Sweet Syndrome During Radiation for In Situ Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

The fever, fatigue, and skin lesions resolved with corticosteroids, and she completed the final radiation session without another flare.

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Hormone Problems During Nivolumab Treatment for Advanced Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR/ALK/ROS1/BRAF wild type

Metastatic Site: abdominal wall|brain

She was living with Stage IVA lung cancer after about 1 year of nivolumab. Thyroid levels normalized after levothyroxine adjustment, and continued endocrine monitoring was planned for treatment-related pituitary dysfunction.

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Lung Cancer Treatment Complicated by Atezolizumab-Related Pneumonitis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation not detected; BRAF mutation not detected; ALK rearrangement not detected

The cancer progressed after chemoradiation. Atezolizumab was stopped because of pneumonitis, and he later began pemetrexed after a right adrenal mass became highly suspicious for malignancy.

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Breast Cancer Arising in Ectopic Tissue in the Armpit

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: ER positive; PR positive; HER2 negative

A 43-year-old woman’s presumed axillary cyst proved to be hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer arising in ectopic breast tissue.

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Rectal Cancer With a Solitary Metastasis in the Thigh

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

Metastatic Site: right proximal thigh skeletal muscle

A biopsy-confirmed right proximal thigh metastasis remained after chemotherapy. PET/CT found no other active metastatic site, and further surgery plus chemotherapy was planned.

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Breast Cancer: Diana's Patient Story

Patient Info: Diana Stork, female

After radiation, Diana needed checkups only every few months and remained active in yoga, Pilates, exercise, and other movement classes.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage III Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Mary's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Mary, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative., triple negative

Mary completed treatment, was declared cancer-free in February 2025, and was in remission without ongoing medication.

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Ana's Stage 2 Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery Story

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

Years after diagnosis, Ana had completed chemotherapy, mastectomy, radiation and reconstruction and was continuing hormone therapy with anastrozole. She described herself as optimistic and grateful.

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Catherine

Patient Info: Catherine | Stage III

After treatment, Catherine continues to manage bowel changes after stoma reversal and remains concerned about recurrence while focusing on family life.

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Stage IV Breast Cancer: Magnolia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Magnolia | Stage IV

Magnolia was declared cancer-free in March 2022 and described herself as remaining in remission while continuing hormone therapy.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Kathryn's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kathryn | Stage III

After completing treatment, Kathryn said she had successfully beaten the cancer and was focused on enjoying life and making memories with loved ones.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Carole's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Carole, Female, 60s | Stage III

Carole was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 2019 and was declared cancer-free at the end of 2023 after a treatment plan involving surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy.

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Stage II HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Cath's Survivor Story

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

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

Cath was declared cancer-free in June 2024 after Stage II luminal A ER-positive/PR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer treated with surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy, though she continued to manage long-term side effects and recurrence fear.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Eliza's Patient Story

Patient Info: Eliza | Stage II

Eliza continued to live with fear of recurrence after lumpectomy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy caused fatigue, inflamed skin, and joint and bone pain.

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Breast Cancer: Joyce's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Joyce McCain, Female, 60s

As of December 2018, Joyce had recovered after lumpectomy, heart-sparing breast radiation and surgical removal of an incidental kidney cancer, and had returned to work, golf and regular activities.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Durable brain and leptomeningeal response to pembrolizumab in Stage IV lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 high positive; EGFR negative; BRAF negative; KRAS negative; ROS1 negative; ALK negative

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland, left sixth rib, brain,…

After 29 pembrolizumab cycles over 20 months, imaging showed no leptomeningeal disease, resolution of 3 brain lesions and marked reduction of the dominant frontal lesion; she remained neurologically intact and radiographically stable.

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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.

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Lung Cancer With a Kidney Metastasis Treated by Cryoablation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: left kidney

The renal metastasis was treated with CT-guided cryoablation.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer: Cynthia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Cynthia Hess, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Spine

As of October 2018, Cynthia’s spine metastasis had stopped growing after one stereotactic spinal radiosurgery treatment, her neck pain had subsided and future MRI scans were planned for monitoring.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Lobular Breast Cancer Spreading to an Eye Muscle

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

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative; CK7-positive

Metastatic Site: bones|left superior oblique eye muscle

The eye-muscle metastasis entered complete local remission, while bone disease was stable after 6 months of weekly paclitaxel and denosumab.

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Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Complicated by Severe Nivolumab Pneumonitis

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

Biomarkers: Microsatellite stable; low tumor mutation burden; PD-L1 70%

His severe nivolumab-related pneumonitis improved after infliximab.

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Stage IIIB Squamous Lung Cancer With Fatal Pembrolizumab Pneumonitis

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 60%; EGFR negative

She died from severe treatment-related pneumonitis after declining further immunosuppression.

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Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Julie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Julie Martin, Female | Stage I

Julie completed surgery and a five-day proton-radiation course for stage I breast cancer and continued annual mammographic surveillance.

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Recurrent HER2-Positive Breast Cancer With Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2 3+; anti-Yo antibody positive

Her neurological symptoms continued to progress despite cancer-directed treatment; postoperative recovery was uncomplicated.

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