638 Stage 4 Cancer Blogs

Bio: I've been fighting Stage IV breast cancer for 7 years. Been through several meds and oncologists a cancer mutation, but thankfully things are going pretty well. I lost my husband of 20 years this past November so I have to fight even harder to make sure I am here for my 2 amazing teenage daughters.

Cancer Type: Breast Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Post-menopausal advanced stage ER+ breast cancer with FGFR-amplification

Breast Cancer Symptoms: Initially felt painful lump in my armpit. Cancer was missed on 2 diagnostic mammograms 6 months apart. Finally caught by MRI.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Started Xeloda in 11/2019, took 3 pills morning and evening 2 weeks on 1 week off, for 5 months. Only side effect was hand and foot syndrome. It started slowly but peeling and sensitivity on my feet got so bad I had to take a break for a month to let things heal. They did heal and was…more

Cancer Type: Lung Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma consistent with pulmonary primary

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: removed a "golf ball" sized tumor, metastatic adenocarcinoma to the brain.

Bio: I was having a horrible year in 2018 when I got my cancer diagnosis. I had gotten a bad case of food poisoning, ended up in a mental health hospital, my 5 year relationship ended, I had to move back in with my parents and on top of it all was diagnosed with cancer before the end of the year.…more

Cancer Type: Cervical Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Adenocarcinoma - Malignant neoplasm of endocervix (HCC) and then malignant neoplasm of exocervix (HCC)

Cervical Cancer Symptoms: Unusual vaginal bleeding, could feel something wasn’t right and hormonal changes.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: Placement of a SMIT sleeve for internal radiation January 21. Removal of SMIT sleeve after 5 treatments of internal radiation February 5, 2019. Very little side effects, mild cramps and that was it.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: 5 weeks of chemo started December 4 ended on January 2. Ended up in ER twice, once for vomiting blood and once for persistent vomiting.

Cancer Type: Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Nonkeratinizing squamous cell

Nasopharyngeal Cancer Symptoms: Fullness in right ear, sinus headaches, tingling and numbness in upper right lip and cheek area near the nose, right side of tongue and right side of roof of mouth sensitive to salty and acidic foods

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Started weekly induction chemo on 9/5/13 with carboplatin and paclitaxel- soreness in mouth, slight nausea, dry skin (severe itching), acid reflux. Started chemo-radiation on 11/4/13 using cisplatin. Received 5 weekly cisplatin treatments until wbc count was too low.

Bio: Software Installer

Cancer Type: Tonsil Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Squamous

Tonsil Cancer Symptoms: Lump left side of neck, was the only system noticed.Tonsils always a problem

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: May 31 2011 Robotic Tonsil Surgery,Pain Killer gave me night sweats & nightmares, Had to sleep upright in reclining chair

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: 11 treatments ended about 11/07/2011

Bio: My name is Michele and I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Anal Cancer in February 2010. I asked my OB-Gyn doctor to check what I thought was a hemorrhoid flare up at my routine pap smear visit, and discovered it was actually 2 tumors. My constant sciatica was found to be caused by a golf ball sized tumor growing out…more

Cancer Type: Anal Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the anus

Anal Cancer Symptoms: Rectal bleeding, itching, sciatic pain. (thought my hemorhoid was acting up)

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: Laminectomy and tumor removal of the metestatic sacral tumor. This was done microscopically (with a small spoon). Nov 2012 Wedge resection right lower lobe via thoracotomy.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: 2 rounds, 96 hours each week 1 and week 5 during radiation of 5-FU. Mytomycin-C first round only. Hairloss, nausea, vomiting, 30 pounds of weight loss. Recurrence 2013- 4 rounds of Cisplatin with 46 hours of 5-FU with each round.

Cancer Type: Ovarian Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinoma (sub-type of epithelial)

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms: I found a lump in my neck above my collarbone, and I had been having shortness of breath when speaking and exercising. Also tightness of upper chest when exercising.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: TAHBSO and section of supraclavicular lymph node on July 25th, 2011; emergency flap craniotomy (brain surgery) Jan 30, 2016

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Combined carboplatin and taxol, both administered systemically by IV started August 10, 2011, with last cycle administered November 23, 2011. Side effects included: nausea that was only gotten under control after the second administration using about 5 drugs; intense fatigue; muscle and joint pains that were reduced with tylenol and later greatly reduced with gabopentin; intense neuropathy in hands…more

Bio: This is Penelope's story, so the biography really belongs to her. Penny is a strong-willed, independent woman, true to her Irish temperament, who grew up in upstate New York and relocated to the more equable climate of the Bay Area, California, when she was 23. We were both coming out of our first marriages when I met and…more

Cancer Type: Gallbladder Cancer

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: 4 rounds (8 sessions) as of 7/13/19; serious weight loss and fatigue

Bio: always curious to find and help people

Cancer Type: Kidney Cancer

Cancer Type: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Indolent B-Cell Follicular Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Symptoms: Swollen lymph node on jaw in front of ear and swollen lymph nodes on neck