Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Stephanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female, 60s

As of February 2022, Stephanie was living with locoregional recurrent ILC after extensive surgery and ongoing treatment with Ibrance/Femara, with recent bone, abdomen, and chest scans showing no new cancer growth and continued Femara without chemotherapy.

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Long-term erlotinib treatment alongside worsening kidney vasculitis

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

Metastatic Site: bone

Bone metastases showed osteosclerotic change after erlotinib began, and the drug continued because he was benefiting from treatment despite worsening renal vasculitis.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Edith's Patient Story

Patient Info: Edith | Stage III

Edith said her breast cancer was in remission while she continued hormone therapy; she had also begun separate treatment for lymphoma.

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Breast Cancer: Siti's Patient Story

Patient Info: Siti

Siti is recovering after treatment for a second breast cancer in the same breast and remains concerned about another recurrence.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Yurley's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Yurley, Under 40 | Stage III

She reports that her breast cancer is in remission and that she continues hormone therapy.

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Colorectal Cancer: Li's Patient Story

Patient Info: Li Zong

Li Zong remained on chemotherapy and targeted therapy while considering future hospice and palliative care.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Ada's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ada, Female, 50s | Stage III

Ada described herself as being in remission while continuing hormone therapy. Fear of relapse remained, but she was focusing on travel, healthier routines and time with loved ones.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: April's Survivor Story

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

April described herself as being in remission in 2024 while continuing hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Emotional and financial effects remained nearly 2 years after diagnosis.

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Metastatic Clear Cell Ovarian Cancer Complicated by Treatment-Related Sarcoidosis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: peritoneum

During a treatment holiday, biopsy and laboratory evaluation showed treatment-related sarcoidosis rather than ovarian-cancer spread in the enlarged lymph nodes. After prednisone, the sarcoidosis resolved and imaging showed no progression of the clear cell ovarian cancer; she remained clinically well 4 months later.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer: Anne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Anne LaPorte, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Mutation identified by next-generation sequencing; specific mutation not reported

Metastatic Site: Spine; hips; lymph nodes; liver

As of November 2021, Anne was living with Stage IV lung cancer after oral treatment guided by tumor testing and later radiation, reporting a meaningful quality of life while advocating for self-advocacy and research.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer: Jeff's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeff Meckstroth, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Mutation identified by liquid biopsy; specific mutation not reported

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of November 2021, Jeff had lived more than 6 years after a Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis, with brain metastases cleared after an unnamed brain-penetrant therapy, while his cancer had progressed on multiple occasions.

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Kidney Injury During Nivolumab Treatment for Stage IV Gastric Cancer

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

Kidney function and proteinuria improved after nivolumab was stopped, but the gastric cancer progressed. Restarted nivolumab was ineffective, and treatment was changed to irinotecan.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer: Steve's Patient Story

Patient Info: Steve Castellaw, 70+ | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: right pelvis, L1 and L2 vertebrae, skull

After about 2 years on sotorasib, Steve had a large reduction in tumor size and his latest scans continued to look good while he returned to golf, exercise, and normal daily life.

Stage IV HER2-Positive Gastric Cancer: Bryan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Bryan Chagolla, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: liver

Bryan had a strong response to trastuzumab deruxtecan in 2021. He died on May 13, 2022, surrounded by loved ones.

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Màrius's Patient Story

Patient Info: Màrius, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone: vertebra/cervical spine and ribs

As of October 2021, Màrius was living with metastatic male breast cancer described as dormant on lifelong medication after chemotherapy, radiation, 3 operations, and cyclin-inhibitor treatment.

Living with Cancer & My Survivorship : Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive; T790M mutation

As of September 2021, Ashley was living with incurable but treatable EGFR-positive T790M non-small cell lung cancer and described 43 months on treatment/journey while using community support to sustain hope.

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Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Ashley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ashley, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive; T790M-positive

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of September 2021, Ashley was living with incurable but treatable EGFR-positive/T790M-positive lung cancer on daily osimertinib/Tagrisso with ongoing oncology monitoring and side-effect management.

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Cancer Survivor Story: How I Got Diagnosed with Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive; T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: Both lungs

As of August 2021, Ashley had been living for almost 4 years with incurable but treatable EGFR-positive T790M non-small cell lung cancer involving many tiny nodules across both lungs.

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Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Carol's Survivor Story

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

Metastatic Site: Bone

Carol had de novo Stage IV breast cancer with bone metastases, achieved complete remission after chemotherapy, stayed on daily Letrozole for 10 years, then returned to NED/no active disease after Kisqali and Faslodex for bone progression.

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Stage IV gastric cancer with low platelets managed so chemotherapy could continue

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

Chemotherapy was able to continue after partial splenic embolization, but the gastric cancer later progressed and she died from the disease.

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Stage IV gastric cancer with low platelets managed so chemotherapy could continue — Case 2

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

After partial splenic embolization, her platelet count recovered and thrombocytopenia did not recur. She was receiving second-line ramucirumab plus paclitaxel at the latest follow-up.

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MSI-High Malignant Struma Ovarii With Lung and Liver Metastases 17 Years Later

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: NRAS, and ATM mutations; Ki-67 approximately 15%–29%

Metastatic Site: lungs|liver

She remained asymptomatic and tolerated pembrolizumab without obvious adverse effects after 4 doses, with follow-up imaging planned for metastatic lung and liver disease.

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Facial paralysis from progression of EGFR-positive metastatic lung cancer improved with osimertinib

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 21 p.Leu858Arg mutation.

Metastatic Site: brain; leptomeninges and facial nerves

Osimertinib rapidly resolved the bilateral facial weakness and reduced the brain lesions, but after 15 months seizures recurred and three smaller brain metastases had increased in size.

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Alectinib restored vision from an eye metastasis of ALK-positive lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive.

Metastatic Site: right choroid of the eye; liver; bone; brain

After nearly eight months of response to alectinib, the lung cancer progressed in the liver, bone, and brain; lorlatinib was started, but he died on July 3, 2020.

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