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From Pneumonia to Stage 4 ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: How Jennifer Learned to Push Back and Speak Up
Jessica W., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Stage 4 (Metastatic), ALK+ Symptoms: Left-sided rib pain, fatigue with the need for daytime naps, interruptive and persistent cough Treatments: Radiation therapy, targeted therapy (alectinib, lorlatinib)
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A Routine Physical Found Craig’s Stage 4 Prostate Cancer Before Any Symptoms Showed
Craig N., Prostate Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic), Gleason 9 Symptoms: None; caught elevated PSA at routine physical Treatments: Surgery (robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy), chemotherapy (docetaxel), hormone therapies (leuprolide and enzalutamide), radiation therapy, targeted therapies (abiraterone with prednisone, lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan), clinical trial (antibody-drug conjugate), monoclonal antibody (denosumab) (planned)
Antibody-drug conjugate, Chemotherapy, denosumab (Xgeva), enzalutamide (Xtandi), Hormone Therapies, leuprolide (Lupron), lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto), Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Monoclonal Antibody, Patient Stories, prednisone, Prostate Cancer, Prostatectomy (radical), Radiation Therapy, Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), Steroids, Surgery, Targeted Therapy, Taxotere (docetaxel), Treatments, Zytiga (abiraterone) -
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I Thought It Was Just Bloating; It Was Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.
Joy K., Ovarian Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic), BRCA2+ Symptoms: Sprain-like abdominal pain, severe bloating/abdominal hardness, ascites (massive fluid buildup in stomach), inflammation, exhaustion Treatments: Paracentesis (fluid drainage), chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab), surgery, PARP inhibitor (olaparib)
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Jake Found a Lump Putting On Deodorant: It Was Male Breast Cancer.
Jake M., ER+ Male Breast Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Appearance of a lump in the armpit Treatments: Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, paclitaxel), surgeries (full right mastectomy, clear margin re-excision, tracheal tumor excision), radiation therapy, targeted therapy (abemaciclib), hormone therapy (tamoxifen)
abemaciclib (Verzenio), Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy, Clear margin re-excision, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), doxorubicin (Doxil), Hormone Therapies, Male Breast Cancer, Metastatic Male Breast Cancer, paclitaxel (Taxol), Patient Stories, Radiation Therapy, Surgery, tamoxifen, Targeted Therapy, Treatments, Tumor Excision -
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How ALK‑Positive Targeted Therapy Changed Nancee’s Life with Lung Cancer
How ALK‑Positive Targeted Therapy Changed Nancee’s Life with Lung Cancer ALK‑positive lung cancer with brain metastases, neuropathy, and fatigue, and Nancee’s targeted therapy experience and focus on quality of life.
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“Love is a Choice”: Gray’s Cancer Caregiver Perspective on His Late Wife Samantha’s Metastatic Breast Cancer
Gray M., Spouse of Samantha, Breast Cancer Patient ”They say love is not a feeling — it’s a choice. And we chose it. Samantha definitely chose it. She knew how to engage in the act of loving her family.”
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‘It Saved My Life’: Helen’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer and the Chemo Pump You May Not Have Heard Of
Helen D., Colon Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Pelvic pressure and pain, burning with urination, bloating, constipation for a short period, low energy or fatigue, discomfort sitting, night sweats Treatments: Chemotherapy (FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, hepatic artery infusion pump therapy), targeted therapy (panitumumab), surgeries (liver resection and ablations, colon resection, full hysterectomy)
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Finding Her Voice: Anjee’s Path Through Metastatic Kidney Cancer
Anjee A., Kidney Cancer (Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma with Rhabdoid Features), Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptom: Appearance of blood in urine Treatments: Surgeries (radical nephrectomy, adrenalectomy), immunotherapy (pembrolizumab), TKI inhibitor (axitinib), HIF-2α inhibitor (belzutifan)
Adrenalectomy, axitinib (Inlyta), Belzutifan, Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2 Alpha (HIF2α) Inhibitor, Immunotherapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Kidney Cancer, Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Nephrectomy, Patient Stories, Radical nephrectomy, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Surgery, Targeted Therapy, Treatments, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) -
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From Hip Pain to Metastatic Breast Cancer: How Mom and Teacher Erica Shows Up for ALL of Her Kids
Erica H., Breast Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Stage 1: appearance of lump in left breast; Stage 4: severe pain in hip, ribs, spine, and shoulder blade Treatments: Surgeries (double mastectomy, reconstruction), chemotherapy, cold caps, radiation therapy, hormone therapy (aromatase inhibitor, letrozole), targeted therapy (CDK4/6 inhibitor, ribociclib), integrative care
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Kelsey’s Stage 4 EGFR+ and ALK+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Story
Kelsey D., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, EGFR+, ALK+, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Severe back pain, falling due to collapsed spinal vertebrae Treatments: Radiation therapy, targeted therapy (tyrosine kinase inhibitor, osimertinib), surgery (spinal fusion surgery), chemotherapy (through a clinical trial)
