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Stage 4 Breast Cancer Patient Given 2 Years To Live Survives With 'fourth Pillar' Of Treatments
Less than three years ago, Tina Willits, now 53, thought she had just two years to live.
Today, she is cancer-free and wants the world to know about the treatment that saved her.
The Florida mother and grandmother first felt a lump in late 2021, just months after a normal mammogram.
In March 2022, she discovered that she had HER2-positive breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease in which the cancer cells have an abnormally high level of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).
"I still remember the doctor coming in and telling us that it was in my lymph nodes, ribs, spine, sternum, and bones," Willits told Fox News Digital during an on-camera interview.
Willits was told that she had golf ball-sized tumors and that the disease was too advanced for a mastectomy.
She was placed on end-of-care chemotherapy and told to "enjoy the time you have left."
"The doctor told me, 'We will try to stop the progression,' but she said 'the best we can probably offer you is about 24 months.'"
'I wanted it gone'Willits wasn't satisfied with just stopping the progression of her cancer.
"I have five biological children and I was raising two of my bonus babies, and I had four grandkids at the time," she said. "And I was just determined that I wanted it gone. That was my goal. And I remember my oncologist telling me that was never going to happen."
Tina Willits, 53, thought she had just two years to live. Today, she is cancer-free and wants the world to know about the treatment that saved her. Tina WillitsAfter doing some of her own research, Willits learned about an alternative treatment called immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.
For decades, the go-to treatments for cancer have been chemotherapy, radiation and surgery — but some experts are calling immunotherapy the "fourth pillar" of cancer treatments.
In her research, she came across Dr. Jason R. Williams of The Williams Cancer Institute in California, who offers a new cancer therapy that uses cold gases and the body's own cells to freeze and fight tumors.
"Immunotherapy teaches the immune system to attack the cancer," Williams told Fox News Digital. "So, like a vaccine, it can give you a long-term, durable response. This is what is needed to achieve cures."
In March 2022, she discovered that she had HER2-positive breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease. Tina WillitsWillits and her husband reached out to the doctor, who immediately began looking into her case.
"She physically was in good condition, even though her cancer was advanced," Williams said about Willits. "She was on chemo, but still remained in very good health, even though she was advanced and metastatic."
He added, "I was confident but cautious. Cancer is a very challenging foe."
Williams offered Willits something she hadn't had until then: hope.
"He was just unbelievable. After seeing all of my tests, he said, 'I can cure you,'" she told Fox News Digital. "And you don't get those words as a stage 4 patient."
After doing some of her own research, Willits learned about an alternative treatment called immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells. Tina WillitsSix weeks after receiving a course of immunotherapy treatments — in conjunction with supplements to ramp up the immune system and cryoablation, a procedure that uses freezing temperatures to destroy cancer cells — a PET scan revealed that Willits' cancer was gone.
Today, Willits said, she is stable and healthy.
"I exercise every day. I'm a part of my family's life every day. Cancer, we feel, is completely behind us — and that was almost an impossible mission," she said.
"People ask me all the time, you know, how did you cure your cancer? And I say, 'Well, God led me to Dr. Williams.'"
In her research, she came across Dr. Jason R. Williams who offers a new cancer therapy that uses cold gases and the body's own cells to freeze and fight tumors. Tina WillitsWilliams believes that immunotherapy is the future of cancer treatments.
"We first must target the tumor directly, injecting immunotherapy into it," he said.
"In the future, the patient will be diagnosed with a suspicious lesion, and at the time of initial biopsy, we will begin treating it by injecting immunotherapy."
Balancing risks and benefitsWhile immunotherapy has shown promise as an alternate treatment, it does come with its own risks and limitations for certain groups of patients.
"Patients with autoimmune diseases have a higher risk, because the immune system is more primed to also attack normal tissues," Williams cautioned.
Six weeks after receiving a course of immunotherapy treatments, a PET scan revealed that Willits' cancer was gone. Tina Willits"Though risks are higher, we do have techniques to overcome this, and so the benefits outweigh the risks."
Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology and co-chair of the Cancer Research Committee at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Florida, noted that immunotherapy had transformed the way many cancers are treated, but that it's not always effective.
"It is important to understand that it is not useful in all patients," said Slomovitz, who was not involved in Willits' care.
"As oncologists, we don't want to expose a patient to a medication that can increase the risk of side effects without a clinical benefit."
"I exercise every day. I'm a part of my family's life every day. Cancer, we feel, is completely behind us — and that was almost an impossible mission," Willits said. Tina WillitsIn "properly selected" patients, however, Slomovitz believes immunotherapy can prolong both the time to cancer recurrence and overall survival rates.
"I'm excited to watch as the field of immuno-oncology continues to evolve."
Willits now aims to raise awareness of the availability of this treatment, as many women assume that chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are their only options.
"The reality is there are women out there who don't know it exists," she said. "And if we can get the word out, I can't even tell you how many hundreds of women we could potentially save."
"People ask me all the time, you know, how did you cure your cancer? And I say, 'Well, God led me to Dr. Williams.,'" Willits continued. Tina WillitsShe also said, "I cannot even imagine if I had stayed the course of traditional treatment and just tried to stop the progression. I mean, it's out of my body. It's gone. Life is back to normal again. And I am so grateful."
While Willits' prognosis is "excellent," Williams emphasized that "we must always be cautious and continue to monitor … Any person who has had cancer before certainly has a higher than normal risk for another cancer or a recurrence."
For patients just starting their cancer journey, Williams says it's critical to take the time to research the options thoroughly.
"Numerous off-label medications and supplements that are available can help enhance treatment outcomes, and exploring immunotherapy should always be a priority," he added.
What To Know About Stage 4 Lymphoma
Stage 4 lymphoma is when cancer has spread to at least one organ outside the lymphatic system, such as the spinal cord, lungs, bones, or liver. It can cause a range of symptoms. It is an advanced stage of cancer but is often treatable.
Lymphoma is cancer that originates in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. These cells travel through the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune system. As with many cancers, there are four stages of lymphoma.
Stage 4 lymphoma is often treatable. A person's prognosis depends on many factors, which include the type of lymphoma and the age of the individual.
This article discusses the different types of lymphoma, including their symptoms, treatment, and survival rates.
Lymphoma is cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Hodgkin lymphoma
The hallmark of Hodgkin's lymphoma is the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, which are mature B-type immune cells that have become cancerous.
An estimated 95% of Hodgkin's lymphomas are classic Hodgkin's lymphoma, of which there are four subtypes:
Each different subtype of Hodgkin's lymphoma has unique characteristics that will determine its treatment options.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
In contrast to Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can come from B-type or T-type immune cells. It can also form in the lymph nodes and other organs, such as the stomach, intestines, and skin.
There are more than 90 types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and they can be classified in different ways.
For example, doctors may classify non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as either T-cell or B-cell, according to the type of lymphocyte that it affects. Alternatively, they may describe the lymphoma as indolent or aggressive to reflect how fast it grows and spreads.
As with Hodgkin's lymphoma, the type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will determine the treatment.
Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma share many of the same symptoms. Some symptoms occur when the disease affects organs outside of the lymphatic system, such as the stomach or lungs.
Symptoms of stage 4 lymphoma can include:
A group of symptoms called "B symptoms" contributes to the staging of both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The presence of these symptoms occurs with more advanced disease, and they include:
The treatment for stage 4 lymphoma will depend on the type of lymphoma a person has, their medical history, and which organs it affects.
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Treatment for stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma typically involves multiple cycles of chemotherapy drugs.
Chemotherapy combination drugs can include:
A doctor may recommend radiation therapy for people who have large masses or evidence of residual disease on follow-up scans.
They might also suggest other methods of treatment, including a stem cell transplant, alternative drugs, or drug combinations.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
A standard chemotherapy combination regimen that doctors often use to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is known as CHOP. This regimen includes the drugs cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone.
For aggressive types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the doctor might add an immunotherapy drug called rituximab to the CHOP regimen. This combination increases the effectiveness of the treatment and can potentially cure non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
An oncologist may also recommend other drugs that attack cancer cells in different ways or alternative treatments, such as radiation or stem cell transplant.
Survival rates provide people with a better understanding of how likely successful treatment will be for their type and stage of cancer.
Survival rates are estimates that vary depending on the stage of cancer. It is important to note that everyone is different, and many people can live much longer than these estimates suggest.
Overall, the 5-year survival rate for Hodgkin's lymphoma that has spread to distant parts of the body is 83%. The following risk factors affect a person's prognosis and can make lymphoma more severe:
The overall 5-year relative survival rate for all people with a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis is 74%.
Relative survival rates compare people with this disease to those without it, and they vary widely for different types and stages. Many factors can affect survival rates. A person should discuss their specific risk factors with their doctor.
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. Stage 4 lymphoma means that cancer has spread to an organ outside the lymphatic system.
The survival rates vary widely depending on an individual's risk factors and type of cancer. The survival rate of stage 4 lymphoma is lower than that of the other stages, but doctors can cure the condition in some cases.
People with a diagnosis of stage 4 lymphoma should discuss their treatment options and outlook with their doctor. Treating this disease requires a collaborative approach from doctors, nurses, social workers, mental health counselors, and social support.
Late-stage Breast Cancer Soars Among Women Of All Ages — Why Early Detection Is Failing Millions
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OAK BROOK, Ill. — Five-year survival rates tell a stark story about breast cancer: 99% of women survive when the disease is caught early, but only 31% survive when it's found after spreading. Now, a comprehensive study of over 71 million American women reveals we're increasingly finding breast cancers too late.
This concerning trend emerged from an analysis of cancer diagnosis records spanning 2004 to 2021, published in the journal Radiology. The study found that across nearly every demographic group, diagnoses of stage IV breast cancer—cancer that has already spread to distant parts of the body—have been steadily climbing. While breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among American women after lung cancer, this research suggests we may be losing ground in early detection efforts.
"It's important to understand that these women presented with distant (metastatic or Stage 4) breast cancer at the time of diagnosis," says co-author Dr. Debra L. Monticciolo, past president of the American College of Radiology, in a statement. "Women with this diagnosis have a much lower survival rate and are much harder to treat."
Most alarming is the dramatic rise among women aged 20-39, who experienced a 2.91% annual increase in late-stage diagnoses between 2004 and 2021. This age group, while having lower overall breast cancer rates, faces increasingly dire statistics when they do develop the disease.
The racial disparities revealed by the study are equally troubling. Black women faced a 55% higher rate of distant-stage breast cancer compared to White women, despite similar reported rates of mammogram usage. These findings suggest that access to high-quality care—not just screening availability—plays a crucial role in early detection and treatment outcomes.
The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated this landscape. By April 2020, breast cancer screening rates had plummeted by 87-99%. Though screening rates have begun to recover, researchers worry that missed or delayed screenings during the pandemic may lead to even more late-stage diagnoses in coming years.
Among women aged 40-74, traditionally considered the core demographic for mammogram screening, concerning patterns emerged. This group showed significant increases in distant-stage diagnoses from 2004-2010 and again from 2018-2021, with racial and ethnic minorities experiencing the steepest rises.
Asian women faced particularly striking increases, with a 2.90% annual rise in distant-stage diagnoses over the study period. Native American women showed even steeper increases through 2019, though pandemic-related disruptions have complicated more recent data analysis for this group.
The pandemic's impact on cancer detection hit hardest among older women from minority communities. Black and Hispanic women aged 75 and older experienced dramatic drops in cancer detection during 2020, suggesting that already-vulnerable populations faced additional barriers to care during the crisis.
Several factors may be driving these trends. The United States lacks a nationally organized breast cancer screening program, leading to inconsistent guidelines and practices. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force still discourages screening for women over age 74, despite evidence supporting the benefits of early detection. Rising obesity rates and changing reproductive patterns—including later childbearing—may also contribute to increased breast cancer risk.
These findings suggest a need to reevaluate breast cancer detection strategies, particularly for younger women and minority communities. The study's results indicate that the current approach to screening and detection may be failing those most vulnerable to late-stage diagnosis.
"Fewer than 50% of U.S. Women participate in annual breast cancer screening," says Dr. Monticciolo. "That means we don't have the opportunity to sweep out early-stage breast cancers in huge numbers of women, who will arrive at a later stage for diagnosis."
Behind every percentage point increase in this research stands a woman who might have had different options had her cancer been caught earlier. While the findings paint a sobering picture, they also illuminate a path forward—showing exactly where our healthcare system needs strengthening to ensure every woman has an equal chance at early detection.
MethodologyThis comprehensive study analyzed data from the SEER database (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results), covering nearly half of the U.S. Population. Researchers examined cancer diagnosis records from 2004 to 2021, tracking how often breast cancers were discovered after they had already spread to distant parts of the body. They adjusted their analysis to account for age differences in the population and delays in cancer reporting, ensuring the most accurate possible picture of cancer trends.
ResultsThe analysis revealed consistent increases in distant-stage breast cancer across most demographic groups. Young women (20-39) showed the steepest rise at 2.91% annually. Women aged 40-74 saw increases of 2.10% from 2004-2010 and 2.73% from 2018-2021. Those 75 and older experienced a 1.44% annual increase. Among racial groups, Asian women saw a 2.90% annual increase, while Black women maintained significantly higher overall rates compared to White women.
LimitationsThe study faced several constraints. Data beyond 2021 wasn't available, making it impossible to fully assess COVID-19's long-term impact. Some demographic groups, particularly Native American women, had too few cases for detailed statistical analysis. Additionally, the database didn't track how cancers were detected, preventing researchers from comparing outcomes between screened and unscreened populations.
Discussion and TakeawaysThe findings suggest a troubling shift toward later-stage breast cancer diagnoses, particularly affecting young women and minority communities. The study highlights the need for more consistent screening guidelines, better access to quality healthcare, and increased attention to populations traditionally considered lower-risk. The COVID-19 pandemic's disruption of cancer screening may have long-lasting effects that will require continued monitoring.
Funding and DisclosuresThe study's lead author reported receiving consulting fees from GE HealthCare until November 2021 and travel support from the Society of Breast Imaging. The second author held unpaid leadership roles with the Society of Breast Imaging and American College of Radiology Commission on Breast Imaging. The research itself was conducted using publicly available data and required no additional funding.
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