Surgery: 2,208 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Presenting With Painful Finger Ischemia

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: CA-125: 90.6 kU/L after 4 cycles of chemotherapy

Metastatic Site: peritoneum|omentum

She continued chemotherapy and palliative symptom management after debulking surgery. She died from an intracranial hemorrhage 10 months after her original presentation.

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

Treatment-Refractory Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treated With Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes

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

Biomarkers: Germline BRCA1 pathogenic variant; later triple-negative phenotype

Metastatic Site: skin, lungs, bones

Tumor burden briefly decreased after tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, but she developed severe treatment complications followed by rapid cancer relapse and died about 1 month after the TIL/IL-2 treatment began.

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

Male Breast Cancer Controlled for Years Through Multiple Lines of Targeted and Endocrine Therapy

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive; later ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2-negative; PIK3CA mutation; germline BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: bones, pleura, liver

After a 5-year and 6-month disease-free interval, the cancer recurred in bone and later progressed to the pleura and liver. He died in January 2021, more than 13 years after his 2007 breast-cancer diagnosis.

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

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Dania's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Not reported; pathology supported Keytruda eligibility

Metastatic Site: Liver; peritoneum

As of December 2023, Dania had Stage IV colon cancer but described an excellent response to Keytruda, successful colon/hernia surgery, and successful liver surgery while still healing and continuing follow-up.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Large Malignant Phyllodes Tumor Removed With Mastectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+

At 18 months of follow-up, imaging showed no suspicious lung lesions, lymph-node enlargement, or other evidence of recurrence or metastasis.

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

Breast Cancer Recurs After a 19-Year Remission and Responds to Later Chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: PR-positive, ER-negative, HER2-negative. Recurrence: ER-positive, PR-negative

Metastatic Site: bones

The cancer recurred after a 19-year remission and later spread to bone. More than 21 years after the original diagnosis, she had marked tumor shrinkage, was in good general condition, and had 10 months of progression-free survival after utidelone plus capecitabine.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Gastric CancerGastric Cancer

Gastric Cancer Treatment Interrupted by Capecitabine-Related Brain Toxicity

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage II

Her cognition and vital signs improved over several days after capecitabine was stopped. At follow-up 2 weeks later, chemotherapy remained suspended and the treatment plan was revised to radiation alone.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Brain radiation therapy complication (radionecrosis) potentially linked to combined chemo-immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 0%; tumour mutational burden 33 mutations/Mb; TP53 mutation at diagnosis; later ctDNA included KEAP1 and NOTCH3 alterations

Metastatic Site: brain; presumed leptomeningeal disease

She recovered completely from surgery for radiation necrosis, resumed cancer treatment and remained neurologically intact at 18 months. She was found deceased 9 months later; the cause of death was unknown.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Allison, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer: Allison's Patient Story

Patient Info: Allison Rosen, Female, Under 40

Allison describes herself as a colorectal cancer survivor and has returned to travel, physical activity, and patient advocacy after her surgeries.

AACR
OutcomeNot reported
Stephanie, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Stephanie's Survivor Story

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

As of November 2023, Stephanie reported that her oncologist said her cancer was in remission after surgery and chemotherapy, with CT/lab follow-up and a PET scan for reassurance.

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

Stage IV BRAF Colorectal Cancer: Loralee's Patient Story

Patient Info: Loralee Lovell, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: BRAF mutation; microsatellite stable

Metastatic Site: liver|lungs|lymph nodes|peritoneal lining

Loralee continued treatment for metastatic colon cancer for several years and died on May 26, 2026.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Male breast cancer in both breasts linked to Klinefelter syndrome, initially missed

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: spine / bone

With advanced metastatic disease and an estimated prognosis of weeks or less, care focused on symptom relief under the palliative-care team.

PubMed Central
OutcomeEnd of Life / Hospice
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Adenoid Cystic Breast Cancer Spreads to the Kidney, Lungs, Bone and Spleen

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Triple-negative

Metastatic Site: kidneys, lungs, spleen, bone, lymph nodes

The cancer progressed from an initial kidney metastasis to widespread disease involving the lungs, spleen, right kidney, lymph nodes, and C4 vertebra. By May 2022 she had worsening cachexia and pain, and best supportive care was recommended.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Debra, who was diagnosed with Stage I Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage I Lung Cancer: Debra's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Debra Haberstroh, Female | Stage I

As of November 2023, Debra was 5 months after May 2023 lung tumor resection, did not need chemotherapy, was described by her oncologist as technically cured, and continued surveillance imaging.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Gastric cancer arising in hereditary juvenile polyposis

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+

Biomarkers: Pathogenic germline SMAD4 splice-site variant

After total gastrectomy, her anemia and low protein levels improved, and no recurrence or metastasis had been reported.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Jessica, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jessica's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jessica, Female

Jessica had completed mastectomy and axillary surgery and had started dose-dense AC chemotherapy. Radiation and 10 years of Tamoxifen were planned as the next treatment steps.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Barbara, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Barbara's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Barbara, Female, 40s | Stage III

As of November 2023, Barbara described herself as a colon cancer survivor in year 4 after surgery and chemotherapy, continuing surveillance scans and living with scan anxiety and lasting treatment effects.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage III Breast Cancer Linked to Paraneoplastic Neuromyelitis Optica

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative; tumor AQP4 expression

A 51-year-old woman with Stage III hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer developed a rare paraneoplastic neurologic disorder that caused severe vomiting and spinal-cord symptoms.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage I Ovarian AdenocarcinomaOvarian Cancer

Stage I Ovarian Mesonephric-Like Adenocarcinoma With Mixed Müllerian Features

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

Biomarkers: KRAS p.; ARHGAP35 p.L1295Cfs*20; PPP2R1A p.; IRS1 p. in endometrioid and mesonephric-like areas; chromosome 1q gain

A 63-year-old woman underwent surgery for a 12 cm stage I ovarian mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma containing mixed mucinous and endometrioid components with shared molecular alterations.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported