Eye complication (corneal irritation) as a rare side effect of nivolumab immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

One year after nivolumab was stopped, there was no progression of the lung cancer or secondary lesions, and she remained under surveillance.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Sex, dating and intimacy after breast cancer with Charlene Douglas

Patient Info: Anonymized

As of April 2024, this survivorship-focused discussion addressed sex, dating, and intimacy after breast cancer treatment, with practical guidance from Charlene Douglas.

Breast Cancer: Allison's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Allison Tierney, Female

Biomarkers: Genetic mutation mentioned; specific mutation not stated in this source

As of April 2024, Allison was a breast cancer survivor and board-certified oncology dietitian using her experience to guide patients on nutrition during treatment and survivorship.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Catherine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Catherine, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Brain/cerebellum region

As of April 2024, Catherine said she had been in remission for almost 3 years after a 2019 metastatic recurrence near the cerebellum, while continuing preventive treatment.

YouTube (FR search)Read more →

ALK-positive lung cancer treated with alectinib throughout pregnancy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK rearrangement / fusion-positive

Metastatic Site: pleura; liver; bone; brain

Alectinib produced a complete radiologic response and maintained intracranial control through pregnancy. She delivered a healthy infant at 37 weeks, with normal development at 26 months.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Lung cancer causing severe breathing failure, treated with afatinib in a dialysis patient

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

Biomarkers: EGFR G719A point mutation in exon 18

Within 1 month of starting afatinib, the tumour shrank and severe respiratory failure resolved. He continued treatment for more than 3 months without severe adverse events.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Metastatic rectal cancer treated during pregnancy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CEA within normal limits at diagnosis

Metastatic Site: distant lymph nodes including para-aortic,…

Rectal bleeding stopped after chemotherapy, and PET-CT after cycle 3 showed a partial response in the rectal tumour and several involved lymph-node regions.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Chrystie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Chrystie, Female, Under 40 | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Chrystie died at home on December 19, 2008, after advanced unresectable colon cancer, repeated infections, chemotherapy, unsuccessful surgical attempts, and 9 weeks of hospice care.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer with paraneoplastic eosinophilic fasciitis

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; eosinophilia during paraneoplastic eosinophilic fasciitis flare

Metastatic Site: pelvis

As of February 2024, paraneoplastic eosinophilic fasciitis had remitted after prednisone plus systemic breast-cancer therapy, and 6-month follow-up showed no further skin recurrence or cancer progression.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Talking openly about death and dying with Kathryn Mannix

Patient Info: Anonymized

As of January 2024, this educational episode focused on palliative care communication and open conversations about death and dying, rather than an individual patient outcome.

Aggressive breast cancer presenting with severe skin infection

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: ER 99% positive; PR 99% positive; HER2 1+ / negative; Ki-67 3%; grade 2; 3 interpectoral lymph nodes negative; later axillary-node biopsy benign

She recovered from sepsis and surgery, had no distant metastases and a benign axillary-node biopsy, and was receiving adjuvant radiation with anastrozole ongoing.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Metastatic invasive lobular breast carcinoma to pancreas: biliary stent and paclitaxel

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

Biomarkers: Primary breast tumor was triple-negative. Pancreatic metastasis was ER-positive/GATA-positive

Metastatic Site: pancreas; coelio-mesenteric lymph nodes

After 21 years of remission, she developed pancreatic and coelio-mesenteric nodal metastases from invasive lobular breast carcinoma; palliative paclitaxel was stopped after 2 courses because her condition deteriorated, and she was lost to follow-up.

PubMed CentralRead more →

First reported case of a severe immune reaction (cytokine release syndrome) from tislelizumab

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

Metastatic Site: pleura (malignant pleural effusion)

The cytokine release syndrome initially improved with high-dose steroids, but he developed severe ventilator-associated pneumonia during the steroid taper and died.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Lung cancer first discovered through a skin metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: skin and subcutaneous tissues; soft tissue and muscle;…

His metastatic disease progressed rapidly, and he died 4.5 months after the initial dermatology referral.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Colon cancer surgery complication: fistula after extensive pelvic surgery and radiation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: upper vaginal wall; lungs

She remained alive after treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer and recovered without clinical fistula recurrence at 1- and 2-month postoperative follow-up.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Brain radiation therapy complication (radionecrosis) potentially linked to combined chemo-immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 0%; tumour mutational burden 33 mutations/Mb; TP53 mutation at diagnosis; later ctDNA included KEAP1 and NOTCH3 alterations

Metastatic Site: brain; presumed leptomeningeal disease

She recovered completely from surgery for radiation necrosis, resumed cancer treatment and remained neurologically intact at 18 months. She was found deceased 9 months later; the cause of death was unknown.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Hidden bowel cancer first discovered through a rare nerve disorder (Morvan syndrome)

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

The tumour was completely resected with no nodal involvement, and no further cancer treatment was required; neurological recovery was partial.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Psychological coping after a breast cancer diagnosis with Professor Dame Lesley Fallowfield

Patient Info: Anonymized

As of November 2023, this educational episode focused on psychological coping after breast cancer diagnosis, including anxiety, fear of recurrence, counselling resources, family reactions, and support services.

Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Corky's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of October 2023, Corky was living with Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer as a chronic condition, receiving ongoing treatment focused on prolonging life and preserving quality of life.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

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

Patient Info: Christine, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain | Liver

As of October 2023, Christine was living with Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC that remained in check on targeted therapy after alectinib cleared brain and liver spots and lorlatinib continued, with significant chronic side effects.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

Severe colitis from pembrolizumab immunotherapy requiring additional treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

Infliximab stopped the bleeding and reduced bowel movements from 11–12 to about 3–4 per day within 1 week, allowing discharge. Continued follow-up was needed for the colitis, hepatitis B reactivation risk and lung cancer.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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

Patient Info: April Donaldson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; BRCA1 positive

Metastatic Site: Lungs

As of September 2023, April was living with Stage IV metastatic triple-negative breast cancer in the lungs; scans were stable in February but showed growth again in July, and PARP inhibitor therapy was being planned.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Hidden colon cancer first discovered through a rare brain/nerve inflammation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage II

At 1 year he was asymptomatic and off treatment, with no neurological deficits and a normal repeat PET scan.

PubMed CentralRead more →

From Fatigue to Stage 4 Colon Cancer in Months: Trevor Maxwell’s Story

Patient Info: Trevor Maxwell, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of August 2023, Trevor was living with Stage IV metastatic colon cancer and continued to describe his prognosis as uncertain while focusing on mental health and community support for men with cancer.

The Patient StoryRead more →