Kate's Story: How I Lean Into Every Day With MBC

Patient Info: Kate | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive, HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: liver

7+ years living with de novo metastatic ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with liver metastases while remaining on first-line palbociclib and letrozole.

breastcancer.orgRead more →

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Leslie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Leslie, female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

Her brain metastases responded to targeted therapy without radiation, and she remains active and planning for the future while participating in a clinical trial.

GO2 FoundationRead more →

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Nathalie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nathalie | Stage IV

Nathalie had been living with stage 4 breast cancer for more than three years and remained focused on time with her children.

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Erika

Patient Info: Erika | Stage II

Erika said she was cancer free as of November 2023 after completing mastectomy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy, while hormone therapy continued.

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Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Marnie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marnie Clark, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

Two years after diagnosis, Marnie reported that the brain tumor was gone, her leg was almost back to normal, and her first targeted medication continued to control the lung cancer.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Carla's Patient Story

Patient Info: Carla, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

After repeated resistance and a serious episode involving a brain lesion and extensive fluid around the lung, Carla recovered and was stable without new symptoms on her eighth line of treatment.

Lung Cancer: Jeff's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeff, Under 40

Two and a half years after diagnosis at age 34, targeted therapy had restored much of Jeff’s mobility and reduced the physical effects of lung cancer.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Katherine's Patient Story

Patient Info: Katherine Adelufosi, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

After persistent self-advocacy, Katherine found a targeted medication and chemotherapy that began working, and she remained active in peer support and lung-cancer awareness.

Lung Cancer: Lisa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lisa Bistline, Female

Biomarkers: Actionable biomarker identified on a later biopsy; specific marker not reported

Lisa’s care continued through multiple treatments, with a later biopsy changing the treatment path to biomarker-directed targeted therapy.

Lung Cancer: Randi's Patient Story

Patient Info: Randi Young, Female, 70+

At age 70, Randi was living with lung cancer after lobectomy and while taking targeted therapy, and she continued skiing, jogging, and solo backpacking while completing an 11-mile event.

Diagnosed at 38, a Veteran, Living with ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Laura's Story

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Three years after diagnosis, Laura remained on lorlatinib with improved energy and quality of life while continuing to live with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer.

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Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Frank's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Frank Sierawski, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Frank was disease-free for more than 7 years while continuing his second ALK-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor after lobectomy and brain radiation.

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Michelle's Patient Story

Patient Info: Michelle, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: leptomeninges and cerebrospinal fluid / central…

Targeted therapy and proton craniospinal irradiation eliminated detectable leptomeningeal disease. Treatment side effects later passed, and Michelle continued rehabilitation.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Kattysmith's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: lymphatic system; skin/soft-tissue nodules; possible…

After AC chemotherapy, the metastatic nodules shrank markedly. Kattysmith was stable on palbociclib and letrozole with declining tumor markers, while clearly stating that she was not NED.

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Breast Cancer: Suzi's Patient Story

Patient Info: Suzi, Female

Suzi completed lumpectomy, weekly chemotherapy, and radiation and remained on Herceptin every 3 weeks through September 2025. She had not yet been declared to have no evidence of disease.

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Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Valerie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Valerie Brown, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

Valerie was stable for more than 20 months on targeted therapy for Stage IV EGFR exon 19-deleted lung adenocarcinoma.

The Pervasive Stigma Associated With Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

After right upper lobectomy and chemotherapy, the patient continued a daily targeted-therapy tablet for EGFR exon 19-deleted lung adenocarcinoma.

Finding Hope in Emerging Therapies

Patient Info: Anonymized, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: spine/bones, including T11 vertebra

An unnamed targeted therapy shrank all visible tumors with minimal side effects, allowing the patient to consider returning to surgical residency.

Hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer with later lung metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive; HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Lung

The patient had hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer treated with standard therapy, then developed lung metastasis years later and continued molecular targeted therapy indefinitely while asymptomatic from the metastasis.

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Leftfootforward's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain | Liver

Leftfootforward was diagnosed with Stage IIB HER2-positive breast cancer in 2010 and metastatic brain/liver disease in 2012; after systemic therapy, Gamma Knife, craniotomy for necrotic tissue, partial liver lobectomy, and resumed Herceptin, her latest scans showed no evidence of disease.

BreastCancer.org (ES)Read more →

Breast Cancer: Gemina's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Gemina, Female

Gemina completed surgery followed by prolonged chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and biological therapies, overcame the disease, and later became pregnant with her first child.

Stage II HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Frédérique's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Frédérique, Female, 40s | Stage II

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Frédérique was listed as having complete remission after Herceptin/trastuzumab treatment for HER2-positive Stage II breast cancer.

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Sarah: hormone-dependent grade 1 breast cancer with individualized treatment decisions

Patient Info: Sarah, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: Hormone-dependent

Sarah’s June 2020 MRI showed that previously visible breast nodules were no longer present after metabolic measures and an oncologist-prescribed regimen including hormone suppression, cyclophosphamide, and palbociclib.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Agnès's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Tumor mutation identified; specific alteration not named

Agnès had metastatic lung cancer with a tumor mutation that allowed home-based treatment; her breathing and mobility improved and some metastases and one nodule disappeared.