32-year-old woman with Stage IV rectal cancer, liver and lung metastases, targeted chemotherapy, surgery, ablation, radiation, and ongoing chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: KRAS wild-type; NRAS wild-type; BRAF wild-type

Metastatic Site: Liver | Lung | Presacral/perirectal lymph nodes

As of the story endpoint around December 2020, she was 5 years into treatment for Stage IV rectal cancer after multiple systemic regimens, bowel/liver/lung surgery, liver recurrence treatment, ablation, lung surgery, TOMO radiation, and ongoing chemotherapy.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lise's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lise Pass, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: bone

Living with metastatic breast cancer for nearly a decade, feeling well and continuing nightly oral chemotherapy after 5 years of monthly infusions.

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How to Advocate for Yourself If You Have Metastatic Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Lisa J. Frank, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Living with Stage IV breast cancer involving the brain and continuing clinical-trial treatment every 3 weeks.

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Stage III signet-ring gastric cancer complicated by a life-threatening aortic fistula after treatment

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

After staged repair of a life-threatening aortoesophageal fistula and later esophageal reconstruction, he was living independently and remained under follow-up without tumor recurrence.

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Breast Cancer: Faye's Patient Story

Patient Info: Faye Belvin, Female, 50s

Her breast radiation was ending in late 2020 when a separate ovarian cancer was identified the following year.

Stage I HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Faye's Patient Story

Patient Info: Faye Ruopp, Female, 60s | Stage I

Biomarkers: ER-positive

Completed lumpectomy and radiation and began long-term hormone therapy in September 2014.

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Breast Cancer: Kehau's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kehau Matsumoto, Female, 70+

Kehau had 5 years without a breast cancer recurrence after her 2006 mastectomy, and at the latest report she said she had no signs of cancer.

Stage III Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Marlena's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marlena Murphy, Female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: triple-negative

Later testing found cancer cells after Marlena noticed a small bump under her right arm. She died on July 3, 2024.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Daneen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Daneen, Female, 50s

Daneen underwent double mastectomy and reconstruction, started radiation and had been taking anastrozole for 2 years when she shared her story.

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Metastatic Follicular Carcinoma Arising From Struma Ovarii

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: right fallopian tube|peritoneum|omentum|bladder…

Four years after diagnosis, she had no evidence of recurrence or metastasis while continuing thyroid-hormone suppression and 6-monthly surveillance.

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Recurrent Lobular Breast Cancer Spread to the Opposite Armpit Lymph Node

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

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

Metastatic Site: Contralateral right axillary lymph node

After surgery for the recurrence and removal of the opposite-side axillary nodes, the patient proceeded with adjuvant chemotherapy and remained in active treatment.

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Stage II HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: María's Survivor Story

Patient Info: María Ángeles, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of March 2022, María Ángeles was 4 years from diagnosis after completing 14 chemotherapy sessions, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, 21 radiation sessions, and trastuzumab for Stage II HER2-positive breast cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Metastasis to the Cervical Spinal Canal

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: brain|cervical intradural extramedullary space

Her neck and shoulder pain resolved after spinal surgery, but she developed recurrent brain disease and died from cachexia 4 months after the spinal operation.

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Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Caroline's Patient Story

Patient Info: Caroline McGuirk, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: pelvic bone

Caroline continued follow-up care and regular infusions to control Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Marie-Pierre's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marie-Pierre Bertrand, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; Bone

As of January 2022, Marie-Pierre was living with chronic metastatic breast cancer after 18 months of chemotherapy, breast surgery, radiation, and ongoing oncology follow-up.

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Colorectal Cancer: Xue's Patient Story

Patient Info: Xue Ming, Male, Under 40

As of the January 2022 story, Xue Ming had undergone chemoradiation, chemotherapy, and successful sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery, with a temporary ileostomy and good 3-month recovery while follow-up care continued.

Stage II Breast Cancer: Cristina's Patient Story

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

As of 2022, Cristina was undergoing treatment for Stage II breast cancer and planned to finish treatment, return to work, and rebuild normal life with her son.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Elsa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Elsa | Stage II

Elsa said her breast cancer was in remission and continued anastrozole hormone therapy after lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation.

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Breast Cancer: Siti's Patient Story

Patient Info: Siti

Siti is recovering after treatment for a second breast cancer in the same breast and remains concerned about another recurrence.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Sylvia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sylvia | Stage III

Two years after her November 2022 diagnosis, Sylvia reports being in remission and remains on hormone therapy.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Antonia's Survivor Story

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

Antonia described herself as being in remission after multimodal treatment while continuing hormone therapy. Fear of recurrence and metastatic spread remained significant.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Anna's Survivor Story

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

As of 2022, Anna was in remission and on hormone therapy after lumpectomy, lymphadenectomy, and radiation therapy, while managing fatigue, cognitive symptoms, and lymphedema.

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Breast Cancer: Tessa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tessa

Tessa’s small 12 mm breast tumor was found on routine mammography, and she chose lumpectomy and radiotherapy while declining anastrozole after weighing menopause-related quality-of-life concerns.

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Stage III Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Elizabeth's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Elizabeth, Female | Stage III

After treatment for a local recurrence, Elizabeth was declared cancer-free in February 2025 and continues to cope with fear of recurrence and life with a permanent ostomy.

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