Surgery: 2,208 Real Stories

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

Andrea, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Andrea's Survivor Story

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

As of May 2024, Andrea had completed radiation with continuous 5-FU, 8 intensive chemotherapy infusions, tumor surgery with temporary ileostomy, and ileostomy reversal; a liver-lesion scare was a false alarm and she was cancer-free.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Kim, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Kim's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kim, Female

Biomarkers: ER 99% positive; PR 85% positive; HER2-negative

Kim’s ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative ILC responded strongly to Zoladex and Letrozole before skin-sparing mastectomy, with 90% tumor necrosis, clear margins, no lymph node spread, and confirmation that she was cancer-free.

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

Primary breast angiosarcoma: R0 resection, disease-free at 6 months

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: ERG-positive; Ki-67 50%

Disease-free 6 months after skin-sparing mastectomy with R0 resection for localized primary breast angiosarcoma; continued close 3-month surveillance after declining further treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

ER/PR-positive invasive mucinous breast cancer: mastectomy, DIEP reconstruction, and tamoxifen

Patient Info: Anonymized, trans woman, 50s

Biomarkers: ER 100% positive; PR 100% positive; HER2-negative; 19-gene hereditary cancer panel negative

As of May 2024, she was 1 year after bilateral DIEP free-flap reconstruction, satisfied with the cosmetic result, taking tamoxifen for recurrence-risk reduction, and planning nipple reconstruction; no recurrence status beyond the postoperative course was stated.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 4 breast cancer: hip reconstruction preserves mobility

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

Metastatic Site: bone (right acetabulum/pelvis: ilium, ischium,…

As of May 2024, 2 years after reconstruction for metastatic breast cancer involving the right acetabulum/pelvis, she had no recurrence of hip pain and had returned to baseline function; overall systemic cancer response was not reported.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Secretory breast cancer: mastectomy and radiotherapy to no evidence of disease

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; Ki-67 50%; tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes 60%

As of May 2024, 6 months after mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy for pT2N0M0 triple-negative secretory breast cancer, clinical examination and imaging showed no evidence of relapse.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer: pathologic complete response to chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer, with pathogenic PALB2 c.1451T>A variant found in blood/buccal/tumor testing.

As of May 2024, more than 1 year after surgery, she was well and free of cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mastectomy, reconstruction, and preventive adnexectomy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Katrece, who was diagnosed with Stage III Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage III Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Katrece's Patient Story

Patient Info: Katrece Nolen, Female | Stage III

More than 10 years after her diagnosis, Katrece was taking medication intended to reduce recurrence risk and remained active in advocacy for people with inflammatory breast cancer.

AACR
OutcomeNot reported
Irasema, who was diagnosed with Stage II Gastric CancerGastric Cancer

Stage II Gastric Cancer: Irasema's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Irasema Partida Chavez, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Irasema reported no evidence of stomach cancer for about 8 years after treatment for her localized recurrence.

AACR
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Irasema, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Irasema's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Irasema Partida Chavez, Female

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Irasema reported no evidence of breast cancer for 3 years after surgery and HER2-targeted treatment.

AACR
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Melissa, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Melissa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Melissa Adams, Female | Stage IV

Melissa’s breast cancer progressed after maintenance hormone therapy and was reassigned as Stage IV. She describes living with incurable disease while focusing on keeping the cancer at bay and staying engaged with family, church, and advocacy.

AACR
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Daniel, who was diagnosed with Stage II Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage II EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Daniel's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Daniel West, Male | Stage II

Biomarkers: EGFR alteration

At the latest report, Daniel had no evidence of active cancer; small lung nodules were being monitored without progression while he continued osimertinib.

AACR
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Andrea, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III colorectal cancer: remission after treatment

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

As of May 2024, Andrea described being in remission since June 2022, with no cancer seen on follow-up scans and tumor DNA tests remaining negative during close 3-month surveillance.

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

Triple-negative metaplastic breast cancer with complete pathologic response to chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; Ki-67 <10%; CK-positive; S100-positive; focal vimentin-positive

At 1-year follow-up, there were no signs of recurrence after doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy and modified radical mastectomy with complete pathologic response.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Kristie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Kristie Reimann

Patient Info: Kristie Reimann, 40s | Stage IV

Nine years after a Stage IV diagnosis, Kristie remained on treatment every 2 to 3 weeks and described continuing to live an active life with an ostomy.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Samantha, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Samantha's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Samantha Salway, Female, Under 40

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

As of May 2024, Samantha had delivered a healthy baby, completed chemotherapy, lumpectomy, radiation and additional chemotherapy, had no current evidence of cancer, and remained under close monitoring.

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

Stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma: brain surgery followed by immunotherapy response

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1-positive; EGFR wild-type/no mutation; ALK rearrangement not detected; TTF-1-positive; Napsin A-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

As of March 2024, after 31 cycles of zimberelimab, the lung lesion had shown partial response, brain metastasis had not recurred, and the patient had 24-month progression-free and intracranial recurrence-free survival with normal quality of life.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Kyle, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Kyle's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of May 2024, Kyle was actively receiving chemotherapy for Stage IV sigmoid colon cancer with liver metastasis and was awaiting reassessment for possible surgery after 5 planned chemotherapy cycles.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

MSI-High Metastatic Hormone-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Responding to Pembrolizumab

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; MSI-high; BRCA mutation-negative

Metastatic Site: bone, para-aortic lymph nodes, brain

Pembrolizumab produced marked improvement in metastatic bone and nodal disease. After 1 year it was stopped because of appetite loss; 8 months later she was symptom-free and back at work on endocrine therapy, although asymptomatic brain metastases were documented.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

At 41, a Tumor Test Supported Chemotherapy for Rare Neuroendocrine Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Chromogranin strongly positive; synaptophysin strongly positive; ER score 270; PR score 75; HER2-negative; Ki-67 60%; Oncotype DX Recurrence Score 41

A 41-year-old with a small, node-negative neuroendocrine breast tumor had an Oncotype DX score of 41, supporting chemotherapy despite otherwise early features.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

At 40, a Tumor Test Supported Chemotherapy for Rare Neuroendocrine Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Chromogranin strongly positive; synaptophysin strongly positive; ER score 300; PR score 240; HER2-negative; Ki-67 35%; Oncotype DX Recurrence Score 38

A 40-year-old with a 1.4 cm, node-negative neuroendocrine breast tumor had a high Oncotype DX score of 38, supporting chemotherapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

At 45, a Tumor Test Supported Chemotherapy for Rare Neuroendocrine Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Chromogranin strongly positive; synaptophysin strongly positive; ER score 300; PR score 270; HER2-negative; Ki-67 40%; Oncotype DX Recurrence Score 32

A 45-year-old with a 2.0 cm, node-negative neuroendocrine breast tumor had a high Oncotype DX score of 32, supporting chemotherapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported