Metastatic Cancer Stories
After speaking to cancer patients and cancer patient advocates, it’s clear that no matter where the origin of the cancer, metastatic cancer patients share similar questions and experiences.
Find metastatic cancer stories from patients below. With emerging cancer treatments, the stories are changing all the time. If you have a story you’d like to contribute or have any feedback, we’d love to have it.
Table Of Contents
- Metastatic Breast Cancer Stories
- Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Stories
- Metastatic Hodgkin Lymphoma Stories
- Metastatic Lung Cancer Stories
- Metastatic Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Stories
- Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Stories
- Metastatic Sarcoma Stories
- Metastatic Testicular Cancer Stories
- Metastatic Thyroid Cancer Stories
Metastatic Breast Cancer Stories
Sherri O., Metastatic Breast Cancer, HER2+ & Colon Cancer, Stage 3
Symptoms: Shortness of breath, lump under armpit, not feeling herself
Treatments: Chemotherapy, Transfusions
Symptoms: Shortness of breath, lump under armpit, not feeling herself
Treatments: Chemotherapy, Transfusions
April D., Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, BRCA1+
Symptom: Four lumps on the side of the left breast
Treatments: Chemotherapy (carboplatin, paclitaxel doxorubicin, surgery (double mastectomy), radiation (proton therapy), PARP inhibitors
Brittney B., Metastatic Breast Cancer
Symptoms: Lump in the right breast, inverted nipple
Treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation
Symptoms: Lump in the right breast, inverted nipple
Treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation
Bethany W., Metastatic Breast Cancer
Symptom: Lower back pain
Treatments: Chemotherapy, radiation, maintenance treatment
Abigail J., Metastatic Breast Cancer, HER2-low, PIK3CA+
Symptoms: Back and leg pain, lump in breast
Treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, CDK4/6 inhibitors
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Stories
Lindsay D., Colon Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Lump in pelvic area, funny-smelling food, weight loss
Treatment: Chemotherapy, colectomy (surgery)
Metastatic Hodgkin Lymphoma Stories
CC W., Hodgkin’s, Stage 4
Symptoms: Achiness, extreme fatigue, reactive rash on chest & neck, chills, night sweats
Treatment: ABVD chemotherapy (6 cycles)
...
Lia S., Nodular Sclerosis, Stage 4A
Symptom: Extreme lower back pain
Treatment: ABVD chemotherapy
...
Metastatic Lung Cancer Stories
Lisa G., Non-Small Cell, ROS1+, Stage 4 (Metastatic)
Cancer Details: ROS1+ tends to be aggressive. It can spread to the brain and to the bones.
1st Symptoms: Persistent cough (months), coughing a little blood, high fever, night sweats
Treatment: Chemo (4 cycles), maintenance chemo (4 cycles)
...
Tara S., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, ALK+, Stage 4 (Metastatic)
Symptoms: Numbness in face, left arm and leg
Treatments: Targeted radiation, targeted therapy (alectinib)
...
Metastatic Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Stories
Erin R., DLBCL & Burkitt Lymphoma, Stage 4
Symptoms: Lower abdominal pain, blood in stool, loss of appetite
Treatment: Chemotherapy (Part A: R-CHOP, HCVAD, Part B: Methotrexate, Rituxan, Cytarabine)
...
Emily G., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Pain in left knee
Treatment: R-CHOP chemo (6 cycles), high-dose methotrexate chemo (3 cycles)
...
Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Stories
Cheyann S., Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Stage 4B
Symptoms: Stomach pain, constipation, lump on the right side above pubic area
Treatments: Cancer debulking surgery, chemotherapy (carboplatin & Taxol, then Doxil & Avastin)
...
Susan R., High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Pulling sensation when emptying bladder, abdominal pain
Treatments: Chemotherapy (carboplatin & paclitaxel), surgery
...
Jodi S., Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Extreme bloating, extremely tight skin, changes in digestive tract, significant pelvic pain, sharp-shooting pains down inner thighs, extreme fatigue
Treatments: Chemotherapy (pre- & post-surgery), surgery (hysterectomy)
...
Metastatic Sarcoma Stories
Alicia B., Desmoid Tumor, Stage 4
Cancer details: Rare, <3% of all soft tissue tumors, more common in women
1st Symptoms: lump found in right armpit
Treatment: Chemo, radiation, targeted therapy, clinical trials, surgery, including forequarter amputation
...
Metastatic Testicular Cancer Stories
Ben F., Testicular Cancer, Metastatic Symptoms: Hard, swollen testicleTreatment: Surgery, laparoscopy, orchiectomy
Callan R., Testicular Cancer, Stage 3
Symptom: Lump in right testicle
Treatments: Chemotherapy (cisplatin, doxorubicin, BEP, GemTaxol, TopCaT), surgery (orchiectomy), clinical trial (BNT142)
Josh T., Testicular Cancer, Stage 3A
Symptoms: Pain in his chest, lower back, and abdomen. Shortness of breath, especially during exercise. Mass found on one testicle.
Treatment: Chemotherapy: bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP)
Metastatic Thyroid Cancer Stories
Jenna C., Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Stage 2
Symptoms: Hoarse voice, painful talking, lump in neck
Treatments: Thyroidectomy (entire removal of thyroid), radioactive iodine treatment
...
Greg S., Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Stage 2
Symptoms: Fatigue, lump in neck near Adam’s apple
Treatments: Thyroidectomy (entire removal of thyroid), radioactive iodine treatment
...