Palliative Care: 77 Real Stories

77 stories match palliative care. 49 of them mention chemotherapy.

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Advanced Lung Cancer With Extreme White Blood Cell Counts and Poor Circulation

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 70%

Metastatic Site: contralateral lung|bone (left iliac)

After a mixed but mildly improved response to three pembrolizumab cycles, she developed severe paraneoplastic leukocytosis, arterial ischaemia, and acute respiratory failure and died after choosing comfort measures.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Dural metastasis causing seizures after treatment for signet-ring gastric cancer

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

Metastatic Site: dura mater

She died 16 days after hospital admission for neurologic symptoms, roughly 8 months after the original gastric-cancer diagnosis, following rapid deterioration from diffuse dural metastatic disease.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Small-Cell Lung Cancer First Appeared as Rapidly Worsening Nerve Damage

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Anti-Hu-positive; anti-CV2/CRMP5-positive; anti-SOX1-positive

Despite six cycles of carboplatin and etoposide and intensive treatment for the paraneoplastic neuropathy, her neurological condition progressed; after a thrombocytopenia-related brain haemorrhage, she entered palliative care and died within weeks.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Ovarian Fibrosarcoma Recurring Rapidly After Debulking Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Ki-67 greater than 20%; vimentin diffusely positive; muscle-specific antigen weakly positive

The cancer recurred with a new pelvic mass and ascites 3 months after surgery. Her condition was too poor for chemotherapy, and she died on the second day of palliative hospital care.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Young woman with ductal breast cancer and bleeding gastric metastases

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

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

Metastatic Site: pancreas|liver|kidney|stomach

After rapid progression to the pancreas, liver, kidney and stomach, she chose palliative care and died 1 month after presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Lobular breast cancer later spread to the stomach, bone, neck and mediastinum

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

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

Metastatic Site: stomach|bone|neck|mediastinum

After gastric metastasis was diagnosed and later imaging showed bone, neck and mediastinal spread, her oral intake and health declined; she chose palliative care and died 7 months after the diagnostic endoscopy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Fatal Emphysematous Gastritis in a Woman With Gastric Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

The stomach-wall infection improved, but oral feeding remained impossible because of cancer-related gastric stasis. She later developed acute pancreatitis and died.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric CancerGastric Cancer

Stage IV gastric cancer presenting with chylothorax and lymphedema

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

Biomarkers: HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: distant lymph nodes, pleura, peritoneum

She died 6 months after the Stage IV gastric-cancer diagnosis despite chemotherapy and repeated treatment of the malignant pleural effusions.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Rectal Signet Ring Cell Cancer With Rapid, Unusual Metastatic Spread

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, Under 40 | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|lumbosacral vertebrae|bone marrow|right…

The cancer recurred 3 months after surgery and spread rapidly to the peritoneum, bones, bone marrow, orbit, and skin. He later entered palliative care.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Rectal Cancer Presenting With a Rectoprostatic Fistula

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

The infection settled after drainage and antimicrobial treatment. He was discharged home with palliative support and remained relatively well at the time of reporting.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Holly, who was diagnosed with Stage III Gastric CancerGastric Cancer

Stage III Gastric Cancer: Holly's Patient Story

Patient Info: Holly Clegg, Female | Stage III

She was receiving hospice support at home while continuing gastric-cancer advocacy and fundraising.

No Stomach For Cancer
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Presenting After Kidney Transplant

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: TTF-1 positive

Metastatic Site: bone marrow|spine|bony pelvis

His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died 1 week after the lung-cancer diagnosis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Metastatic Breast Cancer Causing Severe Shoulder and Arm Pain

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: bone

Progressive nodal disease caused disabling brachial-plexus pain. She died about 3 months after placement of the intrathecal pain catheter.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Rectal Cancer Spreading to the Thyroid and Bones

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: CEA 2.75 ng/mL at diagnosis

Metastatic Site: thyroid|bones

His metastatic disease worsened after 3 cycles of bevacizumab and capecitabine. He declined further treatment and died at home within 2 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast cancer recurrence involving the bladder and bones

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Initial breast cancer: ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative. Bladder metastasis: ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2 1+.

Metastatic Site: bladder, bone, rectosigmoid region, anorectal region

She died in October 2016 from pulmonary haemorrhage, 47 months after metastatic disease was diagnosed.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage I Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

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.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory