Targeted Therapy: 720 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

Lourdes, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lourdes's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lourdes Monje, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lung

Lourdes is receiving investigational treatment through a clinical trial, with manageable side effects, while continuing to work and spend time with family and friends.

AACR
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 4 breast cancer: complete remission with letrozole and palbociclib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Breast cancer was ER/PR positive, HER2 0

Metastatic Site: pleura/pleural effusion

Breast cancer remained in remission on letrozole after palbociclib was stopped; Ph-positive B-ALL achieved complete response with no molecular residual disease after blinatumomab plus ponatinib, with ongoing monthly outpatient monitoring.

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

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Lindsay's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lindsay Wagner, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive mutation / ALK rearrangement

Metastatic Site: brain; liver; bone; kidneys; lungs;…

As of September 2024, Lindsay was still on lorlatinib/Lorbrena with her lungs, liver, and kidneys described as stable, while isolated brain/bone areas were treated with radiation and monitored.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

ALK-positive lung cancer spreading to both breasts after years of targeted therapy

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive, ALK mutation

Metastatic Site: bilateral breasts

At age 51, about 10 years after his Stage IV diagnosis, he remained alive with stable disease 8 months after removal of bilateral breast metastases while continuing maintenance therapy.

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

Stage 4 lung cancer with brainstem metastasis: complete remission on chemotherapy

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

Metastatic Site: pons, right parietal lobe, brain

Stage IV NSCLC with pontine and right parietal brain metastases achieved complete remission after 2 years of chemotherapy with an anti-VEGF drug; the pontine lesion remained stable, and severe SRS-related central neuropathic pain improved after methadone escalation.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

EGFR exon 19 deletion lung cancer: gefitinib after osimertinib toxicity

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

As of August 2024, Stage IVB EGFR exon 19 deletion lung adenocarcinoma was being treated with gefitinib after osimertinib-induced grade 3 interstitial lung disease; ILD had not recurred, and low-dose prednisolone continued.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage 4 EGFR-mutant lung cancer controlled on gefitinib after osimertinib intolerance

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 21 L858R mutation

As of August 2024, Stage IVB EGFR L858R lung adenocarcinoma was being treated with gefitinib after grade 3 osimertinib-induced interstitial lung disease; the cancer had not progressed when steroids were completed and ILD had not recurred on gefitinib.

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

EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma transforming to small cell lung cancer during targeted therapy

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion, TP53 mutation, TMB 11 mut/Mb

Metastatic Site: cervical lymph nodes

At the last follow-up in February 2024, 32 months after diagnosis, she was alive and both the primary lung lesion and cervical lymph-node metastasis had decreased on combined chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Kristie, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Kristie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kristie, Female

As of August 2024, Kristie was focused on survivorship and advocacy after extensive ILC treatment that included 20 weeks of chemotherapy, 25 radiation treatments, 2 years on Verzenio, estrogen blockers, and 5 surgeries.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Right-Sided Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Before a Second Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2 1+

A woman treated for right-sided ductal carcinoma in situ in 2018 later developed a separate invasive cancer in the opposite breast.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer That Spread to the Cervix

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

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; ER and PR less than 1% in the left breast tumor

Metastatic Site: cervix, esophagus, mediastinal lymph nodes

Cervical metastasis showed a local complete response after brachytherapy, but systemic disease later progressed to the esophagus. She died after 4 months of nutritional support and palliative treatment.

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

Seven-year response journey in EGFR-mutated metastatic lung adenocarcinoma

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

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

Metastatic Site: pleura, brain

About 7 years after presentation with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, he remained on targeted therapy. Gefitinib controlled the disease for 5 years; after brain progression, osimertinib followed by stereotactic radiation produced a complete intracranial response.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 4 invasive ductal carcinoma: metastatic disease with bone involvement managed successfully

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

Biomarkers: ER <1%; PR 0%; HER2 score 3+; Ki-67 60%

Metastatic Site: bone (12th thoracic vertebra/T12)

Stage IV HER2-positive breast cancer had improved T12 bone metastasis, major breast-tumor regression on trastuzumab deruxtecan, and pathologic complete response in the breast after mastectomy; durable systemic disease status was not reported.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast cancer history with painful implant capsule: no recurrence or BIA-ALCL found

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: Implant/capsule pathology showed necrotic tissue only; no tumor cells, CD30 signal, bacteria

The painful implant/capsule episode did not show breast cancer recurrence or BIA-ALCL on pathology; symptoms and cancer concern improved after implant removal, while oral flumatinib maintenance for acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia continued.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IIIA ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma: pathologic complete response to lorlatinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: EML4-ALK fusion; ALK-positive; Napsin A-positive; cytokeratin-positive; TTF-1-positive

He remained disease-free 10 months after surgery while continuing planned adjuvant lorlatinib after neoadjuvant lorlatinib produced partial radiographic response and pathologic complete response.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Nick, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Nick's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nick Sprague, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: distant lymph nodes in abdomen/near aorta and left…

As of July 2024, Nick was living with Stage IVA colon cancer and receiving Keytruda/pembrolizumab with fewer side effects than chemotherapy; no NED status had been reached.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Triple-positive breast cancer: complete response to targeted therapy

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

Biomarkers: Triple-positive breast cancer; SBDS variants present; no detected TP53 variant on MyeloSeq.

Metastatic Site: liver

Stage IV triple-positive breast cancer with liver metastasis achieved complete response after paclitaxel, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and G-CSF support; complete response was maintained for 18 months after treatment initiation while on maintenance HER2-directed and endocrine therapy.

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

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Samantha's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive breast cancer; specific receptor details not reported

Metastatic Site: bone: rib, spine, pelvis

As of July 2024, Samantha was living with Stage IV hormone-positive breast cancer with bone metastases. Current treatment was working in most areas, but a breast tumor continued to grow and was surgically removed; ongoing treatment and 3-month scans were reported.

YouTube — The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IIIA EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma: surgery after osimertinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

Biomarkers: EGFR E746_A750 deletion; PD-L1 TPS 15%; TMB 5.01 Muts/Mb; TTF-1 3+; CK7 3+; Ki67 60%

As of July 2024, surveillance CT scans at 2, 6, and 12 months after surgery showed no recurrent malignancy while he continued adjuvant osimertinib.

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

HR-positive HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: bone metastases managed with sequential endocrine therapy

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

Biomarkers: ER 90%+, PR 80%+, HER2-. CA 15-3 was tracked during treatment.

Metastatic Site: skull base; spine; sternum; ribs; left iliac bone;…

Metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer remained under active management; after earlier progression, palbociclib plus fulvestrant and zoledronic acid produced stable/remission findings on PET/CT at 3 months and again 1 year later, with continued 3-month follow-up recommended.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer