Cynthia: Stage II Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Cynthia, Female | Stage II

Cynthia completed surgery and 25 rounds of radiation for Stage IIB invasive ductal carcinoma and was about 4 years into survivorship with normal follow-up, ongoing physical effects, and breast cancer education advocacy.

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Stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Neda's Survivor Story

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

Neda had completed surgery, 24 CMF treatments and 25 radiation treatments. She was regaining energy, had started endocrine therapy and was preparing to add another recurrence-reduction medicine.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Sarah's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Estrogen/progesterone-sensitive breast cancer mentioned; exact receptor labels not reported

As of June 2023, Sarah had lived through incurable salivary gland cancer and Stage III breast cancer, completed major breast cancer treatment, paused hormone therapy to pursue IVF under medical guidance, delivered her daughter at 48, and was advocating for people with cancer; no cancer-free or NED status was stated.

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Stage III HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Sarah's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sarah McDonald, Female, 40s | Stage III

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

Sarah was 10 years from diagnosis without a recurrence and described the breast cancer as successfully treated. She later paused hormone therapy, completed IVF and gave birth at age 48.

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Stage I Lung Cancer: Terri's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Terri Ann DiJulio, Female, 40s | Stage I

Biomarkers: Not reported for patient; family history of lung cancer noted

As of June 2023, Terri Ann was considered no evidence of disease after 3 early-stage lung cancer diagnoses treated with surgery and SBRT, and she had returned to 6-month follow-up while continuing advocacy and cycling.

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My Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer Story: How I Never Lost Hope

Patient Info: Jason Randall, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs; bone/sacrum

As of June 2023, Jason had a negative Signatera test, CT scans showing 9 months with no evidence of disease, and about 2.5 years off chemotherapy after Stage IV colorectal cancer treatment and lung ablation.

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Stage II HR-Positive Lung Cancer: Christine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christine, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: Lung cancer biomarkers not reported; prior breast cancer described as ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive / triple-positive

Reached complete remission from both Stage III triple-positive breast cancer and a separate Stage IIA primary lung cancer after about 1 year, including breast cancer chemotherapy/radiation and lower lung resection.

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Stage III HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Christine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christine Elliott, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: Estrogen receptor-positive; HER2 and progesterone receptor status not reported

As of May 2023, Christine was about 3 years from diagnosis and in survivorship after chemotherapy, lumpectomy, and radiation. She reported lasting physical and emotional effects but did not state a formal NED status.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Valerie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Valerie Frank, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone, lung, liver

Living with Stage IV breast cancer after recurrence in the bones, lungs and liver in January 2022, with oncology and palliative care support.

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Breast tumor (phyllodes tumor) initially mistaken for a scar

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Ultrasound 6 months after treatment showed no local recurrence and no metastatic lymph nodes.

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Stage IV HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Abigail's Patient Story

Patient Info: Abigail Myers, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: bones, brain

Abigail continued living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after about 8 years of multiple treatment lines, including therapy for bone and brain metastases.

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Chemotherapy complication: methotrexate absorbed into the bloodstream after spinal injection

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; Oncotype DX Recurrence Score 20

Metastatic Site: leptomeninges / central nervous system; brain

Five months after leptomeningeal carcinomatosis was recognised, she developed a new 2 cm brain lesion and neurological decline. Her family chose supportive care, and she died 10 days after transfer to inpatient hospice.

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Adrenal metastasis from gastric cancer causing adrenal insufficiency

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

Biomarkers: HER2-negative, PD-L1-negative

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland

More than 17 months after the metastatic relapse, he was clinically well with no radiological or biochemical signs of active cancer apart from the residual right adrenal lesion.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Amy's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome

As of April 2023, Amy had no evidence of disease after Stage IIIB Lynch syndrome-associated colorectal cancer treatment, with clear scans/tumor-residue testing and ongoing Lynch syndrome surveillance.

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Stage III MSI-High Colorectal Cancer: Amy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Amy Hart, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome; tumor described as Lynch-related but not MSI-high

As of March 2023, Amy’s story described Stage IIIB colorectal/rectal cancer diagnosis, Lynch syndrome confirmation, rapid start of daily radiation, and major surgery planning; no completed-treatment, recurrence, NED, or cancer-free status was stated.

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Triple-Negative Bilateral Breast Cancer Treated With Surgery, Radiation, and Oral Chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage I

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; germline BRCA1 pathogenic variant confirmed later

She completed radiotherapy and 2 years of tegafur-uracil without evidence of breast-cancer recurrence.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Carmen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Carmen, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of March 2023, Carmen was in remission after Stage IV rectal cancer with liver metastasis was treated with radiation, chemotherapy, rectum/liver surgery, temporary ileostomy, and ileostomy reversal, with recent CT scans showing no evidence of disease.

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Small Cell Lung Cancer: Mary's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Mary Casanova, Female

As of March 2023, Mary described herself as healthy and in remission after chemotherapy and radiation for small cell lung cancer; stage and metastatic sites were not stated.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Renée's Patient Story

Patient Info: Renée, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Not genetically inherited; breast cancer linked by her team to prior doxorubicin exposure and total-body radiation

As of February 2023, Renée described stable health, working treatments, good bloodwork, and ongoing long-term hormone/anti-cancer therapy; she did not consider herself cancer-free and preferred survivor/thriver language.

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Rare breast cancer subtype that recurred years later in a more aggressive form

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CD117 focally positive in the transformed component; high Ki-67; hormone-receptor status was unknown at the original diagnosis

Metastatic Site: lungs

One year after treatment for the late chest-wall recurrence, CT showed another local recurrence and metastatic nodules in both lungs. She chose to continue treatment elsewhere.

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Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lucy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lucy E., Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation; triple-negative breast cancer

As of January 2023, Lucy had been told she was all-clear/cancer-free after chemotherapy, had undergone double mastectomy with staged reconstruction planning, and was continuing close oncology reviews every 3-4 months.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Amanda's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amanda, Female, 70+ | Stage II

Amanda completed breast-conserving surgery, lymph-node surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. She entered survivorship and focused on living one day at a time rather than using a specific remission label.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Shuyuan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shuyuan | Stage I

Shuyuan is continuing radiation therapy and expects ongoing treatment and follow-up over the next 2 years.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Daniela's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Daniela, Female, 50s | Stage II

Daniela was declared cancer-free in March 2024 after mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for Stage II breast cancer.

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