Stage 4 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: remission with PARP inhibitor

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

Biomarkers: HR-positive breast cancer with HER2-low/negative recurrence, and pathogenic BRCA2 R2318* mutation.

Metastatic Site: pleura

As of January 2025, she had maintained complete response for 36 months after sequential FEC/docetaxel and olaparib for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative/HER2-low metastatic breast cancer with BRCA2 R2318* mutation.

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Breast cancer survivor with synchronous intercostal nerve schwannomas mimicking metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: Breast cancer biomarkers not reported; schwannomas were S100-positive

After prior breast cancer treatment, later D6-D7/rib lesions were proven to be S100-positive schwannomas rather than metastases, and surgical removal relieved the patient’s rib-cage numbness and pain.

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Stage I Lung Cancer: Calvin's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Calvin, Male, Under 40 | Stage I

Calvin completed surgery for Stage I lung cancer, including removal of his entire left lung. As of February 2025, he was adapting to life with one lung and remained focused on family, activity, and self-advocacy.

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Advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer with treatment-resistant progression and hyperprolactinemia

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: BRCA1 variant of uncertain significance

The ovarian cancer continued to progress despite multiple treatments, and she died 2.5 years after the ovarian-cancer diagnosis.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Shayla's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of February 2025, Shayla was in ongoing treatment for Stage IV colorectal cancer with liver metastasis after 4 rounds of chemotherapy, liver resection, and resumed chemotherapy.

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Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Tracy's Survivor Story

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

As of February 2025, Tracy was in post-treatment survivorship after Stage IIB colorectal cancer treated with 28 days of Xeloda chemoradiation, colostomy surgery in December 2015, and discontinued post-surgery chemotherapy.

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

Patient Info: Eugenia Horan, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Eugenia became Stage IV while critically ill in the ICU and was later told hospice might be appropriate, but she started Keytruda on August 29, 2019 and was alive 5 years later. As of February 2025, she described that treatment as the medicine that saved her.

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Breast Cancer Recurring Years Later With Leptomeningeal Spread and a Brief Response to Trastuzumab Deruxtecan

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

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

Metastatic Site: peritoneum, retroperitoneum, bones, leptomeninges

Died on May 10, 2024, about 18 years after her April 2006 breast-cancer diagnosis and about 6 years after metastatic recurrence.

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Scott’s Stage 3 Rectal Cancer Story

Patient Info: Scott, Male | Stage III

After surgery and ostomy reversal, Scott described himself as a 2-time cancer survivor and continued an active life.

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Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Nicola's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Nicola, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: BRAF: wild-type / non-BRAF colorectal adenocarcinoma

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of January 2025, Nicola had been in remission for 9 months after treatment for Stage IV colorectal cancer with brain metastasis and remained under high-risk monitoring.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Scott's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Scott, Male | Stage III

Scott completed chemotherapy and radiation for Stage III rectal cancer, later had ileostomy surgery in May 2023 after cancer cells were found on follow-up, and underwent reversal in August 2023. As of January 2025, he described himself as going strong and proud to be a survivor.

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Stage 3B breast cancer: partial mastectomy with pulmonary complications

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

Partial mastectomy was completed for local control of bleeding/anemia in Stage IIIB breast cancer; she was discharged on postoperative day 7 without complications, but long-term cancer control was not reported.

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Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Karen's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; grade 2; inherited genetic testing negative

Karen completed double mastectomy, 3 months of chemotherapy and reconstruction. She was doing well on ongoing endocrine and targeted therapy and walking 3–5 miles daily.

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Stage II ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Stephanie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: ALK-rearranged

As of January 2025, Stephanie had clean scans and bloodwork for 3 years after Stage IIB ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma treated with surgery, 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and ongoing daily targeted therapy.

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Stage I colon cancer: living 10 years after diagnosis

Patient Info: Rashawn Mitchell, Female, Under 40 | Stage I

Rashawn described reaching 10 years cancer-free after Stage I colon cancer surgery, with ongoing colonoscopy surveillance.

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Stage I Colorectal Cancer: Rashawn's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Rashawn, Female | Stage I

As of January 2025, Rashawn was a 10-year Stage I colorectal cancer survivor after surgery and continued regular screening and proactive health monitoring.

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Stage IV HER2-Positive Colorectal Cancer: Emily's Patient Story

Patient Info: Emily King, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: lungs

Emily remained on active treatment for metastatic HER2-positive colon cancer, and her current Boston treatment had shrunk the cancer by 20% with fewer side effects.

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Small Cell Ovarian Cancer Causing Acute Kidney Injury

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: Somatic SMARCA4 alterations; no germline SMARCA4 pathogenic variant

Combined pembrolizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel was continued after marked radiologic improvement, with an excellent PET-CT response documented after 13 cycles.

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Breast Cancer Followed by a Separate Pleural Mesothelioma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Follow-up imaging after breast-cancer treatment showed no regrowth before a separate pleural mesothelioma was diagnosed.

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Stage I ER-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer with radiation-associated morphea

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

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

No evidence of breast cancer recurrence after 2018 treatment; ongoing issue was generalized morphea and breast deformity related to prior radiation, improved with mycophenolate by April 2024.

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My COLON CANCER Spread to My Brain!

Patient Info: Nicola, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Nicola described a clear brain MRI after craniotomy and radiation and said she was 9 months in remission, while remaining on high-risk surveillance.

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Stage II ALK Lung Adenocarcinoma: Stephanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stephanie Williams, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: ALK-rearranged

Stephanie had clean scans nearly 3 years after diagnosis but remained on daily ALK-targeted therapy to reduce recurrence risk.

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Lung Cancer Surgery Followed by Severe Arm Ischemia and Amputation

Patient Info: Anonymized, female

A woman in her mid-60s underwent surgery for lung adenocarcinoma and then developed severe arterial-line-related arm ischemia that ultimately required an above-elbow amputation.

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Rectal cancer treated alongside synchronous esophageal cancer, with NED at 30 months

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

At 30-month follow-up, he was in good general condition with no evidence of rectal cancer.

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