Surgery: 2,208 Real Stories

2,208 stories match surgery. 1,436 of them mention chemotherapy.

Cancer Stories

Katie, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage III HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Katie's Patient Story

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

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

As of February 2025, Katie was a few months beyond active treatment for Stage III ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative ILC and was adjusting to maintenance therapy with Verzenio, Lupron, and Letrozole.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Recurrent lung adenocarcinoma: sick sinus syndrome during anlotinib treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: driver genes negative

Recurrent/progressive lung adenocarcinoma was being treated with anlotinib when sick sinus syndrome developed; the patient received a permanent pacemaker and remained alive under follow-up, but post-pacemaker cancer status was not fully reported.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Katie, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Katie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Katie, Female | Stage III

Katie completed surgery and chemotherapy for Stage IIIB transverse colon adenocarcinoma. Her ctDNA tests have been negative since surgery, scans have been clean, and treatment ended in summer 2023; as of February 2025, she was in survivorship and follow-up.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Katie, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Katie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Katie, Female | Stage III

As of February 2025, Katie had no evidence of disease after surgery and 6 cycles of chemotherapy and was continuing reassuring follow-up, including ctDNA testing.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage 4 RET-rearranged lung cancer: complete pathologic response to pralsetinib

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

Biomarkers: KIF5B-RET rearrangement; TP53 missense mutation; PD-L1-negative; CK7-positive; TTF-1-positive; Ki-67 70%

Metastatic Site: pleura, mediastinal lymph nodes, hilar lymph nodes

After pralsetinib response and surgery, pathology showed no residual viable tumor in the lung primary, pleural nodules, or sampled lymph nodes; she continued adjuvant pralsetinib.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Radiation-induced breast sarcoma after breast cancer radiotherapy: 4-patient case series

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: TP53 mutation reported in 1 patient; all 4 radiation-induced breast sarcomas were undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma

Across the 4-patient case series, follow-up was variable: 1 patient remained disease-free, 1 recurred within 1 year, 1 had no recurrence for 7 years before unrelated death, and the patient with metastases progressed over 9 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Cattie, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer: Cattie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Cattie Fleming, Female

Cattie remained on chemotherapy, and her most recent scans showed that treatment was effective.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeResponding Well
Edie, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Edie's Survivor Story

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

After total neoadjuvant treatment, lower anterior resection, and ileostomy reversal, Edie reported clear scans/colonoscopies and described herself as a colon cancer survivor. As of February 2025, she remained in survivorship.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Chance, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Facing Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Chance’s Story

Patient Info: Chance, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; BRCA1 mutation

As of February 2025, Chance described follow-up after Stage II BRCA1-associated triple-negative breast cancer and stated that she did not currently have cancer, while continuing close surveillance.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Kelly, who was diagnosed with Stage III Breast CancerBreast Cancer

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

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; no inherited cancer gene mutation found.

As of February 2025, Kelly identified as a Stage IIIC triple-negative breast cancer survivor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, double mastectomy with reconstruction, and radiation, and was using her experience to support others through TNBC Thrivers.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Fatal Multiorgan Failure After Pembrolizumab-Based Treatment for Metastatic Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female | Stage IV

She died less than 12 hours after hospital presentation with rapidly progressive multiorgan failure one week after the first pembrolizumab-based treatment cycle; immune-related toxicity was strongly suspected, although the rapid decline limited full evaluation.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Metastatic Breast Cancer Returning About 20 Years After Initial Treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: bones

About 20 years after her original breast-cancer treatment and sustained remission, bone biopsy confirmed metastatic recurrence; she became too unwell for planned cancer therapy and chose supportive care.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Angela, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer: Angela's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Angela Hernandez, Under 40

By February 2025, she had been cancer-free for 6 years and remained connected to post-cancer care and support.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Lung Adenocarcinoma With Rare Skin Metastasis to the Neck

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: neck skin

The lung cancer later spread to the neck skin, and he died during the following year after stopping further treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Evan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Evan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Evan White, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lungs

After 1 year with no evidence of disease, Evan developed colorectal recurrence and later lung metastases; he died in October 2021 after about 4 years with cancer.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeIn Memory
Skylee, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Skylee's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Skylee Tinker, Female, 40s | Stage III

Skylee completed surgery and 12 chemotherapy rounds and continued to cope with scan anxiety and survivor guilt; no recurrence or current scan result was reported.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
Wendy, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Wendy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Wendy Harpp, Female, 50s | Stage III

Wendy completed multimodal treatment in 2020 and later became an active colorectal-cancer advocate; current surveillance results and recurrence status were not reported.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Antonio Dionizio

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

His son reported that surgery and chemotherapy worked and that he was preparing to celebrate his 84th birthday in 2025, more than 20 years after diagnosis.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Shawn, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Shawn: Stage IV Colorectal Cancer

Patient Info: Shawn, Male, 40s | Stage IV

As of February 2025, Shawn had completed surgery for Stage IV colorectal cancer and was preparing to begin chemotherapy while recovering physically and emotionally.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Shawn, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Shawn's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shawn Michael, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver, spleen, lung

Recovering from emergency surgery for Stage IV colorectal cancer involving the liver, spleen, and lung, with systemic chemotherapy and additional specialist treatment planned. As of February 2025, he was actively managing metastatic disease.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing