Lung Cancer: Randi's Patient Story

Patient Info: Randi Young, Female, 70+

At age 70, Randi was living with lung cancer after lobectomy and while taking targeted therapy, and she continued skiing, jogging, and solo backpacking while completing an 11-mile event.

Lung Cancer: Katie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Katie Gilmore, Female

Katie recovered from successful surgery without chemotherapy or radiation and was training for her first marathon, scheduled for April 13, 2025.

Breast Cancer: Suzi's Patient Story

Patient Info: Suzi, Female

Suzi completed lumpectomy, weekly chemotherapy, and radiation and remained on Herceptin every 3 weeks through September 2025. She had not yet been declared to have no evidence of disease.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Amy's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: bones

Amy learned within weeks of bilateral mastectomy that invasive lobular breast cancer had involved lymph nodes and spread to her bones, changing her diagnosis from Stage I to Stage IV.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Goodie16's Story: Grand Mal Seizure Uncovers Metastatic Breast Cancer in the Brain

Patient Info: Goodie16 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Oncotype DX recurrence score 12; ER, PR, and HER2 results not reported

Metastatic Site: brain

After removal and Gamma Knife treatment of a solitary brain metastasis, Goodie16 had a clear brain MRI in March 2016 and a PET scan showing no evidence of disease in September 2015 while continuing hormonal treatment.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage III Breast Cancer: Susan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Susan, Female, 50s | Stage III

Susan completed surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation for Stage III breast cancer and described herself as a 10-year survivor.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Valerie's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

Valerie was stable for more than 20 months on targeted therapy for Stage IV EGFR exon 19-deleted lung adenocarcinoma.

Putting Patients in the Center: Celebrating a Winning Cancer Care Team

Patient Info: Jill, Female

Jill continued working with a multidisciplinary lung-cancer team while advocating for care organized around each patient’s family, goals, and emotional well-being.

The Pervasive Stigma Associated With Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

After right upper lobectomy and chemotherapy, the patient continued a daily targeted-therapy tablet for EGFR exon 19-deleted lung adenocarcinoma.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Yara's Patient Story

Patient Info: Yara | Stage IV

Living with recurrent metastatic breast cancer and describing herself as stable in remission while adapting emotionally to the possibility of future progression.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Frank's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Frank Sierawski, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Frank was disease-free for more than 7 years while continuing his second ALK-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor after lobectomy and brain radiation.

Breast Cancer: Ericka's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ericka, Female, 40s

After completing chemotherapy and radiation, Ericka was rebuilding confidence and adjusting to the physical, emotional, and financial effects of breast cancer.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Susan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Susan, Female | Stage I

Biomarkers: ER 100% positive; HER2-negative; progesterone receptor result not reported; multigene testing pending

Susan had completed breast surgery for a small early-stage invasive ductal cancer and was awaiting final pathology and genetic results to determine whether radiation, chemotherapy, and long-term endocrine therapy would be needed.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

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

Patient Info: Anne, Female | Stage III

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

Anne completed chemotherapy during pregnancy, double mastectomy, radiotherapy, and additional chemotherapy for Stage III metaplastic triple-negative breast cancer and described using the experience as a source of personal transformation.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Kattysmith's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: lymphatic system; skin/soft-tissue nodules; possible…

After AC chemotherapy, the metastatic nodules shrank markedly. Kattysmith was stable on palbociclib and letrozole with declining tumor markers, while clearly stating that she was not NED.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Breast Cancer: Naomi's Patient Story

Patient Info: Naomi, Female

After chemotherapy, mastectomy, and radiation, Naomi remained in ongoing infusion treatment while managing heart failure and other serious treatment complications. Metastatic disease was discussed in a chart note but was later rejected by her oncologist and is not treated as confirmed.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Breast Cancer: Adriana's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Adriana, Female, Under 40

After chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, Adriana returned to Israel, married, and began considering ways to become a mother.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Ann's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ann, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: peritoneum; intestines/bowel

Ann was living with metastatic invasive lobular breast cancer involving the peritoneum and bowel. After 9 months of recurrence treatment, she underwent successful ileostomy reversal and regained greater freedom to travel.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Jenna's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jenna, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: ER-positive

Jenna completed 10 rounds of chemotherapy and double mastectomy for ER-positive breast cancer with lymph-node involvement. She was recovering, planning reconstruction, and preparing for long-term tamoxifen.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage 0 bilateral non-invasive breast cancer treated with bilateral mastectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage 0

The patient had bilateral Stage 0 non-invasive breast cancer treated with bilateral mastectomy, with favorable postoperative pathology and no additional treatment required.

Hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer with later lung metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Lung

The patient had hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer treated with standard therapy, then developed lung metastasis years later and continued molecular targeted therapy indefinitely while asymptomatic from the metastasis.

Colorectal Cancer: Iris's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Iris Niebling, Female, 60s

At the 2013 interview, Iris was living in survivorship after anal carcinoma treated with chemoradiation and many later surgeries for complications, with a second stoma that ultimately improved her quality of life.

Krankheitserfahrungen.deRead more →

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Regina's Patient Story

Patient Info: Regina Ritter, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver | Lung

At the 2013 interview, Regina was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer after liver metastasis at diagnosis, later recurrence, and inoperable lung metastasis treated with oral chemotherapy.

Krankheitserfahrungen.deRead more →

Lung Cancer: Martine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Martine, Female, 60s

Martine was 66 and retired when she shared her lung cancer story; after chemotherapy, right lung lobectomy, and more chemotherapy, she was in remission and rebuilding an active life.