Severe gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation during apatinib treatment for metastatic gastric cancer

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

Biomarkers: HER2 IHC 2+; FISH negative for HER2 amplification

Metastatic Site: peritoneum, ileum

She died on February 23, 2015 after gastrointestinal perforation, septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction during progressive metastatic disease.

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Metastatic Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Causing Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

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

Metastatic Site: pleura, pulmonary arteries

She died on hospital day 29 after rapidly progressive pulmonary hypertension. Autopsy attributed the pulmonary hypertension to metastatic ovarian serous carcinoma with pulmonary arterial tumor emboli.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Sarah's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sarah Cawley, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

As of August 2015, Sarah was still receiving treatment for Stage II invasive ductal carcinoma after modified radical mastectomy, 6 chemotherapy cycles, 25 radiation treatments and clinical trial participation.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer With a Paraneoplastic Skin Condition

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s

During first-line carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy, the paraneoplastic skin changes regressed and the CA125 level returned to the normal range.

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High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer With Markedly Elevated Amylase

Patient Info: Anonymized, female | Stage III

At 6 months, she was receiving 3 additional chemotherapy cycles after an excellent initial clinical and imaging response, with later marker changes reflecting periods of progression and response.

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Stage II BRCA1 Breast Cancer: Mariana's Patient Story

Patient Info: Mariana Torrado, female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: BRCA1 positive

After breast cancer treatment and reconstruction, the patient described herself as a breast cancer survivor and was returning to normal activities.

MD AndersonRead more →

Stage I gastric cancer treated with laparoscopic total gastrectomy in a man with situs inversus

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage I

He was alive without recurrence or symptoms 4 years after surgery.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Metachronous gastric adenosquamous carcinoma spreads to the liver after endoscopic resection

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

Metastatic Site: liver

He died from gastric cancer 27 months after endoscopic resection of the metachronous adenosquamous carcinoma.

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Early gastric adenocarcinoma removed endoscopically before a separate gastric cancer developed

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

Annual endoscopic surveillance showed no recurrence of the first gastric cancer; about 2 years later, a separate metachronous gastric primary was detected elsewhere in the stomach.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Ovarian Cancer: Brittany's Patient Story

Patient Info: Brittany Hurst, female

After treatment for an ovarian cancer recurrence in May 2014, the patient received a good follow-up report and began the adoption process with her husband.

MD AndersonRead more →

Early gastric adenocarcinoma found with Strongyloides infection in the stomach and duodenum

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

At 4 months after surgery, follow-up monitoring found no observable abnormalities.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Dawn's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Dawn Eicher, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver

After treatment for Stage IV colorectal cancer and a later recurrence, Dawn had 2 consecutive scans showing no evidence of disease and had been cancer-free for 8 months.

Colorectal Cancer AllianceRead more →

How nurses helped me through my ovarian cancer recurrence

Patient Info: Brittany Hurst

After a 70-day hospitalization in summer 2014, including 58 days at MD Anderson, the patient continued monthly follow-up visits and ongoing treatment.

MD AndersonRead more →

Large locally invasive gastric adenocarcinoma with a gastrocutaneous fistula treated by multivisceral surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: chromogranin-positive; CD56-positive

She developed severe respiratory distress and pneumonia on postoperative day 10 and died 20 days after surgery despite antibiotics and intensive care.

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Stage III Ovarian Cancer Treated Over Years Before a Separate Oral Cancer

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

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

After prolonged treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer, follow-up visits documented her as free from ovarian disease.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Li's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Li Bing | Stage II

Li Bing was declared cancer-free in September 2022, nearly 7 years after the October 2015 Stage II rectal carcinoid diagnosis.

Our Cancer StoriesRead more →

Stage I Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor in a 19-Year-Old

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

She was continuing adjuvant chemotherapy 4 months into treatment without major reported complications.

PubMed CentralRead more →

My Road To Awareness

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Jessica’s mother died in January 2005 after about 5 months of advanced stomach cancer, surgery, postoperative complications, and rapid progression.

Mixed Ovarian Germ Cell Cancer in an 18-Year-Old

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, Under 40

At both 3-month and 6-month follow-up, she had no evidence of recurrence.

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Malignant Struma Ovarii With Papillary Thyroid-Type Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s

Biomarkers: KRAS mutation

Radioactive iodine scans showed no local or distant disease, and she was well and symptom-free 12 months after the initial diagnosis while continuing follow-up.

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Acute acalculous cholecystitis causes septic shock after gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

He recovered after emergency surgery for postoperative acute acalculous cholecystitis and septic shock. Two months later, the gallbladder drainage tube was removed and he had no further related discomfort.

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Postoperative acalculous cholecystitis and sepsis after gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

He died 42 days after surgery from severe multiple-organ dysfunction and septic shock following postoperative acute acalculous cholecystitis, pulmonary infection and heart failure.

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Acalculous cholecystitis treated with drainage after surgery for advanced gastric mucinous adenocarcinoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

After readmission with postoperative acute acalculous cholecystitis, percutaneous gallbladder drainage and antibiotics relieved his fever and abdominal pain. He was discharged 5 days after readmission, and the drainage tube was removed on day 19.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Persistent fever leads to the diagnosis of gastric adenosquamous carcinoma in a 73-year-old man

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

At nearly 20 months after surgery, CT follow-up showed no recurrence and he was in good health.

PubMed CentralRead more →