Breast Cancer: Maeve's Patient Story

Patient Info: Maeve

Maeve had undergone lumpectomy, lymph-node surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy and was focused on returning to work and being present for her family.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Karen's Patient Story

Patient Info: Karen, Female, 50s | Stage I

Karen was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer in October 2023 and was receiving ongoing chemotherapy as part of a recommended plan that also included lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

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Colorectal Cancer: Arlene's Patient Story

Patient Info: Arlene

Arlene was awaiting CT-scan and blood-test results to determine the next steps in care.

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Colorectal Cancer: Ber's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ber

Ber completed treatment and was declared cancer-free in March 2024.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Char's Patient Story

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

As of 2023, Char was focused on surviving Stage II breast cancer after lumpectomy, lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, while rebuilding diet, exercise, work, family life, and mental health.

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

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive / hormone-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver; bones; lymph nodes; stomach

As of December 2022, Bethany was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer after recurrence to the liver, bones, lymph nodes, and stomach, and was on lifelong maintenance treatment after disease shrinkage.

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Recurrent Malignant Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumor Treated With Multiple Therapies

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: PIK3CA, and ATM mutations; ER negative; PR negative

She experienced repeated pelvic and lung recurrences. Platinum-based treatment produced a complete PET-CT response and olaparib maintenance provided about 1 year without progression before a 5 mm lung recurrence was surgically removed.

PubMed CentralRead more →

After Being Diagnosed with 2 Cancers I Found "My Support Crew"

Patient Info: Loriana Hernandez-Aldama, Female

Biomarkers: CHIP marker reported after bone marrow transplant; breast cancer biomarkers not reported

As of December 2022, Loriana was described as a 2-time cancer survivor and patient advocate after AML, bone marrow transplant, and later breast cancer; no active cancer treatment or NED wording was stated.

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Breast Cancer: Mary's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Mary Richichi, female, 70+

Biomarkers: hormone receptor-positive

Mary’s breast cancer was described as under control and in remission after treatment.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Dan's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK-rearranged

As of November 2022, Dan was living with Stage IV ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer on Alectinib, with stable scans since spring 2020 and ongoing monitoring.

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Breast Cancer Spread to the Sinuses, Eye Sockets and Skull

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive

Metastatic Site: ethmoid and frontal sinuses; both orbits; multiple…

At 1-year follow-up, the sino-orbital metastases had not progressed on neuroimaging, right-eye visual acuity remained good, and chemoradiotherapy had been tolerated without complication.

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Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Stephanie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; genetic testing negative

As of October 2022, Stephanie had completed treatment for triple-negative breast cancer in January 2022, follow-up tests showed she was cancer-free, and she had no evidence of cancer.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Breast Cancer: Sharon's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sharon Kovach, Female, 60s

Sharon, age 63 at the time of the story, had remained in remission since completing treatment for recurrence in 2003.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Reclassified After NTRK Fusion Testing

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ETV6-NTRK3 fusion detected in tissue but not circulating tumor DNA; ER low-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative; PD-L1-negative; germline CHEK2 variant of uncertain significance

Metastatic Site: lungs and pleura; hilar, mediastinal and retrocaval…

After tissue testing identified an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion, treatment with larotrectinib produced a rapid clinical and radiological response.

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Recurrent Malignant Phyllodes Tumor Requiring Major Chest Wall Reconstruction

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Two months after completing postoperative chemotherapy and radiation, she developed pneumonia and respiratory failure and died.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lianne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lianne Kraemer, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Six years after brain metastases were diagnosed, Lianne remained in active follow-up with scans and treatment decisions every 8 weeks while living with metastatic breast cancer.

Dana-FarberRead more →

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Feyama's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Feyama Ashby, Female

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of September 2022, Feyama had completed chemotherapy, lumpectomy with lymph-node removal, reconstruction, and 6 weeks of VMAT radiation, and was entering close monitoring for 5 years before survivorship clinic follow-up.

MD AndersonRead more →

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

Patient Info: Julie Campbell, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: triple-negative

Julie died on April 17, 2022.

Cancer in Accessory Breast Tissue Under Both Arms in a Man

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

Biomarkers: Left tumor: HER2-positive by gene amplification; ER-negative; PR-negative; Ki-67 70%; p53 staining 80%

After surgery removed both accessory-breast cancers, he continued with adjuvant paclitaxel, trastuzumab and radiation.

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Breast radiation completed after severe vertigo during COVID-19 vaccination

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

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

Four weeks after completing radiation, her skin reaction was improving and she had returned to work briefly, although vertigo was still present.

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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 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Anabel's Patient Story

Patient Info: Anabel, Female | Stage IV

As of July 2022, Anabel was living with metastatic infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma after chemotherapy and radiation, using supportive care and clinical-trial participation to focus on quality of life and slowing metastasis.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Recurring in Groin Lymph Nodes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: right inguinal lymph node; right iliac/pelvic lymph…

Her condition deteriorated after 3 cycles of palliative capecitabine. She developed vomiting, headache and seizures concerning for brain metastases and died about 4 months after the groin metastasis was detected.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Christal's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christal Love, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: hormone-positive; HER2-negative

After chemotherapy complications, surgery, radiation, later preventive removal of the other breast and reconstruction, Christal remained cancer-free for more than 5 years as of June 2022.

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