Surgery: 2,208 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

A Rare Metaplastic Breast Cancer With Bone-Like Tissue Formation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: ER weakly positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative; BRCA mutation not detected; described as triple-negative

One year after left mastectomy, she was alive without notable complications or evidence of recurrence.

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

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Allison's Survivor Story

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

As of August 2020, Allison reported no evidence of disease on follow-up scans while continuing survivorship care after rectal-cancer treatment.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Linked to a Rare Immune-Related Neurological Syndrome

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: HER2-positive in both foci; one focus ER-negative/PR-positive with Ki-67 45%; second focus ER-negative/PR-negative with Ki-67 35%; anti-Yo antibodies positive in serum and CSF; tumour-susceptibility gene panel negative

At 1 year, she had completed trastuzumab, continued tamoxifen, and had no evidence of recurrent breast cancer; intensive rehabilitation improved her mobility, although balance and right-sided neurological deficits persisted.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Doris, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Doris's Patient Story

Patient Info: Doris, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lungs

As of August 2020, Doris was living with Stage IV breast cancer metastatic to the lungs after chemotherapy and bilateral mastectomies, and the story asked for help so she could continue treatment.

YouTube (ES search)
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Recurrent Breast Cancer With a Benign-Appearing Chest-Wall Rash

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

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

Metastatic Site: mediastinal lymph nodes

She had recurrent chest-wall and mediastinal metastatic disease; a later rash biopsy showed dermatitis rather than another skin recurrence.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Heart Failure and Electrical Conduction Changes During Trastuzumab Treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; ER-positive

Trastuzumab was suspended after acute heart failure and electrical conduction abnormalities; 4 weeks later, left ventricular function recovered and the ECG returned to normal during cardio-oncology follow-up.

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

Ovarian Fibrosarcoma Recurring Rapidly After Debulking Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Ki-67 greater than 20%; vimentin diffusely positive; muscle-specific antigen weakly positive

The cancer recurred with a new pelvic mass and ascites 3 months after surgery. Her condition was too poor for chemotherapy, and she died on the second day of palliative hospital care.

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

Young woman with ductal breast cancer and bleeding gastric metastases

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

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

Metastatic Site: pancreas|liver|kidney|stomach

After rapid progression to the pancreas, liver, kidney and stomach, she chose palliative care and died 1 month after presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding.

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

Lobular breast cancer later spread to the stomach, bone, neck and mediastinum

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

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

Metastatic Site: stomach|bone|neck|mediastinum

After gastric metastasis was diagnosed and later imaging showed bone, neck and mediastinal spread, her oral intake and health declined; she chose palliative care and died 7 months after the diagnostic endoscopy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Caitlin, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Caitlin's Patient Story

Patient Info: Caitlin J., Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; BRCA-negative

As of July 2020, Caitlin had completed lumpectomy, AC chemotherapy, Taxol, and 33 radiation treatments for Stage IIB ER-positive, PR-positive IDC and was continuing monthly Lupron plus daily anastrozole.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Lynch syndrome-related colon cancer diagnosed at age 16

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

Biomarkers: Loss of MSH2 and MSH6 expression; pathogenic de novo germline MSH2 c.1786_1788delAAT; Lynch syndrome

Colonoscopic surveillance and abdominal imaging remained negative for recurrence through 48 months; recurrent narrowing at the anastomosis required balloon dilation, and she was otherwise doing well and attending college.

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

Lobular Breast Cancer Spread Into a Nasal Tumor

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

Biomarkers: Metastatic lobular focus: ER 8/8; PR 8/8; HER2-negative; E-cadherin-negative.

Metastatic Site: liver; bone; right nasal cavity within an olfactory…

The nasal lesion was removed with no residual local disease on imaging, and capecitabine was restarted while oncology follow-up continued for metastatic breast cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage III rectal adenocarcinoma with concurrent intermediate-risk prostate cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

Biomarkers: Rectal cancer CEA was not elevated. Prostate cancer PSA was high before treatment and low after radiation.

The rectal tumor achieved pathologic complete response with no residual tumor and 0 of 13 lymph nodes involved. Surveillance CT at 10 months showed no local recurrence or distant metastasis, and PSA remained low 1 year after operation.

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

Cancer Survivor Story: Colon Cancer (Lynch Syndrome)

Patient Info: Shannon, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome; MSI-high / dMMR

As of May 2020, Shannon was considered cancer-free after surgery-only treatment for Stage IIA MSI-high/Lynch-associated colon cancer and remained on strict Lynch syndrome surveillance.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Fatal Bowel Infection After the First Chemotherapy Cycle for Early HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

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

Nine days after the first TCH cycle, she developed fulminant febrile neutropenia and Clostridium septicum sepsis with extensive bowel ischaemia; despite emergency treatment and resuscitation, she died 4 hours after hospital arrival.

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

Stage IV Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Kristine's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kristine, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Lymph nodes; chest wall; upper lungs

As of May 2020, Kristine was living with recurrent metastatic breast cancer involving lymph nodes, chest wall and upper lungs, after surgery and radiation, with daily oral chemotherapy helping keep cancer controlled.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Barbara, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colon Cancer Stories: Barbara Majeski

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

As of May 2020, Barbara was approaching the 5-year mark after Stage III colon cancer, with blood tests every 6 months and annual scans reported as good/clear.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED