Surgery: 2,208 Real Stories

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

Brenda, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Brenda's Early-Stage Lobular Breast Cancer Story

Patient Info: Brenda, Female

After double mastectomy and reconstruction, Brenda described herself as cancer-free. She did not require chemotherapy or radiation and remained alert to the possibility of late recurrence.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Anna, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Anna’s Triple-Positive Breast Cancer Story

Patient Info: Anna, Female, Under 40

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

Anna completed surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and continued to navigate the effects of hormone therapy, early menopause and fertility loss.

The Patient Story
OutcomeTreatment Completed / Survivorship
Anna, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Anna's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Anna, Female, Under 40

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

As of October 2024, Anna was about 7 years from diagnosis and described long-term survivorship after surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, biologic treatment, and tamoxifen-related mental-health effects.

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

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jess's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jess Thompson, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Genetic mutation reported; exact mutation name unclear in source text

Metastatic Site: lymph nodes, abdominal fat/soft tissue

As of October 2024, Jess reported no evidence of disease since November 2022 and almost 2 years in remission after surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Recurrent Lung Adenocarcinoma Complicated by a Tracheopericardial Fistula

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 70+ | Stage II

Biomarkers: No gene mutations identified on postoperative testing

He died during the June 2024 admission, about 7½ years after his November 2016 lung-cancer diagnosis, after massive hemoptysis occurred in the setting of a tracheopericardial fistula and recurrent cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Italia, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Italia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Italia Russell, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

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

As of October 2024, Italia had no evidence of disease after Stage II triple-negative breast cancer responded to chemotherapy, the tumor was gone by double mastectomy, and she was completing immunotherapy with 3 infusions left.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Francina, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Francina's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Francina, Female

Biomarkers: Biomarker testing performed; specific markers not reported

As of October 2024, Francina described herself as 6.5 years cancer-free after surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and biomarker-guided treatment planning.

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

Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Ashley's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ashley Vasallo, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No actionable driver biomarker identified; rare fusion reported

Metastatic Site: spine, hip/bone, chest cavity

As of October 2024, Ashley reported clear labs and scans after radiation for small chest-cavity and hip lesions, with scans planned every 3 months.

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

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Erica's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Erica Watson, Female, 50s

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

As of October 2024, Erica had no evidence of disease after triple-negative breast cancer showed a complete response to 16 chemotherapy treatments, lumpectomy, reconstructive surgery and 15 rounds of radiation.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Dee, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Dee's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive

Metastatic Site: Bones

As of October 2024, Dee was living with Stage IV metastatic ER-positive breast cancer after bone metastases were found in 2023 and had adapted to treatment with ribociclib.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Paul, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Paul: Stage III Colorectal Cancer

Patient Info: Paul, Male | Stage III

As of October 2024, Paul was in active care for Stage III rectal cancer with CAPOX chemotherapy, planned radiation, and eventual surgery.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Maddee, who was diagnosed with Stage II Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Maddee's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Maddee Moore, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome

As of October 2024, Maddee had no reported recurrence after surgery for Stage II colon cancer and remained in close surveillance because of Lynch syndrome.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Maddee, who was diagnosed with Stage II Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Maddee: Stage II Colorectal Cancer

Patient Info: Maddee, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome

As of October 2024, Maddee was in surveillance after surgery for Stage II Lynch syndrome-associated colon cancer, with about 1 foot of colon and 40 lymph nodes removed and no chemotherapy given.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Lissa, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer: Lissa's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lissa Fancher

At the latest update, the patient had no evidence of disease, tumor markers had dropped significantly, and daily hormone therapy was being used to reduce recurrence risk.

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

Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma With Later Kidney Metastases Responding to Osimertinib

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

Biomarkers: EGFR L858R mutation; RB1 mutation; MAP3K1 mutation; PD-L1 negative

Metastatic Site: kidneys, peritoneal lymph nodes

Osimertinib produced a partial response within 6 weeks after metastatic recurrence in the kidneys. She remained alive and continued targeted treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Two Severe Kidney Injuries After Lung Cancer Immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

The lung cancer remained stable without further anticancer treatment, while the patient remained dependent on hemodialysis after the second kidney injury and continued tapering prednisolone.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease / Care Ongoing
Lauren, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Lauren's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lauren O'Connell, Female

As of September 2024, Lauren had completed lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and 25 rounds of radiation. She described major emotional change and recovery, but no formal NED or cancer-free status was reported.

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

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jessenia's Patient Story

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

As of September 2024, Jessenia had completed major treatment steps and was adapting to the physical and emotional effects of treatment, including a temporary colostomy; a clear remission/NED status was not stated.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Lori, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lori's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lori, Female, 60s

As of September 2024, Lori was in survivorship after lumpectomy for ILC with sentinel node involvement and was participating in monitoring research and local LBCA advocacy.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Dee, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Dee's Patient Story

Patient Info: Dee Doherty, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Hormone-sensitive disease implied by letrozole and ovarian suppression; ER/PR/HER2 status not explicitly stated

Metastatic Site: bone

As of September 2024, Dee was living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Her tumors had not shrunk, but disease was stable on ribociclib/Kisqali, letrozole, and ovarian suppression.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer