Targeted Therapy: 720 Real Stories

720 stories match targeted therapy. 488 of them mention chemotherapy.

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma That Transformed to Small Cell Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

Metastatic Site: brain, adrenal gland, liver, thyroid

The cancer progressed after small-cell transformation with adrenal, thyroid, liver and brain involvement, and she died 52.7 months after the original diagnosis from disease progression and organ failure.

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

EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma That Transformed to Small Cell Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; acquired EGFR T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: liver

The cancer progressed after transformation to small cell lung cancer, and she died 49 months after the original diagnosis.

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

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

Patient Info: Jeff, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive; exon 19 mentioned

Metastatic Site: brain; bones — ribs, femur/hip, clavicle

Jeff has Stage IV EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer with brain and bone metastases. Biomarker testing changed the plan from radiation/chemotherapy toward Tagrisso targeted therapy. As of March 2025, he was living with metastatic lung cancer and emphasizing hope and self-advocacy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma with RET fusion responding to pralsetinib

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

Biomarkers: RET fusion

Metastatic Site: pleura

As of March 2025, he had recovered from grade 3 Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, restarted pralsetinib, and had no progressive disease or recurrence of adverse events over 13 months.

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

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

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

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

As of February 2025, Katie was a few months beyond active treatment for Stage III ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative ILC and was adjusting to maintenance therapy with Verzenio, Lupron, and Letrozole.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Sydney, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Sydney's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sydney Barned, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-rearranged

Metastatic Site: brain

Living with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer. She had about 5.5 years of disease control on her first targeted therapy, then developed 3 brain metastases in September 2022 and switched to another targeted therapy. As of February 2025, she was working full-time and continuing treatment.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage 4 RET-rearranged lung cancer: complete pathologic response to pralsetinib

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

Biomarkers: KIF5B-RET rearrangement; TP53 missense mutation; PD-L1-negative; CK7-positive; TTF-1-positive; Ki-67 70%

Metastatic Site: pleura, mediastinal lymph nodes, hilar lymph nodes

After pralsetinib response and surgery, pathology showed no residual viable tumor in the lung primary, pleural nodules, or sampled lymph nodes; she continued adjuvant pralsetinib.

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

Recurrent lung adenocarcinoma: sick sinus syndrome during anlotinib treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: driver genes negative

Recurrent/progressive lung adenocarcinoma was being treated with anlotinib when sick sinus syndrome developed; the patient received a permanent pacemaker and remained alive under follow-up, but post-pacemaker cancer status was not fully reported.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Lung Adenocarcinoma With Rare Skin Metastasis to the Neck

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

Metastatic Site: neck skin

The lung cancer later spread to the neck skin, and he died during the following year after stopping further treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage 4 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: remission with PARP inhibitor

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

Biomarkers: HR-positive breast cancer with HER2-low/negative recurrence, and pathogenic BRCA2 R2318* mutation.

Metastatic Site: pleura

As of January 2025, she had maintained complete response for 36 months after sequential FEC/docetaxel and olaparib for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative/HER2-low metastatic breast cancer with BRCA2 R2318* mutation.

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

Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With ERBB2 and TP53 Mutations

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

Biomarkers: ERBB2 exon 20 Y772-A775dup mutation; TP53 mutation; PD-L1 TPS 0%

Metastatic Site: liver, bone, both lungs

Imaging after treatment showed stable disease, and he remained in good condition while continuing maintenance pemetrexed and bevacizumab.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

ALK-Fusion Small Cell Lung Cancer Responding to ALK-Targeted Therapy

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

Biomarkers: EML4-ALK fusion

Metastatic Site: brain

After several earlier treatments stopped controlling the cancer, ALK-targeted iruplinalkib produced a partial response and was still controlling disease after more than 8 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Karen, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Karen's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; grade 2; inherited genetic testing negative

Karen completed double mastectomy, 3 months of chemotherapy and reconstruction. She was doing well on ongoing endocrine and targeted therapy and walking 3–5 miles daily.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing / Survivorship
Stephanie, who was diagnosed with Stage II Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage II ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Stephanie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: ALK-rearranged

As of January 2025, Stephanie had clean scans and bloodwork for 3 years after Stage IIB ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma treated with surgery, 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and ongoing daily targeted therapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma With a Serious Immune-Therapy Pituitary Complication

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

Biomarkers: No detected EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET, MET or HER2 alterations

Metastatic Site: brain, meninges, skull, bone, pituitary

The cancer had progressed to extensive brain, skull and bone involvement after several treatments. Steroid treatment improved the severe thirst, high urine output and other symptoms from immune-related hypophysitis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Emily, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Colorectal Cancer: Emily's Patient Story

Patient Info: Emily King, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: lungs

Emily remained on active treatment for metastatic HER2-positive colon cancer, and her current Boston treatment had shrunk the cancer by 20% with fewer side effects.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I ER-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer with radiation-associated morphea

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

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

No evidence of breast cancer recurrence after 2018 treatment; ongoing issue was generalized morphea and breast deformity related to prior radiation, improved with mycophenolate by April 2024.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Stephanie, who was diagnosed with Stage II Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage II ALK Lung Adenocarcinoma: Stephanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stephanie Williams, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: ALK-rearranged

Stephanie had clean scans nearly 3 years after diagnosis but remained on daily ALK-targeted therapy to reduce recurrence risk.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV Squamous Lung Cancer Complicated by an Esophageal-Mediastinal Fistula

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

Metastatic Site: brain, bone

Four months after the fistula was treated conservatively, imaging showed the fistula had resolved and the lung tumor and metastatic hilar nodes had decreased despite no additional antitumor treatment during that interval.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well