Surgery: 2,208 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

A Severe Delayed Immune Reaction After Treatment for Metastatic Colon Cancer

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

Metastatic Site: liver

He recovered from repeated episodes of severe cytokine release syndrome after prolonged corticosteroids, completed adjuvant FOLFOX and CV301 without nivolumab, and had no further CRS episodes.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Gastric CancerGastric Cancer

Large Type I Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumor Removed Endoscopically

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Ki-67 less than 3%; hypergastrinemia

Endoscopy at 3 months showed no recurrent nodules, and she remained disease-free and symptom-free at 6 months.

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

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Maureen's Patient Story

Patient Info: Maureen, Female

Biomarkers: Breast Cancer Index test used to guide duration of anti-estrogen therapy

Maureen completed double mastectomy and 30 radiation treatments for pleomorphic ILC and planned 10 years of anti-estrogen therapy based on Breast Cancer Index testing.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Gastric Cancer Forming a Fistula Into the Liver

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: liver|lungs

The cancer recurred locally with liver deposits 4 months after surgery and later spread to the liver and lungs. She declined further treatment, entered palliative care, and died in hospital about 2 months later.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Susan, who was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Susan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Susan Taylor, Female, 70+

As of July 2021, Susan had localized non-small cell lung cancer removed by robotic left upper lobectomy with lymph node removal and had returned to normal activities within 3 weeks; no metastatic disease or systemic therapy was reported.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer Discovered During Trigeminal Neuralgia Evaluation

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

Three months after surgery, she had recovered well from debulking and 6 total chemotherapy cycles, with complete macroscopic clearance achieved at surgery. Trigeminal-neuralgia symptoms persisted and continued to require daily medication.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Jeanine, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

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

Patient Info: Jeanine, Female | Stage III

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

Jeanine completed chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomy, and post-surgery radiation after her disease was restaged from Stage II to Stage III, and she described continued active oncology care and advocacy as of June 2021.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

MSI-High Malignant Struma Ovarii With Lung and Liver Metastases 17 Years Later

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: NRAS, and ATM mutations; Ki-67 approximately 15%–29%

Metastatic Site: lungs|liver

She remained asymptomatic and tolerated pembrolizumab without obvious adverse effects after 4 doses, with follow-up imaging planned for metastatic lung and liver disease.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Ashley, who was diagnosed with Stage I Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage I EGFR Lung Adenocarcinoma: Ashley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ashley Stringer, Female, Under 40 | Stage I

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive

As of May 2021, Ashley was 4 years from diagnosis after lobectomy and 2 radiation courses, with ongoing monitoring of lung nodules and possible future EGFR-targeted therapy if needed.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCare Ongoing
MB
Breast Cancer

Male breast cancer discovered after years of stiff-person syndrome

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; anti-amphiphysin antibody positive at 1:64; hereditary cancer panel negative for pathogenic germline variants.

He completed curative-intent breast cancer treatment and reported substantial improvement in upper-body stiffness, although lower-extremity stiffness, cramps, and unsteadiness persisted.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
Susie's, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Susie's's Patient Story

Patient Info: Susie's daughter, Female, 40s

As of May 2021, Susie’s daughter was living after treatment for an 8 cm invasive lobular carcinoma and dealing with side effects from different endocrine therapies, while Susie became active in ILC advocacy and research support.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast cancer returned in the stomach and peritoneum after three years in remission

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: Initial breast tumor: ER 95%, PR 5%, HER2-negative, Nottingham grade 2. Metastatic peritoneal tumor: ER 80%

Metastatic Site: stomach; peritoneum

After metastatic breast cancer was confirmed in the stomach and peritoneum, she chose palliative care and inpatient hospice and died a few weeks later.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery for lung cancer that spread to the foot

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: PD-L1 20%; no actionable mutations on next-generation sequencing.

She had a significant response after four cycles of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab, and the resected lung nodule contained fibrosis and scar without carcinoma; further systemic treatment and radiation were under consideration.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast cancer with sarcoidosis that mimicked metastatic disease

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

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

Her most recent mammogram showed no recurrent breast cancer while she continued letrozole, goserelin, and six-monthly follow-up.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Immunotherapy and surgery for lung adenocarcinoma with two brain metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: PD-L1 100%; no actionable mutations on next-generation sequencing.

After brain surgery, radiation, 11 cycles of pembrolizumab, and lung surgery, she was off treatment and under observation in remission.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung CancerLung Cancer

Immunotherapy and surgery for adenosquamous lung cancer with brain metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: PD-L1 positive; no actionable mutations on next-generation sequencing.

After chemotherapy, 19 cycles of pembrolizumab, and right middle lobectomy, she was off immunotherapy and under observation in remission.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED