen months after surgery, she had no recurrence following a dramatic chemotherapy response, bilateral mastectomy, chest-wall radiation, and adjuvant capecitabine.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

ER-negative left breast cancer treated with mastectomy and chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: ER-negative; HER2-negative.

Her later cancer care centered on a separate right-breast primary diagnosed in 2008 and its subsequent metastatic course.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Breast Cancer: Alexandria's Patient Story

Patient Info: Alexandria, Female, Under 40

As of December 2019, Alexandria was receiving chemotherapy after single mastectomy and fertility preservation; no final outcome, stage, or biomarker status was stated.

YouTube — GeisingerRead more →

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.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Mariann's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Mariann Lotenero, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer

As of October 2019, Mariann reported she no longer had cancer after prior triple-negative breast cancer treatment and had improved sensation and body comfort about 2 years after DIEP reconstruction with nerve reconnection.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →