Surgery: 2,208 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

Joy, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Joy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Joy Albi

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Joy was in complete remission after the breast tumor was removed and she completed systemic chemotherapy.

Dana-Farber
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Lung Cancer Metastases to Both Kidneys Causing Kidney Failure

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 highly expressed

Metastatic Site: brain|bilateral kidneys|lungs

The cancer progressed in both kidneys and lungs despite treatment, causing dialysis-dependent kidney failure. He later developed severe respiratory illness and died 5 days after readmission.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Pleomorphic Lung Cancer Progressed Despite Pembrolizumab

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-negative; ALK-negative; ROS1-negative; PD-L1 TPS 80%-90%.

Metastatic Site: small intestine; pleura; abdominal subcutaneous tissue

The cancer did not respond to pembrolizumab, and he died four months after immunotherapy began.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Pembrolizumab Controlled Metastatic Pleomorphic Lung Cancer After Chemotherapy Failed

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-negative; ALK-negative; ROS1-negative; BRAF-negative; PD-L1 TPS 60%-70%; BRCA2, and TP53 mutations; tumor mutation burden 42 mutations/Mb; no actionable alteration.

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland; left adrenal gland; bone

Tumor diameter had decreased at 11 months, and pembrolizumab remained ongoing at 12 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Rachel, who was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

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

Patient Info: Rachel Chua Bradley, Female, 50s

As of April 2021, Rachel had completed treatment for recurrent non-small cell lung cancer, was not on maintenance cancer medication, and returned to MD Anderson every 6 months for checkups.

MD Anderson
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
Laurie, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Laurie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Laurie, Female, 60s

As of April 2021, Laurie had gone through surgery for invasive lobular carcinoma and was in post-surgery treatment while becoming deeply involved in LBCA advocacy and leadership.

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

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Hillary's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Hillary, Female, 50s

As of April 2021, Hillary had completed surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, lymphedema rehabilitation and staged reconstruction for node-positive breast cancer, with return toward normal life; no formal stage or NED status was stated.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
A patient, who was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung CancerBreast Cancer

Primary small-cell neuroendocrine breast cancer treated with mastectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: ER-negative; HER2 not overexpressed; Ki-67 90%; synaptophysin-positive; chromogranin A-positive; TTF-1-positive.

Her postoperative recovery was uncomplicated, and she was referred for adjuvant oncology after chemotherapy and radiation were recommended.

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

Rapidly Progressive Stage IIIA2 Ovarian Cancer With Anaplastic Features

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: CA-125 419 IU/mL; CA19-9 elevated; lactate dehydrogenase elevated

Metastatic Site: lungs|liver

Within 30 days of surgery, the cancer had progressed with a large retroperitoneal nodal mass and new lung and liver metastases. She died from advanced ovarian cancer 5 weeks after surgery.

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

A second primary breast cancer in ectopic right axillary breast tissue

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: ER-positive greater than 90%; PR-positive greater than 90%; HER2-negative; Ki-67 20%; Oncotype DX recurrence score 17.

Her incision healed with normal shoulder movement and no lymphedema, and she was preparing to start radiation and anastrozole.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
Brandon, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Brandon's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Brandon Dale, Male, 50s | Stage III

As of April 2021, Brandon was cancer-free 3 years after Stage III rectal cancer treatment, living normally with a permanent colostomy.

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

HER2-positive left breast cancer treated with trastuzumab and mastectomy

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

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2/CerbB2 strongly positive; BRCA1/2 negative for known pathogenic variants; FANCA variant of uncertain significance.

She remained alive, asymptomatic, and disease-free while undergoing annual surveillance after treatment for the left HER2-positive breast cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Terri, who was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage III KRAS Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Terri's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Terri Conneran, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: KRAS-mutated; PD-L1 level reviewed/tested

As of March 2021, Terri had Stage IIIA KRAS-mutated NSCLC with 3 local recurrences treated over time and had again reached no evidence of disease while continuing close surveillance and advocacy through KRAS Kickers.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
AP
Lung Cancer

A painful scalp metastasis from sarcomatoid lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: No targetable mutations identified; CAM5.2-positive; p63-positive; CD10-positive; vimentin-positive.

Metastatic Site: chest wall and rib; liver; right gluteal region; scalp…

Her disease progressed with a further liver lesion and additional metastatic complications, and systemic treatment was stopped because of severe immune-related toxicity and the absence of targetable mutations.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast cancer recurrence in the mandibular condyle causing jaw pain

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

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

Metastatic Site: right mandibular condyle with extension into the…

After anastrozole and 60 Gy of radiation, her jaw pain, mouth opening, and function improved, although some discomfort remained and palliative systemic treatment was continuing.

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

Severe immune thrombocytopenia during treatment for metastatic colon cancer

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

Biomarkers: KRAS-mutated; microsatellite stable; BRAF-wild type.

Metastatic Site: bilateral ovaries; pelvis; peritoneum; mesenteric…

After multiple metastatic recurrences and treatment changes, she died from progressive colon cancer; oxaliplatin had been permanently stopped after antibody-confirmed immune thrombocytopenia.

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

A New Mass Three Years After Lumpectomy Was Fat Necrosis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

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

A new mass detected three years after treatment was biopsy-proven fat necrosis rather than recurrent cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing