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
Nina M., Metastatic Breast Cancer
Symptoms: Hardening under the armpit, lump & dimpling in the left breast
Treatments: Chemotherapy, surgery (lumpectomy), radiotherapy, hormone-blocking medication, targeted therapy
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
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
Amanda P., Hodgkin’s, Stage 4
Symptoms: Intense itching (no rash), bruising from scratching, fever, swollen lymph node near the hip, severe fatigue, back pain, pallor
Treatments: Chemotherapy (A+AVD), Neulasta
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CC W., Hodgkin’s, Stage 4
Symptoms: Achiness, extreme fatigue, reactive rash on chest & neck, chills, night sweats
Treatment: ABVD chemotherapy (6 cycles)
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Lia S., Nodular Sclerosis, Stage 4A
Symptom: Extreme lower back pain
Treatment: ABVD chemotherapy
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Riley G., Hodgkin’s, Stage 4
Symptoms: • Severe back pain, night sweats, difficulty breathing after alcohol consumption, low energy, intense itching
Treatment: Chemotherapy (ABVD)
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Metastatic Lung Cancer Stories
Lisa G., Non-Small Cell, ROS1+, Stage 4 (Metastatic)
Symptoms: Persistent cough (months), coughing a little blood, high fever, night sweats
Treatment: Chemotherapy (4 cycles), maintenance chemo (4 cycles)
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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)
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Metastatic Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Stories
Stephanie V., Primary Mediastinal (PMBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Asthma/allergy-like symptoms, lungs felt itchy, shortness of breath, persistent coughing
Treatments: Pigtail catheter for pleural drainage, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), R-EPOCH chemotherapy (6 cycles)
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Stephanie R., Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), Stage 4
Symptom: Elevated white blood cell count
Treatment: 6 months of rituximab + ibrutinib, 4 cycles of hyper-CVAD chemotherapy
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Sheryl B., Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: (Over 15 years) Skin irritation from temperature changes, rising WBC levels, unexplained fatigue, retinal hemorrhage, hardened abdomen (from enlarged spleen)
Treatment: 6 cycles Hyper-CVAD chemotherapy
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Shari B., Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), Stage 4
Symptom: None; lymphoma discovered at unrelated doctor appointment
Treatments: 6 cycles R-CHOP, 5 cycles phase 3 trial of Velcade + Rituxan (normally for multiple myeloma), allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT)
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Shahzad B., Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptom: Extreme fatigue
Treatments: R&B, R-ICE, R-EPOCH, CAR T-cell therapy (cell-based gene therapy)
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Sammie F., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Chest pain, back pain, bump on neck, night sweats Treatments: Chemotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy...
Symptoms: Chest pain, back pain, bump on neck, night sweats Treatments: Chemotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy...
Richard P., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Relapse Symptoms: Swelling in leg, leg edema Treatments: R-CHOP chemotherapy, clinical trial (venetoclax-selinexor)
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Paige C., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Weight loss, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Treatment: R-EPOCH chemotherapy
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Nolan W., T-Cell/Histiocyte-Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma (T/HRBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Debilitating fatigue, flu-like symptoms without a fever, swollen lymph node under the left arm
Treatments: Chemotherapy (R-EPOCH & RICE), bone marrow transplant
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Nina L., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Hip and lower extremities pain, night sweats
Treatment: Chemotherapy (R-CHOP)
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Nicky G., Follicular Lymphoma, Stage 4
Symptoms: Fatigue, weight loss, lumps in the neck and groin
Treatments: Quarterly infusions of rituximab, radioactive iodine 131 infusion, platelet transfusion...
Symptoms: Fatigue, weight loss, lumps in the neck and groin
Treatments: Quarterly infusions of rituximab, radioactive iodine 131 infusion, platelet transfusion...
Mike E., non-Hodgkin diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Initial Symptoms: Persistent, significant back pain
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy
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Mags B., Primary Mediastinal (PMBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Exhaustion, migraines, persistent coughs, swelling and discoloration in left arm
Treatment: Chemotherapy (R-CHOP, 6 cycles)
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Luis V., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Persistent cough, fatigue, unexplained weight loss
Treatment: Chemotherapy (R-CHOP and methotrexate)
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Kris W., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptom: Pain in the side of the abdomen
Treatment: R-CHOP chemotherapy
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Kim S., Follicular Lymphoma, Stage 4
Symptom: Stomach pain
Treatments: Chemotherapy (rituximab & bendamustine), immunotherapy (rituximab for 2 additional years)
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Jonathan S., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptom: Severe shoulder pain
Treatments: R-CHOP chemotherapy, methotrexate, focal radiation, autologous stem cell transplant
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John S., Follicular Lymphoma, Stage 4
Initial Symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes
Treatment: Clinical trial, chemotherapy
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Jason W., Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Hives, inflamed arms
Treatments: Calabrutinib, Lenalidomide, Rituxan
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Harjeet K., Subcutaneous Panniculitis-like T-Cell-Lymphoma (SPTCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Persistent, high fevers; red, tender rashes on legs
Treatments: High-dose chemotherapy, allogeneic stem cell transplant
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Erin R., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) & Burkitt Lymphoma, Stage 4
Symptoms: Lower abdominal pain, blood in stool, loss of appetite
Treatments: Chemotherapy (Part A: R-CHOP, HCVAD, Part B: Methotrexate, Rituxan, Cytarabine)
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Emily G., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptom: Pain in left knee
Treatments: Chemotherapy (R-CHOP and high-dose methotrexate)
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Emily S., Burkitt Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Stage 4
Initial Symptoms: Constant fatigue, tongue deviated to the left, abscess in right breast, petechiae on legs, night sweats, nausea and vomiting, persistent cough
Treatment: Chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, immunotherapy
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David K., Follicular Lymphoma, Stage 4 Symptoms: Sharp abdominal pains, frequently sick, less stamina Treatments: Chemotherapy (R-CHOP), immunotherapy (rituximab), radiation, clinical trial (bendamustine), autologous stem cell transplant...
Cindy M., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Itchy skin on the palms and soles of feet; yellow skin and eyes
Treatment: Chemotherapy (R-CHOP)
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Cherylinn N., Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), Stage 4
Symptom: None
Treatments: R-CHOP chemotherapy, rituximab
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Bobby J., Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes
Treatments:Clinical trial of ibrutinib + rituximab, consolidated chemo of 4 cycles of Hyper-CVAD
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Barbara R., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptom: Abdominal and gastric pain
Treatments: Chemotherapy R-CHOP, CAR T-cell therapy, study drug CYT-0851
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Ashlee K., Burkitt Lymphoma, Stage 4
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, night sweats, visible mass in the abdomen
Treatments: Surgery (partial colectomy to removed 14 inches of intestine), chemotherapy
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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)
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Susan R., High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Pulling sensation when emptying bladder, abdominal pain
Treatments: Chemotherapy (carboplatin & paclitaxel), surgery
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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)
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Metastatic Sarcoma Stories
Alicia B., Desmoid Tumor, Stage 4
Symptom: Lump in right armpit
Treatments: Chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, clinical trials, surgery, including forequarter amputation
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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
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
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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
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