Cancer Interviews: Recent Episodes
Jim Foster
It is our sincere hope that however cancer may be impacting you or your loved ones, that you will find the Cancer Interviews podcast and our interviews with amazing cancer survivors, caregivers, oncology professionals and others, helpful, informative and encouraging! Our guests share their stories with things like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, stem cell transplants, bone marrow transplants, the emotional ups and downs of being a cancer patient, being a caregiver for a loved one fighting cancer, as well as cancer nutrition and allow them an opportunity to tell us about their life before, during and after their cancer journey. We do not provide medical advice on this podcast. Please remember, you are not alone and we invite you to be a part of our team, where together, everyone achieves more! We are sharing the journey together and we wish you the very best possible outcome, with your cancer journey!
For David Peters, what began as medical attention to address an enlarged prostate in 2022 became a diagnosis of Stage 4B prostate cancer. Prior to his undergoing a Rezum procedure, a pre-op workup a PSA level of 19. However, nobody at the hospital bothered to check the PSA level before performing the procedure, which placed David at great risk. Not long after that came his diagnosis. David's care team recommended lifelong androgen deprivation therapy. He checked out the side effects and didn't want to go that route. David instead opted for a three-week to Hope4Cancer in Cancun, Mexico, where he underwent an intense holistic regimen. In 2026, when the cancer spread to his bones, he went to the First Nations Clinic in Tennessee, where he is undergoing a nanotherapeutics protocol. It is keeping the cancer at bay, and he enjoys a healthy lifestyle.
David said his cancer journey did not begin with cancer symptoms. The combination of frequent urination and a weak stream led him to believe he had an enlarged prostate and went to a doctor. He had many options, but chose a Rezum procedure, in which steam into the prostate through the rectal wall and it shrinks the prostate. However, the care team wanted to first make sure David didn't have prostate cancer, so he was given a PSA test. This was in May of 2022. In August, the surgery was performed; but it wasn't until September that a nurse informed him that his PSA level was dangerously high at 19, meaning the surgery was performed when his risk for cancer was high, but the care team didn't know it!
Not long after that, David Peters was diagnosed with Stage 4B prostate cancer, which had spread to his sacrum, iliac chain and a node near his rib cage. His oncologist discussed with Dave various treatment options, but urged him to immediately begin a regimen of androgen deprivation therapy, which would basically shut off his testosterone. It did not David and his wife, Kathi, to agree this was not the way to go, and they opted to see remedies that were more holistic in nature.
After some research by David and Kathi, they decided to Hope4Cancer in Mexico, where he would undergo intensive testing and holistic work. He really appreciated that Hope4Cancer treats body, soul and spirit with an eye toward wholeness. He experimented with a raw vegan diet and with fasting. David ended up being more diligent about the meats and vegetables he ate.
David continued his cancer journey in February 2026 at the First Nations Clinic in Tennessee, where he began a protocol of nanotherapeutics. They disrupt the cancer cells, and for the first time in three years his PSA went down. He goes to the clinic once a month.
David Peters is happy to report he weighs 150 pounds, like he did in high school. He walks every day, exercises three times and does pushups every day.
Additional Resources:
David's Website: https://www.threewordsdoc.com
In May 2022, Tina Calderone-Roth felt terrible. She was experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath and nausea. She also gained close to 15 pounds in three days. Nurses she knew suggested she go to the emergency department. Two paracentesis procedures resulted in the removal of 6.5 liters of fluid. Doctors initially noticed a large abdominal mass, but further tests indicated ovarian masses of 7cm and 10cm. Tests also showed Tina had the BRCA-2 gene mutation. She opted to, all at once, undergo a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. A week after the procedure, it was learned there had been Stage 1B cancer in both ovaries. Tina was next put on six rounds of chemotherapy with carbo-taxol, avastin and the PARP inhibitor, lynparaza. Because of the BRCA-2 gene mutation and with it, the possibility of breast, she decided to get a bilateral mastectomy. Tina reached survivorship and these days, while she can no longer run, she can jog and power walk.
Tina had been working for more than two decades in the care management sector of health care in 2022, when her health took a sudden turn for the worse. She was feeling unusually tired, had shortness of breath and her weight shot up by 15 pounds in three days. She had no idea what was going on, but consulted friends who were nurses, and they suggested she go to the emergency department, which she did in the middle of a workday.
Tina underwent a CT scan, ultrasound, electrocardiogram, blood work and genetic testing. A subsequent pair of paracentesis procedure removed a combined 6.5 liters of fluid, which explained her sudden, sharp weight gain. Those tests also showed she had a large abdominal mass. Further tests were conducted and they revealed two large ovarian masses, measuring roughly 7cm and 10cm. Meanwhile, the genetic testing revealed Tina had the BRCA-2 gene mutation. She did not want to have multiple surgeries, so she elected to have a hysterectomy along with the removal of both ovaries. About a week later, it was determined the ovaries were cancerous.
She and her care team settled on a six-round chemotherapy regimen of carbo-taxol, avastin and the PARP inhibitor, lynparaza. Like many dealing with chemotherapy, Tina was fatigued, had nausea and suffered hair loss, but got through it. She was still concerned about the possibility of being diagnosed with breast cancer because of the gene mutation, so she decided to undergo a bilateral mastectomy.
If Tina Calderone-Roth's health before her diagnosis could be considered 100 percent, these days she considers her health to be at 90 percent. While she can no longer run, Tina says she can jog and power walk.
Additional Resources:
Tina's Book:
"Where Fears Meets Faith," available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, in paperback and Kindle
Bethany Smith is a fighter. Almost immediately after surviving Hodgkin lymphoma, she was diagnosed with metastatic follicular thyroid cancer. In addition to having her thyroid removed, she also underwent total hip replacement. All this while raising three small children. Treatment of her lymphoma included a chemotherapy regimen of adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbzin. Her treatment for thyroid cancer featured radioactive iodine. Bethany credits oxygen therapy for helping her to become free of thyroid cancer and these maintains her health with levothyroxine.
Bethany cannot tell you exactly when she first detected in the vicinity of her thyroid. It had been there for years when her mother visited, saw the lump and insisted she seek medical attention. This led to a series of scans and the discovery of a second lump near her clavicle. A biopsy of the lump on her collarbone resulted in a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma in the Autumn of 2022, while the biopsy of the lump on her thyroid came back as "indeterminant." Bethany's care team said it would turn its attention to the thyroid lump after addressing her lymphoma diagnosis.
She was placed on a six-month regimen of ABVD chemotherapy, which included adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine. Bethany suffered many of the usual side effects tied to chemo, including fatigue, nausea and hair loss. The latter forced her to cut her hair short and then the purchase of a half dozen wigs of different colors.
Bethany attained survivorship from Hodgkin lymphoma, but halfway through her chemo, she underwent a PET scan, which showed two lesions, one on her C5 vertebrae and one on hip. She underwent a biopsy on the lump on her thyroid in the Spring of 2023, which not only indicated follicular thyroid cancer, but that it had metastasized to the bones in her vertebrae and right hip.
Bethany had to undergo a thyroidectomy and because was eating away at her right hip, it, too, had to be removed. In September 2023, she began a three-dose regimen of radioactive iodine, which forced her to be kept in isolation. She was given another CT scan that revealed that cancer was in twelve places in her bones.
Bethany said the pain of her hip replacement exceeded that of three times giving birth without painkillers. She says she is able to walk just fine these days, walking that includes her love for hiking, and her lack of a thyroid is successfully addressed with levothyroxine, which replaces the hormones lost when her thyroid was removed.
Bethany Smith has experienced the physical toll of her two cancer journeys, but then and now, she deals with everything that has come her way with her natural and boundless sense of optimism.
Additional Resources:
Bethany's app: https://www.stillcancercompanion.com
Bethany's YouTube channel: Bethany Smith Cancer
It wasn't easy, but Thomas Goode managed to survive Stage III multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer that originates in bone marrow. When he first experienced pain in his left shoulder, it was misdiagnosed as bursitis. Then he underwent a stem cell transplant no less than three times, with his oldest brother donating the bone marrow for the final two procedures. Thomas has achieved Minimal Residual Disease status and says his physical health is roughly 70 percent of what it was, pre-diagnosis.
In 2005, Thomas Goode was leading an active lifestyle. It included bicycle riding and working out. But when he was on vacation with his family, he went to the gym and suddenly experienced acute pain in his left shoulder. He went to his family doctor who said Thomas had bursitis and prescribed pain pills. Thomas was skeptical of this diagnosis because it came because no scans were performed.
He sought a second opinion and went to his orthopedic surgeon. The doctor called for an MRI and it revealed a tumor near his shoulder and said it was the source of Thomas' pain. He had the tumor biopsied and it showed a plasmacytoma, cancer that progress to become multiple myeloma. Thomas underwent six weeks of radiation treatment. The pain went away, but it returned.
Thomas' multiple myeloma specialist suggested a stem cell transplant, an option Thomas accepted. It began with induction therapy, backed by doxil, vincristine and dexamethasone, aimed at bringing his white blood cell down to a number that would allow for a stem cell transplant. However, the procedure didn't work. The specialist recommended a second stem cell transplant. Thomas learned his oldest brother was a perfect for a bone marrow transplant.
The second stem cell transplant included compath, fludarabine and melphalan. It also didn't work, so a third one was performed with velcade, doxil and vorinostat. Thomas followed this with eight days of radiation.
His care team proclaimed Thomas is Minimal Residual Disease-negative.
Thomas Goode says his health is about 70 percent of what it was before his diagnosis. He can still work out but acknowledges he will always have some level of back pain.
By way of advice, he would tell anyone diagnosed with multiple myeloma that the disease is not a death sentence. He says that's because there are more treatment options and better treatment options than when he was diagnosed.
Additional Resources:
Thomas' Support Group: Triangle Area Myeloma Support Group
In March 2025, Keri Darling fell out of bed and hit her head. A trip to the doctor revealed a large mass on her pancreas. After a series of scans, Keri received a phone call at work from a nurse who told her she had cancer; not cancer of the pancreas, but a type of blood cancer, Stage IV follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She was put on a regimen of chemotherapy, bendamustine, followed by immunotherapy, rituximab. Keri has achieved survivorship, but each day deals with severe fatigue, which she believes is tied to her chemo regimen. She still goes in for bimonthly injections of rituximab and says he expects to always be dealing with some level of fatigue. Nonetheless, she finds the time and energy to help others as a cancer coach.
Two years prior to March 2025, Keri was constantly feeling fatigued. This was annoying, but she had no idea what was behind her feeling so tired so often. Then in the middle of the night on a Friday, she got out of bed, fell and hit her head. She and her husband went to the emergency room. After some scans, doctors detected a large mass on Keri's pancreas. She and her husband were terrified that she had pancreatic cancer. A nurse referred her to an oncologist and a gastroenterologist.
Keri said this wasn't a good time for her to deal with a potential cancer diagnosis. She was just about to start a new job and the insurance from her previous job was going to lapse in a week. A nurse urged Keri to get insurance through COBRA, which she did. Nonetheless, she still had to juggle her health and a new job.
She went to a GI doctor who performed a biopsy. Keri was at work when she received a call from a nurse telling her she had been diagnosed not with pancreatic cancer, but with Stage IV follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In terms of treatment, she was given three options and chose a mix of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The chemotherapy was bendamustine and the immunotherapy was rituximab.
Keri said she had been prescribed medication to combat the ensuing nausea, but that the toughest part of her chemo regimen was the constant fatigue. She was also plagued with cognitive issues that resulted in post-its all over her home and a lot of attention paid to the calendar on her phone.
Keri Darling says if she thinks to the time before she started feeling constant fatigue in 2023, and thought of her health as 100 percent, now her health is at around 40 percent. She says every day she feels fatigued. It is merely a question of how fatigued she will feel, but she approaches each day as a chance for her health to improve over the previous day.
Additional Resources:
Keri's coaching website:
https://www.nexttogether.co (NOT .com)
Alan Morton experienced symptoms associated with prostate cancer, but it was some time before he sought medical attention. Dating back to his teens, he had had a subpar urine flow, but in his sixties, he began to see blood in his urine. He thought it might be a urinary tract infection, but when nothing had changed six months later, he contacted his doctor. After various scans, a digital rectal exam and a biopsy, Alan was told he had Stage 3B prostate cancer. It was later determined the cancer had metastasized to his pelvic and was re-diagnosed as Stage 4 Incurable. He was placed on a hormone regimen including the injection of a drug called decapeptyl. Alan said the side effects were awful, including fatigue, loss of muscle mass, weight gain and a severe loss of testosterone. He suspects he will be on the hormone regimen for the rest of his life, but Alan Morton calls himself a prostate cancer endurant. He still engages in hiking, and despite the handicaps, seeks to live life to the fullest.
It was in 2023 when Alan began to pass blood in his urine. He didn't think this development was worth sharing with his wife or his doctor. However, his wife saw what she thought was dark urine when Alan went to the bathroom and forgot to flush. He told her he was passing blood and she immediately made a doctor's appointment for him.
Alan submitted to a digital rectal exam and provided a urine sample. Although he thought the sample was "crystal clear," the doctor said the sample included "microscopic blood." He was called in for another appointment, provided another blood sample. From that and a biopsy, he received a diagnosis of Stage 3B prostate cancer.
Because of neck trauma stemming from a long ago auto accident, Alan could have his prostate removed. His care team concluded the only available treatment option would be a hormone regimen, starting with androgen deprivation therapy, or ADT. He said the effect it had on his body was awful. They included fatigue, severe loss of testosterone, hair loss, plus weight gain in various places, among them, his breasts. He was subsequently prescribed the injection of a drug, decapeptyl, and a pill called bucalutamide, designed to stop the growth of the tumor.
The ADT regimen stopped in October 2024, but the following month he began to pass blood again. To make matters worse, his PSA, once at 0.037, rose sharply to 6.39 in April 2026. Alan underwent a bone scan that indicated his cancer had spread to his pelvis. He is back on ADT and expects he will be for the rest of his life.
Alan says his urinary function is outstanding but would rate his sexual function at something like 20 to 30 percent of what it was pre-diagnosis.
Alan Morton does not call himself a survivor of cancer, but rather an endurant. He knows given his diagnosis and his hormone regimen, he is at reduced capacity, but aspires to live a full, rich life.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
Fans for the Cure: https://www.fansforthecure.org
Shannon Miller won seven Olympic medals as a gymnast in 1992 and 1996. She did so against topflight competition, but years later, she faced a more formidable foe: a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Her tumor was successfully removed through a procedure called a Unilatera Salpingo-Oophorectomy, but two weeks after that, she learned it more malignant than originally thought. Aided by the mental toughness she exhibited as an elite athlete, Shannon went on a grueling, nine-week regimen of BEP chemotherapy and reached survivorship.
In 2011, Shannon experienced bloating, stomach aches and weight loss. She dismissed them as symptoms attached to her just having had a son. When it came time for a checkup, she told her doctor she felt fine, but after a scan, Shannon was told she wasn't fine because the scan revealed a baseball-sized cyst in her left ovary, and that surgery was needed. At that time it was not known if the cyst was benign or malignant.
At first she had to sit through an agonizing four to five weeks of 'wait and observe.' Shannon underwent a laparotomy and a unilatera salpingo-oophorectomy, in which the left ovary was removed and with it, the tumor. Shannon was a bit woozy from her various medications when she regained consciousness. It was then that she was told the mass was cancerous. Shannon and her husband felt like celebrating because the cancer had been removed. However, bad news was around the corner.
About two weeks later, she received a call from her oncologist. He said that the tumor had a higher degree of malignancy than originally anticipated. This meant Shannon would have to undergo nine weeks of extremely aggressive chemotherapy, BEP chemotherapy. She said it was the hardest thing she had ever had to do. In addition to the predictable hair loss, there was the nausea in addition to hydration issues, all this while was trying to raise a toddler.
In an early stage of the nine-week regimen, Shannon questioned whether she could complete it; but she called on the mental toughness that enabled her to excel as an elite athlete, finished the chemo on May 2, 2011, and was declared cancer free. She was nauseous for another year and says to this day she sometimes has cognitive issues, but experienced continued progress and began to feel a little better and a bit more like herself with each passing day.
Shannon Miller says hers is a journey with no finish line. She tries to survive each day and is grateful for the life she enjoys with husband and two children.
Additional Resources:
Shannon's websites: Salto Health https://www.saltohealth.com
https://www.shannonmiller.com
Shannon's book:
It's Not About Perfect: Competing for my Country and Fighting for my Life
Dale Atkinson Description
In 2024, Dale Atkinson was diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer. His diagnosis preceded by the death of his mother and was preceded by his partner being diagnosed with lung cancer. All this in the space of a few weeks. Dale was active in sports and consumed a healthy diet, but in 2019 began to suffer chronic acid reflux. His symptoms were repeatedly treated as acid reflux, but it wasn't until 2024 that he underwent an endoscopy, which immediately revealed a tumor and a diagnosis of Stage IV esophageal cancer. Dale was told he didn't have long to live and was immediately placed in palliative care. However, he did extensive research and essentially designed his own care plan, combining conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy with non-mainstream remedies. In 2025, the tumor shrank and he was declared to have No Evidence of Disease.
In 2019, Dale Atkinson was still in his twenties, was on a vegetarian diet and was active in four sports, including rugby. Then he began to experience chronic acid reflux and heartburn. Sleep was interrupted by rising into his throat. He had difficulty swallowing. Dale sought medical attention, but his symptoms were repeatedly treated as reflux.
In 2024, Dale was scheduled for an endoscopy. Because his partner had just been diagnosed with lung cancer, she could not drive, and because of that, Dale was not anesthetized for the procedure. As a result, along with his care team, he viewed the endoscopy, which showed a 9.2cm tumor and with it a diagnosis of Stage IV esophageal cancer.
Doctors told Dale he did not have long to live and that his only treatment option was palliative care. He was diagnosed on October 12, 2024. Nine days earlier, his partner was diagnosed with lung cancer and on October 27, his mother passed away. Overwhelmed with devastating news, once it all sunk in, Dale decided he would let determination spearhead his journey, determination and not fear.
His palliative care regimen was supposed to consist of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but Dale said he approximately 5,000 research paper, concluded which non-traditional therapies could be of help and asked that his regimen include a combination of the non-mainstream medications along with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
He learned in January 2025 his tumor decreased in size, he was able to swallow normally and could go hours at a time without any pain. He was declared No Evidence of Disease, and thought things were getting back to normal. He got off his protocol, but in March, cancer symptoms returned. Dale got back on his protocol, and months later, again was declared NED. He still suffers from chemo-related brain fog but enjoys life with his partner and two young sons.
Additional Resources:
Dale's charity: "Beyond the Standard."
Dale's blog: https://www.thelifeorganic.com
Dale's fitness center: https://www.peakhealthandfitness.co.uk
Early in Dr, Jessa Landmann's medical training, she discovered a need for attention given to those after they had received treatment for cancer. The post-treatment phase can be difficult physically, mentally and emotionally. Nutrition, what survivors eat, how much they eat and when they eat is where she starts in dealing with those going through the multi-layered challenges of post-treatment. Dr. Landmann urges those in the post-treatment phase to be proactive and seek direction from healthcare professionals.
Dr. Landmann is by trade a naturopathic doctor. At the forefront of her care for those who have been treated for cancer is what is known as complimentary therapies. She says this is an "umbrella term" for everything from exercise to nutrition to acupuncture to mindfulness and meditation and herbal supplements. When she encounters one in the post-treatment phase, the thing she sees most is fatigue. Patients tell her the bulk of the treatment may be in the past, but they still feel exhausted.
She seeks to utilize the therapies in her toolbox to make post-treatment patients feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. When there is improvement in all three areas, then she says survivors are more apt to as best as possible, return to the life they led before they were diagnosed.
Before her caring for survivors become more multi-faceted, Jessa starts by trying to improve their diet. She says a lot of people experience eating problems during treatment, whether it is from nausea or a change in appetite or changes in taste or certain medications like steroids for example increase people's appetite, so maybe they are eating more than they usually do, maybe they gain some weight, or a lot of people want that comfort food, maybe they are not eating in the healthiest way. That's when she takes a deep dive into the person's eating habits, making sure there is enough protein, enough fruits and vegetables, not a lot of processed food. She also watches the time of day in which the person is eating. For example, if someone eats late at night he or she can have more frequent night-time awakenings. That might lead to poor sleep and fatigue during the day.
Dr. Jessa Landmann says the best thing a survivor can do is to look into ways in which they can improve the post-treatment phase of their cancer journey. There is much more to optimized healing during this difficult time, but she says a great place to start is being proactive about diet and exercise and to try to do as many things as the survivor did before they were diagnosed.
Additional Resources:
Jessa's website: https://www.drjessalandmann.com
Jessa's Book: "Beyond Cancer Fatigue: A Path to Reclaiming Energy", available on Amazon, but Cancer Interviews listeners and viewers can take advantage of a 20 percent discount if they purchase the book on the Wiley Publishing website by entering the code BCF20 at checkout.
Mike Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1999. That he is still with us in and of itself is amazing; what is even more incredible is that he later learned he had been walking around with symptoms of the disease since 1986! When he initially reported the symptoms to doctors, they performed some tests and claimed at worst he had a twisted bowel. Mike went to a different doctor who ran an MRI and a CT scan and told Mike he had pancreatic cancer. After discussing the diagnosis with his wife, they decided to be proactive and opted for a Whipple Procedure, a complex, 13-hour procedure that got rid of hundreds of tiny tumors on his pancreas. However, in 2018, more tumors were back. They were removed with a nanoknife procedure, but Mike was told for the rest of his life he would have to take lanreotide, a monthly injection to keep the tumors at bay.
His health seemed to be just fine until 1986, when Mike experienced pain shooting through his abdomen and back. He found himself with severe diarrhea and sustained vomiting for twenty minutes at a time. Mike sought medical attention. Despite doctors running various tests, they said there was nothing wrong with him that indicated cancer, and that the worst possible scenario was twisted bowel.
In 1999, Mike went to another doctor who performed a CT scan and an MRI. Shortly thereafter, he and his wife were called to the doctor's office where they were told Mike had pancreatic cancer. The doctor urged Mike to undergo a Whipple Procedure to get rid of hundreds of small tumors on his pancreas. When he asked the doctor of the consequences should Mike pass on the Whipple Procedure, Mike was told the consequences could be sudden death because the tumors could "explode." Mike and his wife chose to go ahead with the Whipple Procedure.
It was a 13-hour surgery. Mike had his gall bladder, bile duct and part of his pancreas removed. Then the bile duct was re-attached to his small intestine so that he could eat and digest food. Mike said his recovery from the procedure took close to one year, but the tumors were gone.
All seemed well for Mike until 2018 when two tumors were detected. This time he underwent a nanoknife procedure. He was told the tumors were gone, but in 2024, they reappeared. His doctor told him that for the rest of his life, Mike would have to get a monthly injection of lanreotide, aimed at keeping the tumors from spreading.
Mike Fitzpatrick is glad to be alive, but suffers from neuropathy, which results in chronic fatigue and a loss of balance.
Additional Resources:
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: https://www.pancan.org
The Cancer Support Studio: https://www.cancersupportstudio.com
The One Cancer Place Institute: https://www.onecancerplace.org
Mike's Blog: 50 for Fitz, available on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram
Michelle Reed is still with us after being diagnosed with NMI bladder cancer in 2018; but she will stop short of saying she has survived the disease. Since surgery to remove a 7mm mass, she has had ten recurrences. Post-treatment included a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine, which she says she will be taking for the rest of her life. Managing her cancer consists of making she comes in for her scheduled scans and listening to her body. Michelle does much to help others as they battle cancer through her book and her website.
In 2018, Michelle Reed had a lot on her plate. Her son had just been in an auto accident and while she was caring for him and working at a full time job, she noticed blood in her urine. With all she had going on, she was slow to seek medical attention, but when the condition wouldn't go away, she went to an urgent care. She made five such visits, each time being told she probably just had a urinary tract infection or mini kidney stones. Michelle had friends who had suffered kidney stones, knew they were quite painful, and that tipped her off, that the diagnoses she had received at the urgent care were inaccurate.
She eventually saw a urologist who conducted a FISH test, which stands Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization urinalysis, which combined with a CT scan, revealed a 7mm mass on her bladder. Her doctor said it was urgent that Michelle undergo surgery to remove the mass. He added that a best-case scenario was complete removal of the mass after which she could go home, while a worst-case scenario would her being hooked up to a bag for the rest of her life. Thankfully, the entire mass was removed.
However, Michelle Reed will never say she has 'survived' bladder cancer. After the surgery, she was put on a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine. She says she will always be on that regimen. Michelle also says since her diagnosis, she has had no less than ten recurrences of bladder cancer, requiring several surgeries. She also knows there is the possibility that another surgical procedure could be in her future.
Michelle says the quality of her urinary function varies from day to day, and that also will be with her for the rest of her life, as well as fatigue that is a byproduct of her treatment.
By way of advice to others who find themselves 'managing' their cancer, she says to be sure to be present for all your scheduled appointments and listen to your body.
Michelle Reed makes a steadfast effort to help others battling cancer with a book anda website.
Additional Resources:
Michelle's Book: Cancer Care Book
Michelle's Website: https://www.cancersupportstudio.com
John Walker Pattison is still with us despite two protracted battles with cancer. He was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma in 1975 and relapsed three times. Then in 2018, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, a diagnosis after which he relapsed once. After his lymphoma diagnosis, treatment included an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, which included nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisolone. John said effects from the chemo hampered his fight with bladder cancer and still affect him today, although his urinary function is just fine.
John was in his late teens when he began to experience fatigue, night sweats, recurring cough and weight loss, among other symptoms. He was doing heavy lifting in the shipbuilding business, had difficulty at work and one day on the job he collapsed. Realizing he needed medical attention, he underwent scans and biopsies, and they led to a diagnosis of Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma. He was told his chances of recovery were slim.
In May 1975, his care team prescribed a chemotherapy cocktail of nitrogen mustard, prednisolone, procarbazine and vincristine, which only added to a high degree of fear he had for his future.
Things went from bad to worse when he was informed that the chemo regimen didn't work and he relapsed. In April 1976, he was put on a different regimen with cyclophosphamide taking the place of nitrogen mustard. That, too, was ineffective, resulting in another relapse. In December of that year, his care team tried radiotherapy, again with no success.
In April 1977, John went on a regimen of palliative chemotherapy, with single agent vinblastine. On a subsequent visit, his oncologist raised his arms in triumph and shocked John by telling him he was cancer free.
John Walker Pattison thought cancer was in his rear-view mirror, but in 2018, while traveling by air, he discovered blood in his urine. He was a health care professional and immediately knew something was wrong. Again seeking medical attention, he was diagnosed with Grade II Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma. He underwent surgery, followed by bladder installation of mitomycin chemotherapy. That was followed by transurethral laser ablation in 2020. Not long after that procedure, again, John was told he was cancer free.
John Walker Pattison enjoys normal urinary function, but says he will be dealing with the side effects of the chemotherapy and radiotherapy he underwent in the seventies.
That said, John wants to help others diagnosed with cancer. He has written a book, "Shadow of a Survivor," which he hopes will be a source of hope and inspiration.
Additional Resources:
John's Book, "Shadow of a Survivor," available on Amazon
John's Website, https://www.johnpattison.co.uk
The average age in which people are diagnosed with colon cancer continues to drop. Louisville-based gastroenterologist Ben Evans, MD says for decades the conventional wisdom was that one should begin getting screened for colon cancer at age 50. Now, he says you should learn your family history with colon cancer and colon polyps, and with that as your guide, you should start screening as early as your twenties. Dr. Evans says that while the colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colon screening, there are stool-based testing alternatives that can be done in the privacy of your home. However, he notes that if one of the home-based tests reveal a positive result, you will need to undergo a colonoscopy.
Intense research has yet to come up with an answer as to why those being diagnosed with colon cancer are getting increasingly younger. Dr. Evans says the mortality rate for those diagnosed with cancer continues to climb while to varying degrees, the mortality rate is dropping for all other types of cancer.
In addition to checking your family history with colon cancer, you can help yourself by living a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Evans suggests quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and consumption of processed foods, while being sure to load up on fruits and vegetables.
Dr. Evans says you should be aware of colon cancer symptoms. They include bloody stool, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. If any of these symptoms materialize, he says you should not leave anything to chance and seek medical attention.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
The Colon Cancer Prevention
Project: https://www.coloncancerpreventionproject.org
In 2018, for Cindy Koerner, pain in her right breast led to a diagnosis of Stage 3A breast cancer. She was put on a three-pronged, high-dosage chemotherapy regimen of epirubicin, nab-paclitataxel and cyclophosphamide. The cyclophosphamide compromised her immune system, resulting in fatigue and fever. The chemo regimen shut down her ovaries, but when they became active about a year later, Cindy was told if they remained active, the possibility of a relapse would increase, so she opted to have them removed. These days, Cindy believes her health is at approximately 80 percent of what it was before her diagnosis, but she admits she gets tired easily, which prevents her from doing activities that she thinks would leave her exhausted.
Cindy's cancer journey began in 2018 when she felt pain behind the nipple in her right breast. The pain would leave, only to return when her menstrual cycle returned. She saw her gynecologist, who called for an ultrasound, which the doctor said did not reveal anything abnormal. When the pain continued to come and go, she went back to the gynecologist. Another ultrasound, the gynecologist said revealed nothing unusual.
However, in 2020, she noticed a change in the shape of her breast and that it included a dimple. Another trip to the doctor and another scan indicated a tumor and a diagnosis of Stage 3A breast cancer. Cindy later learned that such a diagnosis should have provided her with multiple treatment options, but at the time her care team told her she would be going on an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy. Because of the advent of COVID, treatment was made more difficult for Cindy from an emotional perspective because she had to remain in isolation.
The regimen included epirubicin, nab-paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide. She had to come in for a dosage every two weeks. Like many on chemotherapy, Cindy suffered hair loss, but she said the cyclophosphamide was the roughest. It played havoc with her immune system, leading to fatigue, fever and depression. However, this was not the only hurdle in her journey.
Cindy's tumor was hormone receptor positive, which reacted to the estradiol in her body. This had implications for her ovaries. The chemo had rendered them inactive, but about a year later, they became active again. She was told when the ovaries are active, that increases the possibility of the cancer returning. As a result, with injections of zoladex, a GnRH analogon, she opted to have her ovaries removed.
Cindy Koerner has returned to work as a cancer biologist with the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg. She says her health is about 80 percent of what it was before her diagnosis and there are some activities she avoids because she fears they would leave her exhausted.
Cindy is also a cancer patient advocate. Among her messages to patients is to have a heightened awareness of their treatment options, which she admits she didn't have at the time of her diagnosis.
At age four, Hope Nightingale complained of severe pain in her legs. At first, her parents thought she was just being a hypochondriac. That changed when she fell off her scooter and broke the distal femur in her left leg. The following year, 2011, this led to a diagnosis of Stage II osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. After a regimen of neoadjuvant chemotherapy featuring cisplatin and doxorubicin, Hope underwent a surgical procedure, a vascularized fibula transplant. Her left femur was removed, and her right fibula was inserted in its place. Confined to a wheelchair and then crutches at such a young age, Hope underwent extensive physiotherapy rehabilitation so that she could relearn how to walk despite her left leg being 2cm shorter than her right leg. Hope has survived and is training to compete in a half marathon!
Hope says as a four-year-old she was often accused of overreacting to just about everything. So, when she complained of pain in her legs, her parents did not take the complaints seriously. That changed when she fell off her scooter, couldn't get up and her parents discovered she had broken her left leg. She had her distal femur x-rayed. That led to a biopsy, and, at age five, a diagnosis of Stage II osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
Treatment was to begin with neoadjuvant chemotherapy aimed at shrinking the tumor. Hope said unlike many people, outside of hair loss, she suffered few nasty side effects.
Next was a vascularized fibula transplant. The cancerous left distal femur was removed and was replaced by her right fibula. A result of this surgery was the loss of both her quadricep muscles.
Hope returned to school, but in a wheelchair with casts on both legs. This did not go unnoticed by her classmates, most of whom wanted to know what happened. Hope says her diagnosis was not a blessing, but she felt blessed that her diagnosis took place at such a young age, when she was unable to process it in full. She said physically, it was tough being in a wheelchair, but emotionally it was tougher because at recess, she wanted to join her friends, running around and playing. Hope said it was amazing that sometimes her chums would halt their activities and gather around her to include her in their fun.
Hope eventually got out of the wheelchair and was on crutches, but that, too, was frustrating because she wanted to be ambulatory, like her friends.
At this time, Hope Nightingale had to relearn how to walk, which involved extensive physiotherapy rehabilitation. As if that were not tough enough, the surgery left her left leg 2cm shorter than her right leg. She went to a specialist who gave her a wedge to put in her left shoe, removing the discrepancy in the length of her legs.
These days, Hope leads an active lifestyle. She enjoys going to the beach near her hometown of Cape Town and to the mountains and vineyards outside of town. Not only is she walking, but Hope is training to run a half marathon.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
Cancer Association of South Africa https://www.cansa.org.za
When Jess began to feel pain in her right leg in 2020, she thought it was sciatica. When extreme pain radiated to her lower back, a physical therapist thought she had a bulging disc. However, her condition worsened, she went in for an MRI, and it revealed a tumor originally thought to be on her spinal cord. Further tests indicated the tumor was inside her spinal cord and a diagnosis of myxopapillary ependymoma, a rare cancer. The tumor was surgically removed, but her post-treatment life was very difficult. There were prolonged instances in which she could not move her legs, which brought her to tears not only from the pain, but the chilling thought of the rest of her being spent in bed or on the couch. Jess went through all sorts of medications from morphine to medical marijuana, but medical savior was a spinal cord stimulator. It has enabled her to maximize her movements with little or no pain.
In 2020, Jess led an active lifestyle. It included soccer and other activities with two young sons. But she started experiencing pain in her right leg. She thought it was sciatica but believed it would go away. When it didn't, and pain radiated to her lower back, she saw a physical therapist, who thought Jess had a bulging disc. One night at home, Jess fell and said one of her sons looked her in the eye and told her she needed to see a doctor.
Jess underwent an MRI. It indicated she had a tumor on or near her spinal cord. Doctors were initially baffled because they could not pinpoint the tumor's location, but additional tests showed the tumor was inside her spinal cord. A surgical procedure to remove the tumor was completed successfully. It was after the procedure when Jess was regaining consciousness in her hospital that she was informed she had Stage II myxopapillary ependymoma, a rare cancer. Ten days after surgery, Jess underwent a spinal tap at the location of the tumor to determine whether any tumor cells had been left behind. Thankfully, the results were clear and have remained clear ever since.
However, many challenges awaited Jess. There were instances in which she was immobilized, having to remain in bed. She felt pain from head to toe. Certain fabrics rubbing against caused pain. As did extreme temperatures or the wind. She was prescribed opioids, which she said did nothing to alleviate the pain. She was given morphine. Eventually doctors prescribed pregabalin and duloxetine, medications which were able to reduce the pain. Jess also tried medical marijuana, which reduced the pain.
The biggest development in her recovery was her working with a specialist in New Hampshire who performs spinal cord stimulator procedures. Jess completed a trial with a stimulator and when using it, much of her pain was gone and she regained much of her mobility.
Jess says her spinal cord will never be the same and neither will she, but she is grateful for the mobility she has. She adds that since October 2025, she has been sober from alcohol and cannabis.
Additional Resources:
Support Groups:
The CERN Foundation: https://www.cern-foundation.org
walk.talk.connect: https://walktalkconnect.org
Book:
ReConnected: Stories from Spinal Cord Tumor & Dawn Standera, available on Amazon
https://www.youtube.com/@reconnected-SCTtumorstories
Adam Deans was an athletic teenager and had aspirations of becoming a professional athlete. However, all that changed when he fell down a flight of stairs at school. At first, doctors thought Adam had dislocated his left knee, but upon getting further medical attention, tests showed he had cancer, known as osteosarcoma in his distal femur. Doctors recommended chemotherapy, but when that was ineffective, the leg was amputated in 2005. In 2008, a friend introduced Adam to wheelchair basketball. Still with his athletic prowess, he learned the sport quickly and became good at it, eventually the Australian national team. It won the world championship in 2014 and in 2016, Adam played for the national team at the Paralympics at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Adam retired from wheelchair basketball in 2017, but now married with two children, he is happy with his life.
Adam wanted to become a professional football player in his native Australia. He seemed positioned for such a pursuit until one day in his final year of high school when his leg broke as he was going down a flight of stairs. Rushing him to the hospital, paramedics initially thought Adam had dislocated his left knee and tried popping it back into place; but at the hospital, tests showed he was going downstairs with a broken distal femur, broken because of the presence of a cancerous tumor.
He soon learned he had osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Not only that, but at age 17, he would have to have his left leg amputated, followed by two rounds of chemotherapy. He was gratified to experience very few of the nasty side effects that come with chemo, the worst being hair loss.
Like most teenagers, Adam wanted to fit in with his peers. He wondered how that could happen and wondered if girls would find him attractive. That was in 2005. In 2008, a friend overcame a great deal of resistance and persuaded Adam to attend a wheelchair basketball practice. At first, Adam was intimidated at the prospect of simultaneously handling a basketball and a wheelchair, but his athletic prowess kicked in. He made the local team in Perth, then found a spot on the powerful Australian national team.
In 2014, the Aussies won the wheelchair basketball world championship and was favored to win gold in the paralympics at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, the squad came home without a medal after it was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The following year, Adam retired from competitive wheelchair basketball, but his story should be a source of inspiration for anyone whose cancer diagnosis will result in disability. He has gone on to get married and has two children.
By way of advice, Adam Deans says anyone diagnosed with cancer should not try to proceed by themselves. He says anyone diagnosed should not be afraid to lean on others because "that's what loved ones are for."
Additional Resources:
Support Group: Sock It To Sarcoma https://www.sockittosarcoma.org.au
What began as a harmless looking spot on Kevin Donaghy's forearm turned into a pair of diagnoses of skin cancer. The first was Stage II in 2018, but 18 months later, it returned and was diagnosed Stage IV metastatic melanoma BRAF+. The urologist said Kevin, an IT specialist from Melrose, Scotland, may have six months to live unless he underwent a newly-approved immunotherapy known as pembroluzimab. That was in 2020, and Kevin is still with us. The immunotherapy triggered a bout of ulcerative colitis, which left him bedridden for six months, but Kevin says his health is no different than it was before his diagnosis.
In late 2017, Kevin didn't give much thought to a spot he saw on his forearm. He thought he might have cut himself and didn't know it. When the spot didn't go away, he sought medical attention. His doctor said the spot did not look cancerous, prescribed some cream for Kevin to rub on it, and said if the spot changes in size, shape or color, to come back. The spot made none of those changes, but it also didn't go away.
Kevin was referred to a dermatologist, who called for a biopsy. He was away on a business trip when he received an urgent phone call stating that Kevin needed to come in that afternoon. He came in two days later and the dermatologist said the biopsy indicated Kevin had a cancerous tumor in his forearm. Another biopsy was conducted to see if the cancer had spread to any lymph nodes and thankfully it hadn't.
Not long after the tumor was removed, Kevin received a phone call from the oncologist while walking in downtown Edinburgh. The doctor told Kevin he was cancer free. On the sidewalk, he dropped to his knee and wept, overcome with relief. He thought the worst was over.
However, his health took a turn for the worse some 18 months later when he experienced severe back pain and sought medical attention. Another biopsy revealed that the melanoma had spread, bypassing his lymph nodes, but resulting in tumors on his right lung and one next to his spine, which was the source of back pain.
Kevin was told he had six months to live unless a procedure involving an immunotherapy called pembroluzimab was successful. The operation seemed to go well, but at its conclusion, Kevin had to periodically come in for CT scans. A couple years later, Kevin was contacted by his urologist who said the immunotherapy had shrunk the tumors and again, he was told he was cancer free.
There was one more problem for Kevin. The immunotherapy triggered ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory disease. He was bedridden for six months, but eventually survived that as well.
These days Kevin Donaghy says his health is just as sharp as it was prior to his diagnosis, and that going forward he "wants to do more."
He has gone on to write a book, "Stories of Hope and Cancer." Thousands of copies have been donated to cancer charities around the United Kingdom. It chronicles the stories of 39 cancer survivors.
Additional Resources:
Kevin's book: "Stories of Hope and Cancer," available on Amazon, with proceeds going to cancer charities throughout the United Kingdom.
Blood detected in Bob Schreiber's urine led to a diagnosis of Stage IV bladder cancer. This came after a cystoscopy, in which a tube is inserted into his urethra, taking a picture of the bladder. Twice without success, Bob hoped BCG treatment would address the cancer by instilling a set of chemicals inside the bladder to strengthen the immune system. As a result, he had to get his bladder removed. It was replaced with a neobladder, which was made from his small intestine. His recovery took close to a year, he has to deal with incontinence at night, but would his overall health is about 80 percent of what it was pre-diagnosis.
In 2015, Bob's cancer journey began when a lab tech detected microscopic drops of blood in his urine. This got the attention of a urologist, who immediately suspected cancer and called for a cystoscopy of Bob's bladder. The doctor wanted to make sure there was cancer and that if there was cancer, to make sure it had not spread beyond the muscle of Bob's bladder. Thankfully, the cancer had not spread, but the photos from the cystoscopy confirmed Bob Schreiber had Stage IV bladder cancer.
Bob was told in terms of treatment, the gold standard is the removal of his bladder, but he learned of a potential remedy called BCG instillation. Under this procedure, chemicals would be instilled into the bladder to strengthen its immune and defeat the cancer. Bob and his wife preferred to go this route, but the operation was unsuccessful.
They switched hospitals and made a case for a second attempt at BCG instillation, claiming kidney damage that occurred on the first attempt may have compromised the first attempt's effective. A new care team went ahead with the second BCG instillation, but it, too, was unsuccessful. This left Bob with no other option than to have his cancerous bladder removed.
Although he could have chosen treatment that would have left him with a bag to collect his urine, he instead went with a neobladder. That's a replacement bladder made from his small intestine. The difficult and dangerous took eight hours.
A day after its conclusion, Bob got up and walked around the hospital floor. And he walked and he walked and he walked. By the time he was done, Bob said he had walked about a mile and a half! Hospital staff had done a better job of bouncing back from this particular surgery than any patient they had ever had. Whereas many patients remained hospitalized after this procedure for weeks, Bob went back home just four days after the surgery was done.
Bob Schreiber said recovery was slow, but he made progress. He said then, and now, he is able to remain continent during the day but does have incontinence issues at night and has to make trips to the bathroom every three or four hours.
Bob says his health is approximately 80 percent of what it was prior to his diagnosis, but he is extremely grateful to be able to chase after his small grandchildren.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
The Bladder cancer Advocacy Network: https://www.bcan.org
Beth Lehman went through a tumultuous year in 2020. Thanks to heavy drinking, she was diagnosed with cirrhosis, then basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer. She underwent radioactive embolization in order to get a liver transplant. Beth said the two-hour operation wasn't so tough, but the after-effects were difficult, including nausea and vomiting. Then she experienced a procedure to get rid of the skin cancer on her right temple. She says between her physical and emotional recovery, she advocates for cancer patients and is happier than ever.
Beth's alcohol consumption had soared to four or five bottles of wine a day. In 2020, she began to have a buildup of fluid in her stomach, known as ascites. For a long time, she avoided consulting a doctor, suspecting a doctor would tell her to quit drinking; but when ascites asserted itself, she sought medical attention. She was diagnosed with cirrhosis. Upon further examination, five tumors were discovered in her liver, which led to a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer.
This diagnosis came after another diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, but the skin cancer had to take back seat to the liver cancer.
Beth said her care team first had to determine whether the cancer had spread beyond her liver. Thankfully, it hadn't. In order to complete a liver transplant, doctors wanted to execute radioactive embolization, in which radiation beads would be injected into her arteries through her wrist or groin and targeted at the tumors. However, for that to happen, the tumors had to be 2cm, but her largest tumor was 1.87cm. Incredibly, Beth's care team told her to go home and let the tumors grow so they would be large enough for it to go through with the radioactive embolization.
Once the tumors grew, Beth went through the procedure, also known as Y-90. She had to go through the procedure a second time. Usually, a second procedure comes eight to twelve weeks after the first procedure. Beth's second procedure came just four weeks later. She said she was awake during each procedure, each lasted about two hours, but the toughest part was post-treatment, as she had a great amount of radiation in her body, so much that upon returning home, she had to be sequestered from her husband and her pet cats.
Once she recovered from her liver transplant, she had her skin cancer treated. She said her doctors had to go seven layers deep to get all the cancer, but they did such an outstanding job that her incision is not visible.
Beth Lehman once had a lucrative IT position, but these days she works as an advocate for cancer patients, especially liver cancer patients and says she is happier than ever.
Additional Resources:
Support Groups:
The American Liver Foundation https://www.liverfoundation.org
Beth's Nonprofit, The Liver Circle https://www.thelivercircle.org
Beth's Personal Page with Her Story: https://www.bethlehmanliver.com
After close to a decade of abnormal pap smears, a Cone Biopsy indicated Athena Porter had cervical cancer. To make sure her diagnosis of endocervical adenocarcinoma didn't spread, she opted for a radical hysterectomy. With the procedure, her cervix was not the only vital organ removed. A wife and mother to two daughters, Athena feels blessed that she can return to work on her Iowa farm.
In 2012, she went in for an annual wellness exam. A pap smear indicated she was HPV+. Her doctor told Athena a worst-case scenario was cancer, but the virus would likely go away on its own. She was asked to return in a year. When she came back, she was still HPV+, so she underwent a colposcopy, an attempt to get a better look at cells on her cervix.
This led to a LEEP procedure in which cells on her cervix were removed. The virus was still there, but the procedure showed clean margins. After more years of being HPV+, in late 2022, Athena underwent a Cone Biopsy, in which a device resembling an ice cream scoop removed cells on her cervix, cells that were sent to the Mayo Clinic. In early 2023, results came back. Athena received a phone call at work telling her she had cervical cancer.
Her doctor said by way of treatment, Athena could have only her cervix removed, but she opted for a radical hysterectomy, which would come close to guaranteeing the cancer wouldn't spread. The hysterectomy removed her cervix, her uterus, the top part of her vagina and her fallopian tubes. This move came after she and her husband decided their family, including two young daughters, was complete, and that they were okay with having no more children.
Athena was in the hospital for four or five days, then after she was discharged, even with medication, she experienced severe pain when she would stretch or twist.
Athena reached survivorship, and though she would admit her health is not what it was prior to her diagnosis, she feels blessed to be able to return to her office job and work on her Iowa farm. She also feels blessed that her cancer journey was not as severe as that of others who have also been diagnosed with cervical cancer.
By way of advice, she strongly advises women to get screened for cervical cancer and to get the HPV vaccine.
Additional Resources:
Support Group: Cervivor https://www.cervivor.org
Joshua Silva did not take lower back pains and gastrointestinal issues seriously until they worsened, forcing him to visit an emergency room. A CT scan revealed inflammation of his appendix, necessitating an appendectomy. A urologist said the scan also showed a problem in his left kidney, later diagnosed as clear cell renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. Joshua underwent a partial nephrectomy knowing before the procedure he may lose the kidney. When he regained consciousness after the procedure, a nurse told him the kidney was spared. Post-treatment medication and weekly visits to a therapist enabled him to get very close to his pre-diagnosis health. Among other positive developments, Joshua Silva has resumed one of his major passions, that of playing golf.
Lots of people experience gastrointestinal problems and lower back pain, so when this happened to Joshua Silva of Houston, Texas, a man in his early thirties, he thought with time the problems would go away. But that didn't happen. One night the pain became so bad that he couldn't sleep, and he decided to go to the emergency room.
He underwent a CT scan which indicated an inflamed appendix but also showed problems with his left kidney. What Joshua knew was that he would have to undergo an appendectomy. What he didn't know with certainty was just what was wrong with his kidney. Some doctors said the problem might by a cyst or might be cancer. Joshua prepared himself for the worst and began to think what life would be like if he was diagnosed with cancer and had to go forth with one kidney.
His appendix was removed, but he had to wait an excruciating four weeks to see a urologist, who said he didn't need a biopsy to determine Joshua had clear cell renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer.
Because the diagnosis came shortly before the holidays, the urologist accelerated the timetable for a partial nephrectomy, seeking to form a care team before its members left for vacation. The urologist said the margins around the tumor would determine whether he could spare the left kidney or have to remove it.
Even though he was under anesthesia for the procedure, as soon as he regained consciousness, he wanted to know the status of his kidney. A nurse told him the urologist was able to remove the cancer without removing the kidney.
Just when it seemed like Joshua was on his way toward survivorship, he received some bad news. The incision point for the partial nephrectomy was very close to the incision point for the appendectomy. The appendectomy incision had not fully healed, resulting in an infection. His abdomen area began to swell and turn red. Antibiotics prescribed after the partial nephrectomy did nothing to address the pain. It was a very difficult three weeks, as Joshua dealt with the pain and sudden uncertainty as to whether he could keep his left kidney.
He was put on a different medication regimen and after three more weeks, the pain and swelling went away. A subsequent scan showed that he was cancer free.
Joshua Silva says his health is now about 98 percent of what it was prior to his back pains and GI issues, and back out on the links with a single-digit handicap.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
The Kidney Cancer Association https://www.kidneycancer.org
While jogging in 2023, Tessa Parry-Wingfield felt an unusual sensation in her left eye. It wasn't painful but merited medical attention. She was seen by three doctors before learning she had ocular melanoma, a form of eye cancer. Because of the particulars of her diagnosis, she had to undergo an enucleation, the removal of her cancerous eye. With an acrylic implant taking the place of the cancerous eye, Tessa had an enormous amount of learning ahead of her, most notably what is known as monocular vision. Amazingly, Tessa has adjusted to her limited vision. She has resumed running and hiking and driving a car. Her future includes writing a book and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Tessa was jogging along the River Thames in London when she felt something was wrong with her left eye. She went to see an optician thinking she needed to change her prescription regarding her contact lenses. However, upon checking out Tessa's eyes, the optician could see something was wrong, perhaps an astigmatism.
Lacking the necessary equipment for more in-depth scrutiny, the optician sent Tessa to an eye hospital, where they performed various x-rays and scans. When one of the x-rays of her left eye was held up for observation, half of it was black. Her care team thought Tessa had a form of eye cancer known as ocular melanoma, or, uveal melanoma, a tumor in the eye. She was next sent to see an ocular oncologist, who swiftly confirmed the diagnosis.
Many patients diagnosed with ocular melanoma have more than one treatment option, but in Tessa Parry-Wingfield's case, the oncologist performed more scans and tests and immediately told her she would need to undergo an enucleation, the removal of her left eye.
Tessa was under anesthesia for the 90-minute procedure. It resulted in her getting a temporary prosthetic eye, eventually replaced by an acrylic implant, which she has to this day.
She had to do a great deal of learning to go through daily life with one functioning eye, but that is exactly what Tessa has done. She has resumed running, hiking and skiing. She thought it would be a year or so of adjustments before she could drive a car, but her vision tests went so well that, three months after the procedure, her oncologist urged her to get behind the wheel. Without a left eye, she says she has to look a little farther to the left than she was used to before her diagnosis, but she is now quite comfortable driving a car.
Through her cancer experience, Tessa Parry-Wingfield says she has surprised herself by learning how tough and resilient she can be.
Additional Resources:
Tessa on Instagram: @seeing_life_clearly
Tessa's website: https://www.tessa.parry-wingfield.com
For Bhavika Taunk, life took a radical turn in 2017 when her four-year-old son, Kabir, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After a bone marrow transplant, he went on an aggressive chemotherapy regimen for two years. Kabir relapsed twice, but has been in remission since 2020. Bhavika tells the story of how she cared for her son and how she reaches out to other parents of children diagnosed with cancer.
Bhavika, her husband and two young sons returned from a Disney cruise in April 2017, and both sons felt sick. While her two-year-old son soon got well, things went from bad to worse for four-year-old Kabir. He complained of bone pain, first in his wrists, then his ankles, to the extent that he could not walk. Then he suffered from intermittent fevers and appetite loss.
Kabir was taken to a hospital, where after blood tests, Bhavika was told that a bad virus had settled into her son's bone marrow and that he had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She called her husband with the awful, collapsed on the floor and cried. Bhavika said this was the most life-changing event of her life.
She went on to say the degree of helplessness accompanying such a diagnosis is overwhelming. Up until Kabir's diagnosis, she thought she could fix anything in his life that presented a challenge. Bhavika says the biggest lesson with a child's cancer diagnosis is the total lack of control and it is the worst imaginable feeling.
Bhavika says when caring for a child with cancer that words are very important. She stresses that she doesn't believe in "hollow encouragement because it is very invalidating to the patient." She says a parent cannot tell their cancer-stricken child that everything is going to be okay.
Kabir has been in remission since 2020, but still requires a great deal of attention and medical care.
Bhavika Taunk wants very much to come to the aid of parents of a child diagnosed with cancer. She advocates for parents of Facebook and Instagram, while strenuously calling for increased funding for pediatric cancer patients.
Additional Resources:
Bhavika on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bhavika.v.taunk
Bhavika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btaunk/
Bhavika's small business supporting pediatric cancer: Birdsong Tea – Tea With A Purpose
In 2021, Brian Vesall noticed some pain in one of his testicles when getting in his car. He sought medical attention, which led to his getting an ultrasound. After briefly looking at the scan, a urologist confirmed to Brian that he had Stage 2A testicular cancer. He underwent an orchiectomy to remove the cancerous testicle, followed by an aggressive chemotherapy regimen of bleomycin, etopiside and cisplatin. But he wasn't done. Brian also underwent an additional surgical procedure to remove approximately 30 lymph nodes. As daunting as his treatment was, Brian chose to address it with a sense of humor, which he still has after achieving survivorship and advocating for other men diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Brian's cancer journey began when he felt pain in a testicle as he was getting in his car. Upon further inspection, he noticed a "hard spot on one side." He immediately went to see his primary physician, who sent him to a urologist. The urologist called for an ultrasound and only minutes after seeing its results told Brian he had Stage 2A testicular cancer. The diagnosis was confirmed with Alpha-Fetaprotein and BHCG, or, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin tests, whose results were far above the normal range.
Addressing his cancerous testicle meant just one remedy, an orchiectomy, surgery that would remove the testicle. Diagnosed on September 27, 2021, Brian had the procedure done just three days later. He was told to avoid any lifting and really, just about any type of strenuous physical activity.
In November 2021, the surgery was followed by three rounds of BEP chemotherapy, which stood for bleomycin, etopiside and cisplatin. Brian said he suffered the usual side effects, including cognitive issues, fatigue and hair loss.
In addition, Brian Vesall had to undergo an additional surgical procedure known as RPLND, or Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in June 2022, to remove approximately 30 lymph nodes
Brian's health is pretty much back to normal, but a byproduct of his treatment regimen is that he suffers from retrograde ejaculation, meaning that semen travels backward into the bladder during orgasm instead of exiting the penis.
By way of advice, Brian Vesall says if you experience the symptoms of testicular cancer, you should act right away, and at all times, be your own advocate
Additional Resources:
Support Groups:
Man Up To Cancer: https://www.manuptocancer.org
The Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org
Brian's Speech at TCAF's San Diego Conference:
https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/blog/tcc-2024-vesall
Brian's Appearance on the TCAF "It Takes Balls" podcast:
https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/blog/brian-vesall-it-takes-balls-podcast-guest
Marcel D'Allende was in outstanding health, an avid hiker in the mountains overlooking her hometown of Cape Town, South Africa. However, in October 2021, she began to experience shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. That led to a diagnosis of Stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma, or lung cancer. Determined not to let cancer define her, she underwent a treatment regimen of radiotherapy, then chemotherapy with carboplatin and pemetrexed, and immunotherapy with durvalumab. In September 2022, a PET scan revealed Marcel was cancer-free. It took a little while for her to get back up to speed, but has returned to an active lifestyle, and every weekend, you can find her hiking the mountains.
Marcel thought she was in terrific health, but in the fall of 2021, suddenly she found herself out of breath on a recurring basis. Her difficulty with breathing became so acute that shortly after beginning a weekend hike with friends, she had no choice but to turn around and return to the base of the mountain. Things worsened when she had frequent coughing spells.
She was seen by her general practitioner, who recommended she see a pulmonologist. The pulmonologist called for a CT scan, which revealed a tumor on a lung, and a diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer in January 2022.
Marcel, who during her adult life smoked cigarettes off and on, immediately thought of her father, who passed away from lung cancer in 2000. She was afraid she would suffer the same fate. However, her doctor said that her father's fate didn't have to be hers because of major advances in medicines and technologies in the past twenty years.
She was determined to not let her life be defined by cancer, saying at all times, one on a cancer journey must have hope. At the same time, she says one can be hopeful without being delusional.
Her diagnosis was difficult enough, but she soon felt the sting of the stigma that often accompanies a lung cancer diagnosis. When informing friends about her diagnosis, many of them told her should not have smoked.
Marcel's treatment begins with six weeks of radiotherapy treatment, which she thought wasn't so difficult.
Next was six cycles of chemotherapy, specifically carboplatin and pemetrexed. The worst side effects she experienced were nausea and fatigue.
Then, Marcel's oncologist introduced her to a newly-approved form of immunotherapy called durvalumab. It is usually prescribed for a duration of twelve months, but she was taken off the immunotherapy at the nine-month mark because spots were detected on her lung. The spots cleared in March.
In September, Marcel D'Allende underwent a PET scan that showed she was cancer-free, which she has been to this day.
She had to start slowly, but Marcel's health is back to normal, and she has returned to her weekend home, hiking trails outside Cape Town.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
Cancer Association of South Africa https://www.cansa.org.za
Marcel's Written Account of her Cancer Journey:
https://cansa.org.za/breaking-the-silence-around-lung-cancer/
In November 2019, Margo Wickersham noticed blood in her urine. Three months later, she was diagnosed with two types of bladder cancer. After an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, she underwent a radical cystectomy and a hysterectomy in June 2020, resulting in the removal of her bladder, uterus and ovaries, all this during the quarantine phase of the COVID pandemic. Ever since, Margo has been cancer-free, but she had to get fitted with a stoma bag and had to learn how to manage it. The bag is an annoyance, but she considers it a small price to pay in order to stay alive.
When Margo first noticed blood in her urine, she sought medical attention, thinking she had a urinary tract infection. It turned out she didn't have a UTI, but she still thought something was wrong. She underwent a cystoscopy, which captured a photo of a cauliflower-shaped tumor in her bladder. Next up was a biopsy, which indicated she had Stage One bladder cancer. Her urologist prescribed BCG immunotherapy.
Margo sought a second opinion and her doctor ruled out BCG, because further probing turned up a second type of bladder cancer, plasmacytoid, and said it could not be addressed with BCG. He called for an aggressive chemotherapy regimen. He also said in addition to a radical cystectomy, which would remove Margo's bladder, he said a hysterectomy would be necessary, a procedure that would remove her uterus and ovaries.
Both were performed in June 2020. Because that was during the quarantine phase of the COVID pandemic, neither Margo's husband nor members of her family could visit her.
After the procedures, Margo was cancer-free. However, her life would never be the same after she had to wear a stoma bag into which her urine would go. Sometimes the bag leaks when filled beyond its capacity. She accepts this as her new normal and says she can deal with it, but has to think ahead in terms of access to a bathroom.
By way of advice, Margo says one's primary emotion should be that of hope and not stress.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network https://www.bcan.org
Margo's Book, available on Amazon and Kindle: Gratitude in the Storm – When Not Dying Is Enough to Keep Fighting
Margo's merchandise line: www.ThriverSurvivor.shop, with a portion of the revenue going to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, to fund bladder cancer research
When she began experiencing severe bruising and fatigue and turning pale in late 2013, Casey Kang sought medical attention. This led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She was placed on an aggressive, 18-month chemotherapy regimen, which included doxorubicin and methotrexate. Casey relapsed three times during which she was placed on an experimental immunotherapy. All told, she spent 168 days in a hospital, but Casey achieved survivorship. She is now a coach who helps women diagnosed with cancer through the physical, mental and emotional challenges that occur after treatment.
When Casey Kang experienced various aches and pains at the end of 2013, she thought they were tied to holiday- or work-related stress. She sought medical attention, was prescribed ten days of antibiotics, and was told to return in two weeks. During the ten days, things got worse. She was stricken with extreme fatigue, bruising, vision issues and her turning pale. While this went on, she continued to go to work. She underwent blood tests, and they revealed she had leukemia. Even before the test results came back, her care team called for a bone marrow transplant, so sure were they that she had cancer.
Casey said her cancer was subsequently diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Because of its aggressive nature, she was put on an aggressive, 18-month chemotherapy regimen. It included doxorubicin and methotrexate. She experienced two relapses and was prescribed an experimental immunotherapy.
Multiple hospital stays totaled 168 days. During that time, Casey learned how mentally tough she was and is. As much as she disliked the time in the hospital, she was sure to create a routine that would get her through the day. Casey used the hospital floor's exercise bike and walked laps around the floors, with 17 laps equaling a mile.
Despite a grueling journey, Casey Kang achieved survivorship. She is active on social media, as she works tirelessly to aid woman diagnosed with cancer to make them physically, mentally and emotionally strong when dealing with life after treatment. As for herself, she says her overall is better than it was before her diagnosis.
Additional Resources:
Casey's Website:
https://www.thehappierhustle.com
Casey's Free Guide:
https://casey-head.mykajabi.com/free-guide
Stacy Martin says genetic testing saved her life. The testing indicated she had the CDH1 mutation. The mutation gave her an 80 percent chance of getting gastric cancer and a 60 percent chance of breast cancer. She opted for a prophylactic total gastrectomy to remove her stomach and addressed the possibility of breast cancer with a bilateral mastectomy. Without a stomach, Stacy has had to change the way she eats, requiring food every two hours, and having to completely chew everything she eats. Despite this live-changing surgery, Stacy is leading a healthy and happy life.
Unlike most people with cancer, Stacy's diagnosis was not preceded by symptoms. Her mother had already been diagnosed with Stage IV uterin cancer. That prompted Stacy and her siblings to undergo a genetic panel test. It revealed Stacy had the CDH1 mutation, which meant she an 80 percent chance of getting gastric cancer and a 60 percent chance of breast cancer.
She had three options but chose to be proactive with a prophylactic total gastrectomy in 2019, a procedure that removed her stomach. It was after the surgery that pathology revealed Stacy had gastric cancer in her removed stomach.
After successfully addressing the possibility of stomach cancer, she did the same with breast cancer with a bilateral mastectomy in 2020.
Stacy Martin said the toughest part of her cancer experience wasn't the treatment, but what she dealt with upon its completion. She said she had to learn how to eat, and that without a stomach, she had to eat every two hours. While she took snacks with her wherever she went, she had to alternate between snacks and something more substantial, making sure she got enough protein and carbohydrates. Anything she ate had to be completely chewed because she no longer had the gastric juices in her stomach that break down food. The only thing she can't eat are raw oysters because she says they are impossible to chew.
Stacy says genetic testing saved her life but admits it is not for everybody because the decision to go forth with such testing is a deeply personal decision because some people don't want to know what the tests could reveal.
Despite her cancer journey, Stacy lives a happy life. She resumed her passion of hiking near her home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and consumption of nuts resulted in her establishing Seahorse Snacks, which she operates out of her home.
Additional Resources:
Seahorse Snacks: https://www.seahorsesnacks.com
No Stomach For Cancer: https://www.nostomachforcancer.org
In 2019, Jonathan Gegerson sought medical attention went he felt a lump on the right side of his neck. After a couple of scans and a biopsy, he was diagnosed with salivary duct carcinoma, a rare form of head and neck cancer. Jonathan survived, but not before enduring 67 sessions of radiation, 12 cycles of chemotherapy (carboplatin, taxol, herceptin) and seven surgeries. He still undergoes a targeted therapy on a monthly basis, and the surgery has affected his speech and his diet, but Jonathan has resumed an active lifestyle that includes skiing and hiking.
Jonathan Gegerson thought his health was outstanding. He was an active skier and liked to hike up Colorado's 14ers (mountains whose peaks exceed 14,000 feet), but was perplexed when he discovered a lump on the right side of his neck.
He did not waste any time seeking medical attention and went to his primary care physician. She conducted a physical examination and asked if Jonathan had recently undergone a root canal or some dental procedure that could result in an infection. When he said no, the doctor sent Jonathan to an oncologist, who called for a CT scan, a PET scan and a biopsy. That's when he was diagnosed with head and neck cancer, even though at the time doctors could not specify what type of head and neck cancer.
His doctor in Colorado said Jonathan would need to undergo surgery, followed by radiation treatment and chemotherapy. When Jonathan learned his care team had no experience with dealing with his type of cancer, he sought a second opinion from MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. The doctors at MD Anderson suggested the same regimen, but Jonathan switched to them because they had experience dealing with salivary duct carcinoma.
His care team told him his treatment would result in a tightening of his face and would affect his speech, in addition to his ability to chew and swallow.
The chemotherapy regimen included carboplatin, taxol and herceptin. He said the chemo left him weak and tired, especially two days after each round of treatment. This, he said, was very frustrating because he was accustomed to being active. During this time, the best he could do was go on short walks.
When Jonathan experienced a recurrence, he was placed on a targeted therapy of kadcyla and herceptin. He eventually achieved survivorship but must continue to be on a monthly targeted therapy of unhertu and herceptin.
Jonathan Gegerson says his health is approximately 75 percent of what it was before his diagnosis, but he feels he blessed that he is living, is back to hiking and skiing, and hopes to continue skiing until he is 90 years old.
Additional Resources:
Jonathan's Book: "Perspective C," available on Amazon and Kindle https://a.co/d/4iW9BQ6
It took two chemotherapy regimens, but Luke Mutter survived a rare form of bile duct cancer. A CT scan found a 14cm tumor in his liver. At that time, his care team told him he had cancer, but it could not identify the type of cancer. He was put on a systemic chemotherapy cocktail of folfirinox and oxaplatin, which attempt to kill the tumor. When that didn’t work, Luke learned he was a candidate for a hepatic artery infusion, which included chemo far stronger than his first regimen. Luke has achieved survivorship and is very thankful to be to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Considering he was eventually diagnosed with bile duct cancer, his journey in an unlikely place. His feet. He saw a doctor thinking that as an active runner, he had plantar fascilitis. Walking was very painful, as was laying down on his stomach. That is what led to a CT scan, revealing a 14cm tumor in his liver.
Luke saw an oncologist and was told he had cancer, but the doctor could not identify what type of cancer. Nonetheless, the doctor said Luke needed to go on a regimen of systemic chemotherapy, which would affect his entire body, a regimen that sought to kill the tumor. The cocktail consisted of oxaliplatin and folfirinox. He received a dosage every two weeks for 18 months.
The tumor withstood the chemo, and Luke went to another hospital, where he qualified for a surgical procedure to install a hepatic artery infusion pump. It directed chemotherapy just to the liver at a dose 300 times stronger than the systemic chemotherapy.
Luke Mutter achieved survivorship and is thrilled to be back at work as a sales consultant. He also considers a major blessing that after chemotherapy he can taste food, resume exercising and the ability to make his family and friends laugh.
By way of advice, he said during his journey, as much as he could, he decided to take charge, by controlling his mindset, exercise, diet and sleep, or as he like to call the group his MEDS. Luke also serves as a mentor to those diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation https://www.cholangiocarcinomafoundation.org
It was a stressful journey, but Linda Trummer survived Stage IV mantle cell lymphoma. In 2015, she went to her primary care physician after discovering a lump on her jaw line. That led to a diagnosis of a slow-moving blood cancer, MALtoma. However, further tests revealed a lump under her left arm and the diagnosis was upgraded to Stage IV mantle cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer. She underwent R-Hyper-CVAD, a multi-faceted chemotherapy regimen and just two months later was declared to have No Evidence of Disease. Linda still suffers from the many side effects of her regimen, but is happy to be alive, especially when her prognosis indicated she would only live for another 18 to 24 months.
Linda was close to 60 years of age when she first noticed a lump on her jaw line. She initially attributed it to her getting old, but when one day she saw the lump was growing, she sought medical attention. A PET scan showed that she had MALT lymphoma, also known as MALtoma, a cancer associated with the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Linda switched oncologists and the second oncologist called for additional tests. They revealed a lump under her left arm, and she was diagnosed with Stage IV mantle cell lymphoma.
Linda was placed on a chemotherapy regimen which included rituximab, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, dexamethasone and cytarabine. That was followed by six lumbar punctures of methotextrate.
Through it all, Linda Tremmer was an active patient. She sought to help other cancer patients on her floor by setting up an arts class. She also wrote poetry and with the aid of a cousin in Oregon, the poetry was set to music, which was played for the patients, who enjoyed getting care from a fellow cancer patient.
Linda’s regimen led to her being declared NED after two months, but she needed to stay on it and suffered from numerous side effects. She was placed on medication for depression and PTSD, although she says the latter rarely presents a problem. When she was diagnosed, Linda was told she would live another 18 to 24 months, and prepared to die. She sought palliative care and was placed in home hospice. She completed her will, set up cremation and wrote farewell letters to dear friends. But when she got to the 24-month mark, she realized she was still very much alive and started concentrating on living and not dying, which she said was much tougher than it sounds.
These days, Linda is happy to be alive, enjoys living with her three dogs and two cats, and advocates for cancer patients through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and has a support group on Facebook.
By way of advice, she says anyone diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma should make sure they find an oncologist who knows how to treat mantle cell, which is much easier today than it was in 2015.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://www.lls.org
In 2021, one day away from his fortieth birthday, Ty Cedars felt pain in one of his testicles and noticed it was enlarged. He contacted his physician, asking to be seen. The following day, en route to a birthday celebration, Ty received a call from his doctor, requesting that Ty come right away.
The Alexandria, Louisiana-based schoolteacher soon underwent an ultrasound, then was directed to a urologist, who told Ty that he had testicular cancer. He took the news calmly and was told by the doctor that this was a very treatable cancer, but that he would have to go on a chemotherapy regimen called BEP. That is a cocktail consisting of cisplatin, beleomycin and etopicide.
Ty said the worst part of the regimen was severe nausea. He vomited acid into his throat, which took away his voice. Ty also said he was extremely weak, and that resting wasn’t easy. He could only watch television for ten to twenty minutes at a time. Even though he had a stack of books ready to read, reading was out of the question because it was too hard to focus on the small print for much more than a paragraph.
As a singer in the local chorale, Ty found tranquility in choral music, which he accessed on YouTube.
The chemotherapy did its job and Ty was told there was no evidence of disease. He was able to return to the classroom, can go to the gym, and his health is very close to what it was prior to his diagnosis.
However, he occasionally suffers from neuropathy, and because of the damage to his throat from the chemo regimen, his singing voice has dropped from a baritone to a bass.
Other than that, Ty Cedars is thrilled with the life he is leading. By way of advice, he says if you notice something with your health that seems abnormal, don’t take chances and see your doctor. Because he was proactive, his cancer was detected at an early stage.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
The Testicular Cancer Society: https://www.testicularcancersociety.org
A clinical exercise physiologist by trade, Erin Bloodworth sought a career change and became an exercise oncologist. This enabled her to take her expertise and apply it to helping cancer patients, which she does through Northwestern Medicine Living Well.
Erin says whether a patient is going through cancer treatment or is post-treatment, she puts the patient through an individualized exercise program. She assesses the patient's health with tests tied to their ability to grip objects and go from a sitting position to a standing position and back. Erin says the combination of exercise with a cancer treatment can aid the patient’s physical, mental and emotional health. Through Living Well’s website, Erin Bloodworth can share her expertise with anyone in any location.
Additional Resources:
Northwestern Medicine Living Well: https://www.livingwellcrc.org
For Stewart Greenfield, the third time was the charm. After checking pictures of his bladder in 2016, two doctors told him he didn’t have long to live; a third doctor told him he had Stage IV metastatic bladder cancer, but insisted he needed to be treated. The cancer had burned a hole in his bladder and attacked lymph nodes from his groin to his neck. Treatment included a chemotherapy cocktail of cisplatin and gemcidibine, plus qualifying for an immunotherapy, novolumab. It was a smashing success. Stewart says his urinary function is normal and he is able to resume his active lifestyle, which includes cycling and scuba diving.
A semi-retired kitchen designer, Stewart Greenfield of Scottsdale, Arizona, thought he was in good health when he went for his annual physical in 2016. He was an active cyclist and scuba diver. However, his doctor said his blood work was “inconclusive.” After a second test was labeled inconclusive, the doctor prescribed antibiotics and called for a third blood test a week later. The doctor got a similar result and sent Stewart to a urological surgeon.
The surgeon called for Stewart to undergo some scans and upon viewing them, gave Stewart some very bad news. The surgeon did not mention the word ‘cancer,’ but said Stewart should get his affairs in order.
Stewart went to a second urologist who viewed pictures of Stewart’s bladder, again did not mention the word cancer, but said the condition of the bladder was so advanced, it was too late to treat it. He had a hole in his bladder and the cancer had attacked lymph nodes from his groin to his neck.
Stewart had an appointment with a third surgeon. She said he had Stage IV metastatic bladder cancer. As he attempted to leave, the doctor blocked his path and insisted on treating his diagnosis. At first he resisted, thinking he had received a death sentence, but he agreed to be treated.
Stewart was put on a chemotherapy regimen with cisplatin. The regimen was stepped up with the addition of gemcidibine. As the regimen had been successful, he qualified for a new immunotherapy, novolumab.
The treatment was a success. Stewart has normal urinary function and again takes part in cycling and scuba diving.
By way of advice, he urges those diagnosed with bladder cancer to stay positive, never lose hope and “fight the fight.”
Additional Resource:
Support Group:
The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network https://www.bcan.org
Noelle Gatlin had to endure a lengthy, multi-step process, but she survived Stage II pancreatic cancer. A visit to an emergency department revealed a mass near her pancreas. She was transferred to a hospital, where a second CT scan resulted in her diagnosis. Her care team placed a duodenal stent in Noelle, then a bile duct stent. She next underwent a 12-infusion chemotherapy regimen with folfirinox. Then she was ready for a Whipple procedure, a pancreatic duodenectomy, which was a success. Noelle says because she took care of herself before, during and after treatment, she believes she is now in better health than she was before her diagnosis.
In July 2022, Noelle began to experience symptoms associated with food poisoning. At an urgent care, she was diagnosed with gastric reflux, but when stomach became distended, her husband urged her to go to an emergency department. That’s where a CT scan revealed a mass near her pancreas. She was next transferred to a hospital. Wanting very much to vomit, but unable to, with the aid of an NG tube, her stomach was pumped. She underwent another CT scan, then an endoscopy, after which a doctor told her she had Stage II pancreatic cancer.
A duodenal stent was placed in her small intestine so that food could go around where her tumor had closed off her intestinal tract. Noelle then had a bile duct stent placed from her liver. Before she could undergo surgery, she went on a 12-infusion chemotherapy regimen with folfirinox.
Months later came the Whipple Procedure. Hers was a pancreatic duodenectomy. Her gallbladder, the top 20 percent of her pancreas and the first section of her small intestine was removed.
The surgery was a success, and soon Noelle Gatlin returned to her job as a special education teacher in Riverton, Utah. She followed instructions from care team and already enjoyed an active lifestyle. This is why she believes her health today is better than it was prior to her diagnosis.
Additional Resources:
The Pancreatic Action Network (PanCAN): https://www.pancan.org
Laurie Adami seemed to have it all. She was the president of her company, at age 40, she had just had a son and still found time to lead an active lifestyle. However, in 2003, her health took a turn for the worse. She felt a lump in her abdomen, experienced frequent, lengthy sinus infections and chronic fatigue. All this led to a diagnosis of Stage IV Follicular Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. After six unsuccessful treatment regimens, she achieved complete remission on the seventh try, completing a battle that ran twelve years.
When Laurie initially brought her symptoms to the attention of her family doctor, they were dismissed as, at worst, a hernia, and exhaustion due to her demanding schedule; but Laurie insisted there was nothing ordinary about her symptoms and changed doctors.
She saw a hernia specialist who ordered a CT scan, which revealed a mass the size of a small watermelon on her abdomen. After a biopsy, Laurie learned she had Stage IV Follicular Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. At that time, she had no idea of the difficulty and length of the journey awaiting her.
The first of six treatments that failed to overcome her diagnosis was in 2006 and called R-CHOP. It was a mix of Rituxan plus Cytoxan, Adriamyacin and Prednisone.
Next in 2008 was a clinical trial of Rituxan, along with an HDAC inhibitor.
In 2010, Laurie tried Bendamustin, a medication popular in Eastern Europe.
When that didn’t work, later in the year, she went with Bexxar Radioimmunotherapy.
Of the first six regimens, Laurie had the most success with a pi3 kinase inhibitor called Zydelig. For five and a half years ending in 2016, it shrunk the tumor without eliminating it.
The tumor returned and for six months ending in September 2017, she tried infusions of Gazvya.
On July 16, 2018, her tumor was still around, but Laurie qualified for a Phase II clinical trial of Yescarta CAR-T therapy. Some 29 days later, her lymphoma specialist informed her she was in full remission.
Laurie Adami has resumed an active lifestyle, and does plenty of traveling, most of it to public speaking engagements, as she serves as an advocate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://www.lls.org
Nicole Scott and her husband, Keith, worked at the same Ohio hospital. When Keith noticed abdominal pain in his left side, he thought it was muscle-related because of the physical nature of his job. The pain radiated to his groin, then what had been random occurrences of the pain became more frequent.
Nicole urged Keith to seek urgent care. An emergency room doctor called for a CT scan, thinking Keith had at worst, a hernia. However, the CT scan revealed a mass on Keith’s kidney. An MRI and partial nephrectomy resulted in a diagnosis of papillary renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney.
Nicole and Keith were shocked by this diagnosis, but after she got over the shock, Nicole assumed the role of Keith’s caregiver.
She said without question, the toughest part of her caregiver experience was the emotional piece. At first, there was a tremendous amount of fear and depression, as she thought Keith might not survive, but all the while she told herself she was caring for the love of her life, had to put up a positive front and be a source of encouragement for her husband.
Nicole said there was some at-home care involved, but much of her duties consisted of making sure that Keith made it to all of his doctor visits, most notably the successful surgical procedure and post-treatment care.
Caregiving can be a round-the-clock challenge, and Nicole said she came close to suffering from caregiver burnout, but she always did what needed to be done, at all times
realizing hers was a high-stakes task.
By way of advice, Nicole Scott says to anyone suddenly finding themselves in the role of caregiver to take a deep breath and never lose hope. She says a caregiver needs to take of themselves. She says it is “not selfish” to ask a friend to pitch in or to make time for some ‘me time,’ as that will make a caregiver a better caregiver.
Additional Resources:
The Kidney Cancer Association: https://www.kidneycancer.org
When Helinka Carr experienced limited rectal bleeding, because it was limited, she never thought her problem could rise to the level of cancer. She also thought the bleeding might be diverticulitis, which had been suffered by members of her family. However, at the urging of her doctor, she underwent blood tests and a colonoscopy. The latter revealed that she had bowel cancer. Thanks to two surgical procedures, she achieved survivorship but has to wear an ileostomy bag. She tires easily, but had the energy to start a line of ostomy lingerie for bag-wearing women diagnosed with below-the-belt cancers.
Helinka Carr said when one experienced rectal bleeding for three weeks, that was the standard in the United Kingdom for being a candidate for bowel cancer. Helinka while noticed bleeding in her rectum and in her stool, it didn’t exist to the degree that aligned with the accepted standard for bowel cancer. She also said her family had a history of diverticulitis, which also led her to believe that she was not a candidate for bowel cancer.
Nonetheless, her general practitioner urged her to get the bleeding checked out. After a series of blood tests, Helinka underwent a colonoscopy and bowel cancer was indicated.
Once upon learning of her diagnosis, she immediately refused chemotherapy. She agreed to a regimen of radiation treatment, combined with her self-styled complimentary hearing. It took two surgeries, but her tumor was removed. Helinka detested the radiation therapy, and firmly believes her practicing complimentary healing all by itself could have removed the majority of her tumor.
Despite achieving survivorship, the radiation continued to affect her. She suffered from pelvic radiation disease, which robbed her of any feeling in her rectum or bladder, creating major problems any time she had to urinate or defecate.
Helinka’s care team said she would need to be fitted for an ileostomy bag. At first she was told she would only have to wear it for twelve weeks; but after it was removed, she was incontinent and was told she again would have to wear the bag, this time on a permanent basis. Helinka has figured out a way to manage the bag, go out and enjoy normal activities and get six to eight hours of sleep each night.
Helinka’s experience inspired her to devise a line of ostomy lingerie. It is attractive underwear destined for bag-wearing women diagnosed with below-the-belt cancers.
By way of advice, Helinka Carr says regardless of your cancer diagnosis, you need to fiercely advocate for yourself. That means asking lots of questions, and if your doctor cannot sufficiently answer your questions, to get another doctor.
Additional Resources:
Helinka’s lingerie line: Unspokenrosebud-Etsy
Guy Nakoa has survived two diagnoses of Stage IV breast cancer. He initially felt a lump in his breast while showering in 2000. Because it wasn’t causing him and because he didn’t think could not get a type of cancer associated with women, I went more than a decade before he chose to have the lump checked out. In 2014, he sought medical attention, he was diagnosed and in 2016, he had the lump removed; but in 2020, the cancer returned. He was hoping it could be removed with chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but over his initial objection, he agreed to a mastectomy of his left breast in 2024. For the rest of his life, he will need to be on two medications, ibrance and letrozole. Guy says from time to time he experiences fatigue but is very happy to be alive.
Guy Nakoa is from Wailuku on the island of Maui in Hawaii, but he has worked all over the world as a chef. He was on a job in Alaska in 2000, when while taking a shower, he was shocked to feel a lump in his left breast. Guy didn’t tell anyone about it because it wasn’t causing him any pain, and he felt too embarrassed to admit he may have a type of cancer that is generally associated with women.
He finally decided to have the lump examined in 2014. His doctor didn’t seem to think there was anything cancerous and told Guy not to worry about it. Guy was misdiagnosed and he believes that, like he was, his doctor might have had difficulty connecting the lump with cancer because Guy is male. Guy went to another doctor, and in 2016, he underwent a biopsy, which revealed he had breast cancer.
Guy Nakoa had the lump removed in 2016. He underwent a chemotherapy regimen in 2017 and again in 2018. He says he lost his sense of taste, his anxiety level went “through the roof” and he had a tough time getting to sleep.
The surgery was a success, but in 2020, the cancer returned. Guy wanted to again treat it with chemotherapy and radiation, but his doctor urged him to get the breast removed. Guy eventually relented and the mastectomy took place in 2024.
Guy says these days, he can do just about anything he could do before he first felt the lump, but fatigue sometimes sets in, in a way it didn’t prior to his diagnosis. By way of advice, he is quite adamant that, regardless of what seems irregular, if you notice something, anything abnormal about your health, to immediately seek medical attention.
Additional Resources:
Support Groups:
The Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance https://www.mbcglobalalliance.org
Man Up To Cancer https://www.manuptocancer.org
HIS Breast Cancer Awareness https://www.hisbreastcancer.org
Sheila Romanski is with us today after overcoming two diagnoses of breast cancer and the removal of a tumor in her left shoulder thanks to an autologous stem cell transplant. She tells the @CancerInterviews podcast her initial of Stage 1A breast cancer in 1996 came after her doctor suggested a routine mammogram at age 36 when at the time mammograms were not performed on women that young. Radiation treatment successfully addressed that diagnosis, but the following year, the cancer had metastasized to her shoulder. That brought on the stem cell transplant, plus chemotherapy and more radiation. All seemed well until 2008 when the breast cancer returned as Stage 4 triple negative infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Shiela opted for a double mastectomy with reconstruction, which was followed by a second, more aggressive form of chemotherapy. She has been pronounced NED (No Evidence of Disease), and now enjoys a healthy lifestyle, leading a non-profit that aids cancer victims.
Sheila Romanski advises everyone to do self-examinations for breast cancer. She admits had she done so, her breast cancer would have been caught sooner. In 1996, it was rare that 36-year-old women went in for routine mammograms, but Sheila’s doctor suggested such an exam. Thanks to that suggestion, a 2cm tumor was found. She underwent a lumpectomy and radiation treatment.
While it appeared cancer was in her rear-view mirror, in 1997, a lump was found in her collar bone area. That was treated with four chemotherapy treatments and autologous stem cell transplant, a procedure involved her own stem cells. The chemo and the transplant last four months.
For Sheila, this time in her life was very challenging. She was no only battling cancer, but she was raising four small children. However, she says she was able to get through because of support from her friends and her church, and because attending to the needs of her kids took her mind off cancer.
Sheila’s health appeared to be on the right track until 2008 when another routine mammogram revealed micro-calcifications in the same breast as her original diagnosis. She decided a double mastectomy would be her best option. It would include a procedure called a diep flap, which involves taking skin from other parts of the body. However, her surgeon said Sheila would have to lose twenty pounds before diep flap could be performed. It took Shiela ten years to lose the weight and by that time, her surgeon said she no longer performed diep flap. However, she said she could get Sheila “fixed up” and in 2021, thirteen years after mastectomy, reconstruction was complete.
Sheila Romanski has gone on to found Crystal Roses, a non-profit that seeks to aid those diagnosed with cancer.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
Crystal Roses https://www.crystalroseshelps.com
In 2015, Daniel Garza experienced bloating and difficulty completing a bowel movement. A subsequent digital rectal exam revealed a mass on his sphincter, which led to a diagnosis of anal cancer. A surgical procedure got rid of the cancer, but it also resulted in his losing half of his sphincter and the temporary presence of a fistula, a tear which was like a second anus. He underwent a chemotherapy regimen of 5-fluorouracil, followed by radiation treatment, but another major challenge awaited Daniel, as he had to wear an ostomy bag, which he does to this day. He deals with the bag and has continued his work as an advocate for those with HIV and anal cancer, in addition to being an actor and a comic.
Daniel Garza thought he was in good health until he was plagued by a nasty variety of symptoms. He experienced bloating, stomach pain, bowel movement blockage and anal bleeding. The initial conclusion of his doctor was that he had a strangulated intestine tied to a hernia he suffered years earlier. He prescribed a number of treatments, which did no good.
Daniel went back to the doctor and went through blood tests and a CT scan. But it was a subsequent digital rectal exam that revealed a mass on his sphincter. That led to a biopsy and a diagnosis of squamos cell carcinoma of the anus, also known as anal cancer.
The mass was on one side of Daniel’s sphincter. Surgery removed the cancer but also removed half of his sphincter. Next up was chemotherapy, a type known as 5-fluorouracil, then radiation treatment and time in a hyperbaric chamber.
The cancer was gone, the aforementioned fistula healed, but to dispose of the waste in his system, Daniel had to be fitted with an ostomy bag, which he eventually named Tommy. He went through three ostomy nurses and two types of bags before he felt comfortable managing the bag.
These days, Daniel Garza says he is doing his best to make peace with Tommy. It hasn’t stopped him from continuing his life as an advocate for those dealing with HIV and anal cancer. He also travels the world as an actor and a comic.
Additional Resources:
Support Groups:
Man Up To Cancer: https://www.manuptocancer.org
Cheeky Charity: https://www.cheekycharity.org
Former NFL star Rick Upchurch seemed to be in good health, but in 2010, he began to experience night sweats, fatigue and aches and pains. He saw his doctor, who ordered blood work. The test results revealed his white blood cell count was very high, and his general practitioner gave him the address of another doctor to see.
Rick and his wife were shocked to learn the doctor they had been told to see was an oncologist. That doctor called for a bone marrow biopsy, which confirmed Rick had chronic myelogenous leukemia, a rare form of blood cancer that is tied to a genetic mutation called Philadelphia chromosome.
The onocologist prescribed a chemotherapy regimen for Rick, but to some degree he was relieved to learn that it would be a regimen of oral chemotherapy. The medication was known as tasigna, which also goes by the name of nilotinib. Rick had to take these pills three times a day, which he still has to do, and will have to do for the rest of his life.
Rick Upchurch’s chemotherapy regimen led to survivorship, but again, he has to take the tasigna three times a day, something he will need to do for the rest of his life. He has his good days and bad days.
On the bad days, he still experiences the fatigue, night sweats, achy muscles and joints; and he sometimes has diarrhea, as his body has a tough time processing the tasigna. However, he is grateful to be alive and grateful for the good days, in which he can lift weights, get on the elliptical and go for walks.
Rick and his wife, Donna, also engage in a number of activities that support children with cancer.
Jeff Kallis survived renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer. When he experienced pain in his lower flank and saw blood in his urine, he sought medical attention. A CT urogram revealed a stone in his left kidney and a mass in his right kidney. A biopsy confirmed he had clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Jeff underwent a radical nephrectomy on his right kidney. The operation was painful, but a success. Through exercise and a healthy diet, Jeff says he feels better than he did before his diagnosis. He shares his story with the @CancerInterviews podcast.
Jeff Kallis was enjoying an active lifestyle in late 2021 when he experienced some nasty symptoms for the first time. They included pain in his lower flank. He thought the pain would go away, but it didn’t, and in fairly short order, he saw blood in his urine. That’s when he sought medical attention.
His primary care physician first sought to rule out kidney stones and the possibility of urinary tract infection. Tests showed no presence of a UTI, but a CT urogram did reveal a stone in Jeff’s left kidney. That, he expected. What he didn’t expect was subsequent news that of a mass in his right kidney.
Jeff’s urologist thought Jeff had kidney cancer but wanted to be sure and ordered a biopsy on the right kidney. Its results confirmed he had Stage III clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
He was relieved to know that treatment would not include chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Immunotherapy was considered and rejected, but Jeff went ahead with a nephrectomy, removing his right kidney. The operation was painful but considered a success.
Following the procedure, Jeff moved around very slowly, but as the pain subsided, he became more active. He combined slowly increasing exercise with a healthy Mediterranean diet provided by his wife, who he says is an excellent cook.
Jeff Kallis is cancer free but goes in for checkups every six months. He says he physically feels as well as he did before his diagnosis but emotionally feels better than he did pre-diagnosis as he concentrates on healthy diet and exercise.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
Kidney Cancer Association: https://www.kidneycancer.org
Jeff’s Website: https://www.kidneycouch.com
Jeff’s Book: One Kidney – Dealing with Kidney Cancer
What John Morley originally thought was a urinary tract infection turned out to be a diagnosis of bladder cancer. At first, he was told it was a mild form of the disease. Then the diagnosis was upgraded to T2 Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, requiring a radical cystectomy meaning he would need to get his bladder removed. His care team next told John he would also have to get his prostate taken out. Next a mass was detected on his spleen, which meant that it, too, would have to be removed. Treatment and recovery were tough, but he now urinates into a bag known as an ileal conduit, has become acclimated to it and leads a healthy lifestyle.
John Morley of Haymarket, Virginia is a Navy veteran who enjoyed scuba diving, hiking and other outdoor activities when in late 2021, he noticed blood in his urine. He sought medical attention with his primary care physician, who upon learning of John’s symptoms, referred him to a urologist. The urologist called for cystoscopy, a procedure in which a camera is inserted in the patient’s urethra, and based on its results, said a biopsy would be needed.
John received a blend of bad and good news. He was told he had bladder cancer, but because it was T1 Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, the cancer had not spread from his bladder. John and his wife felt like celebrating and went out to dinner.
However, a short time later, John Morley was called back into the doctor's office. He and his wife were told a followup check of his pathology report showed his cancer had been upgraded to T2 Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer. Not only did this mean John would have to undergo a radical cystectomy to remove his bladder, but the procedure would have to be preceded by two or three months of chemotherapy, a regimen that would include cisplatin and gemacitabine.
As he wondered what life would be like without a bladder, the news for John got worse. He was told he would have to undergo a prostatectomy for the removal of his prostate. Then a mass was detected in his spleen, and the spleen would have come out as well, all three in the same surgery.
The multi-faceted surgery was a success, but John had to decide how he was going to urinate. Over two other options, he chose an ileal conduit. It was attached to his stomach, close to his navel. The urine drained into a urostomy bag.
Following the operation, John relied on walking to help him slowly regain his strength. He has a good command of his use of the urostomy bag, and though it wasn’t what he enjoyed pre-diagnosis, John Morley has returned to a healthy lifestyle that includes scuba diving.
Additional Resources:
Support Group: The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Group: https://www.bcan.org
John Website: https://www.beatbladdercancer.org
When Jessica Whorton discovered lumps on her left breast in 2011, she sought medical attention. The doctors she spoke with said breast cancer was not indicated. She walked around with the lumps for another nine months before seeking a second opinion. Tests revealed she had Stage 3A invasive ductal carcinoma. Doctors urged that she get a double mastectomy even though her right breast was still healthy. After chemotherapy and radiation, Jessica achieved survivorship in 2013.
Jessica thought there was something wrong when she detected three lumps on her left breast in 2011. She had them looked at, but doctors said they didn’t feel anything that seemed cancerous. Jessica did nothing for the next nine months, but then decided she needed to be seen by a different care team, led by a plastic surgeon. After tests and a biopsy, he said while her right breast was healthy, there was cancer in her left breast.
As if that diagnosis weren’t enough, her care team urged Jessica to undergo a double mastectomy to minimize the chance of a recurrence in the right breast. The following week she underwent the procedure, and it was successful.
Jessica was told her post-surgery regimen would have to start with what is known as the ‘red devil,’ a highly-potent chemotherapy cocktail. She suffered the usual side effects, including extreme fatigue and hair loss. After the red devil, Jessica was supposed to go on Taxol, but she had an allergic reaction to it and the Taxol was discontinued after two dosages.
Next up was super radiation, requiring 30 visits administered five days a week. Jessica said the Taxol experience made the radiation even tougher, and just when she started feeling better after her weekly two days off, she would have to go in for more radiation.
However, things changed for the better and in 2013, Jessica Wharton was told she had gone into remission. The day she got the news was, she said, “Like winning the lottery.” She has been in remission ever since.
Jessica says to this day she still feels the effects of PTSD and is not able to return to the workforce on a full-time basis, but she is grateful that cancer is in her past.
Susan Svoboda was accustomed to going in for her mammogram every November. She enjoyed a healthy lifestyle, which included running 65 half marathons. But in late 2021, after her mammogram, she was called to return to the doctor’s office. After scans and a biopsy, she was diagnosed with Stage 1-2 invasive ductal carcinoma.
Given her healthy routine, Susan was shocked, but she quickly had to turn her attention to her treatment. In 2022, she underwent a successful lumpectomy. Because of the location of the lump, and her low Oncotype DX score, the oncologist told Susan she would not have to undergo chemotherapy. Instead, she would need to get radiation treatment, 15 rounds over three weeks; but her oncologist also suggested her regimen include estrogen inhibitor pills for the next five years.
Susan consulted reading materials and talked to numerous women who had tried the pills. All of them had something to say that helped her to make the difficult decision to refuse the estrogen inhibitors.
Susan Svoboda found her way to survivorship. She says that while she doesn’t do half marathons, she still some light running and goes walking every day. Her journey inspired her to spend 2022 writing a book, “I Hate The Color Pink.” She says the satisfaction that comes from writing the book is its spreading a message of information and hope.
By way of advise, Susan advises women to get their mammograms and when dealing with doctors to ask questions, lots of questions.
Addition Resources:
Susan Book, available on Amazon: “I Hate The Color Pink”
In 2021, Albertina Dancy began to experience abdominal pain, but that wasn’t all. She also had gastrointestinal issues, jaundice and other problems. However, she didn’t take them seriously and thought they could be successfully addressed with over-the-counter remedies. When that didn’t happen, she sought medical attention.
Albertina’s doctor said the symptoms, combined with her existing fatty liver disease, merited a trip to an oncologist. A series of scans and tests, plus the stiffness of her liver, led to a diagnosis of liver cancer.
The diagnosis left Albertina depressed, wondering if she would get well again. She regrets not seeking medical attention at an earlier time because doctors said her only treatment option with a regimen of radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
The chemo was extremely tough on Albertina. She was in constant pain, felt extreme fatigue and was demoralized about losing all her hair.
However, she achieved survivorship and says because she pays close attention to diet and exercise, her health is better than it was prior to her diagnosis.
By way of advice, Albertina Dancy strongly advises anyone suffering unusual health issues to immediately seek medical attention.
Additional Resources:
American Liver Foundation: https://www.liverfoundation,org
After a long list of health issues, Karen Humphries was diagnosed with a rare type of bile duct cancer called cholangiocarcinoma. She was initially diagnosed in 2021 with Stage 2B gallbladder cancer, had her gallbladder removed, after which the diagnosis was changed to Stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma. Karen underwent a two-part liver resection and a chemotherapy regimen and went into remission. Two years later, she was again diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. Her treatment included biliary stents. Karen knows her cancer is incurable but has survived and leads a happy life.
Karen Humphries’ life has been marred by numerous health-related issues. Because of a rare genetic condition, in 2010, she had to wear a colostomy bag. A decade later, she experienced severe vomiting, pale colored stools, an inability to eat solid foods, pain in her right-side ovaries, among others.
She sought medical attention and got a gallbladder scan. That led to the removal of her gallbladder and a diagnosis of Stage 2B gallbladder cancer. The diagnosis was later revised as cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of bile duct cancer.
Karen underwent a two-part liver resection, appendix and radical lymph node abstraction, and a six-month chemotherapy regimen with xeloda. She responded well and went into remission.
However, in 2023, after biopsies of her neck and liver, the cholangiocarcinoma returned. Doctors told her that her initial diagnosis of Stage 2B gallbladder cancer was actually Stage 4 cholangiocarinoma all along. Her treatment included biliary stents.
Karen’s cancer has been labeled ‘incurable,’ but she undergoes periodic CT and PET scans, and her condition has stabilized. She maintains an upbeat approach to life and mentors others who have been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma and other forms of cancer.
Erin Cummings is still going strong despite being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1972. At age 15, she noticed a lump on her throat and another on her chest. That led to a diagnosis of Stage 3B Hodgkin lymphoma. She was shocked at her diagnosis but initially had trouble putting into perspective just what she was up against because she cancer was something suffered by old people. Even though she achieved survivorship, she still deals with residual side effects from her treatment regimen. Nonetheless, Erin has gone on to compete in eight marathons and has established a nonprofit which seeks to aid long-term survivors who also deal with the late effects of cancer treatment.
Erin Cummings of Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts was a freshman in high school when she saw that she had a lump on her throat and on her chest. She didn’t think much of them until her sister saw them and brought it to the attention of their mother. Erin was taken to a nearby hospital and a week later, she was diagnosed with Stage 3B Hodgkin lymphoma. She said she benefitted from not knowing much about cancer because she thought it was something by old people and wouldn’t pose a problem for her.
This was in 1972, and available treatment options were much different than those available today. Those options included cobalt radiation treatment, surgery, and a new protocol still considered to be in an experimental phase called chemotherapy. Erin’s parents didn’t want her having anything to do with chemotherapy and temporarily considered taking her to Mexico to be treated with laetrile.
Erin underwent a lymphangiogram to determine the exact location of the cancer. After that came full body radiation, surgery to remove her appendix and a form of chemo called MOP chemotherapy.
She said the side effects of the radiation and the chemotherapy were nasty, but there was also a difficult emotion piece. Erin said in those days, people thought that cancer was contagious. As a result, her friends were told by their parents to neither touch her nor get near her. This combined with Erin being a teenager made her demoralizing cancer experience ever worse.
However, Erin Cummings got through the treatment and became cancer-free five years later, in 1977. At the ten-year mark, she decided it was time to take control of her body, trained for, and eventually ran in her first marathon. Before she concluded her competitive running, Erin was in eight marathons in Boston and New York City.
Because she is still encountering the late effects of her cancer treatment and has met others in the same position, Erin established Hodgkin International, a nonprofit which provides help to people around the globe experiencing similar late effects.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
Hodgkin International: https://www.hodgkinsinternational.org
Art Still’s body felt the ravages of playing professional football for twelve years, but when he suffered atrial fibrillation, he sought medical attention. His doctor suggested he undergo a genetic test, which revealed he had the variant for a disease known as amyloidosis. While not cancer, if left untreated in a timely manner, it can lead to various types of blood cancer. Early detection, periodic shots and medication will not get rid of the variant, but they will team up to keep from developing into blood cancer. Art pays attention to diet, exercise and the right amount of sleep, and says he enjoys a healthy lifestyle.
Art accepted carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and a torn biceps muscle as the byproducts of his NFL career, but atrial fibrillation was different. Through the National Football League Players Association, he went to New Orleans for a thorough physical and mental examination. His doctor suggested Art undergo a genetic test to see if Art had a variant for amyloidosis, a disease which if left untreated can be linked to various types of blood cancer. A brother of his had undergone heart replacement, and another brother needs one. That combined with the suggestion from the doctor was enough to get Art to take the test, and sure enough, it indicated he had the V122I variant, which Art says affects one in 25 African-Americans.
He is now on a regimen that includes medications and periodic shots. It will not rid Art of the variant, but keeps it at bay so that it doesn’t become cancerous, affecting other organs like kidneys and the brain.
Art Still wants to maximize awareness of amyloidosis, and has established a website that provides a wealth of information on the subject so that like Art, others can get in front of the disease.
Additional Resources:
Art’s website: https://www.amyloidosisarmy.org
Diana Ash had suffered from irritable bowel syndrome much of her life, but in 2019, she believed the IBS symptoms she felt were something altogether different. Her concerns were proven correct when an ultrasound indicated a mass near her abdomen the size of a “mini football.” Not long after that, she was diagnosed with Stage 1C Ovarian Cancer. Diana underwent an oophorectomy, a surgical procedure that successfully removed one ovary and one fallopian tube. After the surgery, she had to undergo BEP chemotherapy, an extremely aggressive regimen. However, she achieved survivorship and has written a book about her experience.
Diana Ash led an active lifestyle in her hometown of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She enjoyed hiking, running and diving; but ever since she was a small child, Diana dealt with irritable bowel syndrome. In 2019, in addition to IBS’ typical symptoms, she experienced fatigue and loss of appetite. When she sought medical attention, she was told her problem was IBS and nothing more. To Diana, that was not a satisfactory response.
She insisted on blood work and an ultrasound. The latter revealed a mass near her abdomen. It measured 10 X 16 cm, or as she said, “the size of a mini football.” Diana pressed doctors for more information and accurate information, and she was eventually diagnosed with Stage 1C ovarian cancer. She was shocked with the diagnosis, but relieved that her cancer had been caught at an early stage, which is not typical for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Diana underwent an oophorectomy, a surgical procedure which removed one of her ovaries and one of her fallopian tubes. The surgery was a success, but her surgeon said the procedure was the easy part of her treatment. Next up was an extremely aggressive chemotherapy regimen. BEP chemotherapy includes cisplatin, bleomycin and etoposide. Diana experienced the usual side effects, but was even more difficult was her being told that she would no longer be able to run or dive.
There was also the matter of childbearing. She received a Lupron injection, which meant she had to deal with its side effects while dealing with the side effects from her chemo regimen. She was eventually able to freeze some of her eggs, which will enable her to have kids.
Diana Ash achieved survivorship and wants to help others diagnosed with cancer. Fueled by a message emphasizing optimism and self-advocacy, she wrote “Take Back The Power,” available on Amazon. The book was written in English, but as a bilingual Canadian, she hopes to one day translate the book into French.
Additional Resources:
Diana’s Book: “Take Back The Power,” a guide for young women with cancer
On today’s @CancerInterviews podcast, Joe Brennan tells us how he survived testicular cancer. He says in April 2024, he noticed his right testicle was unusually hard, and immediately sought medical attention. His urologist called for an ultrasound, which revealed a cyst on the testicle, which led to a diagnosis of seminoma pT1a, or Stage One testicular cancer. That led to an orchiectomy, a surgical procedure that removed his right testicle and his spermatic cord. Joe said recovery from the surgery was much tougher than the procedure itself, but after two weeks he was back at work as a financial coach. He says these days his health is back to what it was before his diagnosis.
Joe was in the shower one day when he noticed that while his left testicle felt normal, the right testicle was hard, “like a baseball.” He didn’t waste time and scheduled an appointment with a urologist, who made a fist and said a normal testicle will feel like the ‘meat’ part, or soft part of the hand; but said if a testicle has that sort of hardness, like a knuckle, that should be a cause for concern. When the urologist determined Joe’s right testicle had that hardness, he said an ultrasound should be performed on Joe’s testicles. It showed a cyst on the right testicle, the urologist said cancer was likely indicated, and he was right.
The necessary procedure was an orchiectomy, which was surgery aimed at removing the cancerous testicle and Joe’s spermatic cord. Joe said he was under a general anesthetic for the two-hour procedure, which was a success. However, he said what followed was much more difficult. He thought he would be back at work as a financial coach in a day or two, but that wasn’t the case.
Joe Brennan said he was laid up for close to two weeks. He said he experienced a lot of pain “down there.” He had trouble walking, couldn’t do any heavy lifting and needed to take Vicodin for a couple days before switching to ibuprofen. He was eventually able to return to work, could walk normally and could play with his small children, which included picking them up.
Joe says those two weeks were tough. He said he would allow himself an hour each day to be sad, which sometimes involved breaking down in tears, as he still wasn’t certain about his recovery, but other than that hour, he wanted to be positive and upbeat for his wife and children.
Joe Brennan says he is doing fine but advises men to “check their balls” once a month, so that if anything is wrong, the prospect of testicular cancer can be detected and addressed at an early stage, as his was.
Additional Resources:
The Testicular Cancer Society: https://www.testicularcancersociety.org
Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsbrennan/
Joe on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/official.jsbrennan
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Driven by a family history of cancer and her expertise as a nurse practitioner, Robin Centner was proactive when she learned she carried a gene tied to colon cancer. She called upon a genetic counselor and underwent genetic testing. She says this screening saved her life, as from it she learned the gene is predisposed to colon cancer. Thanks to annual colonoscopies, if she is diagnosed with colon cancer, she will be positioned for early detection, maximizing her chance of survivorship. This is her story of being a colon cancer previvor.
What Rebecca Esparza thought was fibroid tumors led to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer at age 30. Unbeknownst to her until after her surgical procedure, doctors performed a radical hysterectomy. In addition to a difficult chemotherapy regimen, Rebecca had to deal with all of the above with no health insurance. Rebecca made it to survivorship only to learn years later, she had papillary thyroid cancer. However, she again made it to survivorship and is a tireless cancer advocate.
When Celeste Guptill believed her stomach was swollen a bit more than usual following the birth of her tenth child, she thought it might be due to age or some sort of gastrointestinal issue. However, a CT scan revealed a tumor leading to a diagnosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare type of appendix cancer. The tumor was surgically removed, but Celeste was fortunate to find a specialist who performed a second procedure called HIPEC, which included heated chemotherapy. Cancer-free for more than five years, Celeste says that physically, she can do everything she could do prior to her diagnosis.
After experiencing gastrointestinal issues in 2022, it took a total of four visits to ERs and an urgent care before a CT scan revealed Sarah Bennett had a mass in her duodenum, near her pancreas. The mass later led to a diagnosis of a rare cancer, neuroendocrine. She did not have to undergo a Whipple procedure, but did have to take an oral form of chemotherapy. That preceded a successful surgical removal of the mass. Sarah achieved survivorship and said her health is very close to what it was before her diagnosis.
At age two, Jon Brent was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He underwent an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, including vincristine, dexamethasone, methotrexate and prednisone, but after that still needed a bone marrow transplant. He has achieved survivorship but is still in pain and expects to some extent he will be for the rest of his life. Jon can no longer compete in contact sports but is an active participant in ultimate Frisbee.
When Hans Rueffert learned he had gastric stomach cancer at age 33, he had to have half of his stomach and half of his esophagus removed, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatment. However, because gastric juices were leaking into his lungs, he subsequently had to undergo surgery removing both his stomach and esophagus in full. It was a battle, but Hans achieved survivorship. He has to watch what he eats and how much he eats, but Hans has resumed his life as a chef, and is an active participant in competitive pickle ball.
Cancer patients are often urged to be fierce advocates for themselves as they go through a cancer journey; but members of their care team can also serve as advocates. In this interview, Hardeep Phull, MD discusses how one’s doctor can advocate for his or her patients, with advocacy addressing insurance coverage for a needed procedure and assistance in getting a patient to qualify for a clinical trial.
Cancer just will not get the best of Don Helgeson. A retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he survived malignant melanoma in 1996 and colorectal cancer in 2007. Just when he thought the disease was in his past, he was diagnosed with Stage 3B prostate cancer in 2020. He opted to have his prostate removed, but thanks to a successful surgery, he achieved survivorship and enjoys excellent urinary and sexual function.
Cancer just will not get the best of Don Helgeson. A retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he survived malignant melanoma in 1996 and colorectal cancer in 2007. Just when he thought the disease was in his past, he was diagnosed with Stage 3B prostate cancer in 2020. He opted to have his prostate removed, but thanks to a successful surgery, he achieved survivorship and enjoys excellent urinary and sexual function.
A print and runway model, Christine Handy withstood a lumpectomy, two mastectomies and a MRSA infection, plus a chemotherapy regimen featuring Herceptin and taxol to survive HER2+ breast cancer. That inspired her to write a book, “Walk Beside Me,” and to produce a film, “Hello, Beautiful.”
What Deb Krier thought was a routine mammogram turned into a Stage Zero diagnosis of breast cancer. Stage Zero became Stage III, which was upgraded to Stage IV HER 2+ invasive breast cancer. Deb opted for a double mastectomy with no reconstruction. She was subsequently diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, then papillary thyroid cancer. Through 33 surgeries, she has survived all three cancers.
Vicki Wolf was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 37. Ductal Carcinoma in SITU was successfully addressed with a lumpectomy. However, Vicki was diagnosed with the same type of cancer just two years later. Again, a lumpectomy. When Vicki was 47, she was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. She survived that diagnosis but was again diagnosed with this type of breast when she was 58. That was in 2017. Vicki survived, but not before undergoing a double mastectomy. She now leads an active lifestyle and works as an advocate for men with breast cancer after her brother, Harvey Singer, was diagnosed. They formed a non-profit, His Breast Cancer Awareness.
An ultrasound revealed a large mass in Melinda Bachini’s liver, and that led to a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer. Doctors removed two thirds of her liver. Unfortunately, her cancer returned three months. Melinda was hoping to take part in a clinical trial, but when insurance wouldn’t cover a clinical trial, settled for a chemotherapy regimen. When the chemo didn’t help but left her with a bunch of awful side effects, she decided to end the chemotherapy treatment and live as long as she could. Then she and her husband found out about another opportunity for a clinical trial, pursued it, qualified for it. The trial led to her achieving survivorship.
When Kay Kays was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1994, she not only had few treatment options, but she had no way of knowing this would be the first of four such diagnoses; but she survived each one, the last in 2008, and is still going strong. She is now able to do just about everything she could do prior to her initial diagnosis and continues the fight as a cancer research advocate.
Chest pains and severe fatigue drove Valerie David to seek medical attention, which led to a diagnosis of Stage 3B Cell Diffuse Large Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. A chemotherapy regimen helped her achieve survivorship. However, years later, she discovered a lump under her armpit. After getting it checked out, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, a form of breast cancer. Again, aided by a chemotherapy regimen, Valerie survived this diagnosis, but not long after that, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Despite the staging, Valerie was prescribed a less aggressive form of chemotherapy, and survived. Inspired by her cancer journey, she written and starred in an award-winning one-woman play, “The Pink Hulk,” seen through the United States and in Europe.
When Joe Bullock began experiencing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, he thought he could address it with an over-the-counter medication. However, when the symptoms persisted, he went in for a colonoscopy. It revealed an 8cm tumor. He got it removed and had his colon reattached, but his care team found three cancerous lymph nodes resulting in a diagnosis of Stage 3B colorectal cancer. Through an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, Joe achieved survivorship. He now works with Man Up To Cancer, a support group that seeks to help men with the mental aspect of a cancer journey.
Thanks to a misdiagnosis, for two months Amanda Ferraro was walking around with acute myeloid leukemia and didn’t know it. But after a return to the doctor’s office and subsequent bone marrow biopsy, Amanda was diagnosed. After an aggressive regimen of induction chemotherapy, she went into remission; but six months later, the cancer returned. Amanda underwent another bone marrow biopsy and was put on another chemo regimen. She was told the only thing that could save her would be a stem cell transplant. Miraculously, a donor was found, and the transplant was performed. These days Amanda is a patient advocate and pushes for laws in the New Jersey Legislature that come to the aid of those diagnosed with cancer.
In 2018, Beth Brubaker was clobbered by a double whammy. First, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, then four days later, she learned she was pregnant. Her initial diagnosis was Stage Zero Ductal Carcinoma In Situ; however, after a lumpectomy, further tests revealed Beth had HER2+ Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, presenting as Paget’s Disease. This required an immediate mastectomy to get rid of the cancer in her left breast, following by an aggressive chemotherapy regimen. While she was carrying a child and dealing with chemotherapy, Beth continued working as a schoolteacher. Through all this, she achieved survivorship, and had the blissfully uneventful birth of a daughter, Harper.
For Kevin Jerge, what began as a sore throat in 2013, led to the removal of his tonsils, and that led to a diagnosis of Stage IV head and neck cancer. Kevin’s oncologist said Kevin didn’t have to undergo chemotherapy but did require radiation treatment to attack cancerous lymph nodes. He said the regimen made his throat feel like sunburn, pain which lingered months after the conclusion of his treatment. He also lost his ability to taste. However, Kevin survived, can once again taste food and beverage and seeks to help others with his book, “Go To Your Happy Place.”
After Mandy Basson’s teenager passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma, she was inspired to establish a support group for a rare cancer that has at least 175 variations. This is her story.
Anna Tower-Kovesdi went to an urgent care facility when she noticed bruises on her leg and felt unusually fatigued. That led to a diagnosis of leukemia. Thanks to a regimen of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, plus a positive attitude and tireless support from her husband, Anna achieved survivorship. She goes on long walks and each week makes several trips to the gym. This is her story.
Harriet Cabelly went to an emergency room because she felt dehydrated; but her visit led to a CT scan, which led to a biopsy, which led to a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Thanks to six rounds of chemotherapy and a positive attitude, Harriet achieved survivorship. She has returned to a healthy lifestyle, which includes taking up ballroom dancing.
For Pete Hill, a colonoscopy led to a diagnosis of bowel cancer. His treatment regimen included a temporary stoma bag and chemotherapy, but he achieved survivorship. Having a stoma bag required some radical changes in his diet and its removal required still more changes, but says his health is “80 percent” of what it was before the diagnosis. This is his story.
Rob Capuano woke up one night with a severe pain in his stomach. He wanted to be seen at an urgent care, but due to COVID, the facility couldn’t admit him. When he was seen, he had to insist on an MRI, which resulted in his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Between surgery and chemotherapy, Rob achieved survivorship. He is also thankful that the hospital where he was treated was sensitive to issues tied to his being a married gay man, because, says Rob, not all health care facilities have staffers with those sensitivities. Rob says his health is very close to its pre-diagnosis level, and works as an advocate for cancer patients.
For Cindy Clark, fatigue led to a doctor’s appointment, which led to a biopsy and a diagnosis of cervical cancer. However, thanks to a regimen of radium and chemotherapy, Cindy achieved survivorship. She has been cancer-free since 2006. Cindy now works as an advocate for the Cancer Association of South Africa.
After years of sunburn as a kid, in his twenties, Steffan Tubbs noticed an unusual-looking mole on his chest. After two failed attempts to surgically remove it, some thirty years later, he was diagnosed with melanoma. A third procedure removed the cancer in its entirety. When he goes outdoors, he takes a series of precautions to limit his exposure to the sun and tells everyone to make sure that with regularity they are seen by a dermatologist.
What began as an obstruction of Matthew Rosenblum’s bile duct became a diagnosis of Stage Four pancreatic cancer, of which he learned via his cellphone. After two clashes with chemotherapy and two surgical procedures, Matthew leads a healthy lifestyle. Going forward, he wants to be an advocate for others diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This is his story.
When fifty-something Raphaela Ilgenfritz started feeling tired all the time, she thought her fatigue was tied to menopause. That led to a serious of doctor visits, which led to a colonoscopy, which led to a diagnosis of rectal cancer, or, as it is more commonly in the United Kingdom, where she lives, bowel cancer. She had to be outfitted with a colostomy bag, a challenge she immediately embraced. Raphaela founded Stoma4life, a support group for those with below-the-belt cancers, which grew into a podcast, heard on UKHealthRadio. This is her story.
When Cinde Dolphin survived lung cancer, she thought cancer was in her past; but then she went on to be diagnosed with three different types of breast cancer. Cinde not only survived them but invented an improvement of a long-used fluid drainage device. In addition to working to help others diagnosed with cancer, she has resumed her active lifestyle, which includes hiking, running and surfing.
When Chris White noticed a bump on his rectum, he thought it was nothing more than a pimple. Not only did the bump turn into a diagnosis of a rare type of skin cancer, but the cancer metastasized to his brain. In addition, to get the treatment he needed, Chris faced barriers from his insurance carrier and the windows for the much-need clinical trial, but he overcame everything in his path. He has resumed snowboarding and skateboarding and travels the country as an inspirational speaker.
It was only when Claudia Tatum was being checked for a chronic cough that it was discovered she had a rare form of renal cell carcinoma. Removal of a kidney required a radical hand assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy, a procedure that led to survivorship. Claudia puts her journey and her experience as an oncology nurse together to help others through the Kidney Cancer Association.
When Tim Sohn spotted some unusual bruises on one of his legs, he sought medical attention. This led to hospitalization and a subsequent diagnosis of a form of blood cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia. With the aid of two types of oral chemotherapy, Tim survived. His experience inspired him to help others diagnosed with cancer, in the form of a book and a live podcast. This is his story.
When Elise Fourie went to get checked out for mouth ulcers, she soon found herself diagnosed with follicular thyroid cancer. Two treatment rounds of radioactive iodine led to survivorship, but she faces occasional challenges that come without having a thyroid. That doesn’t stop her from being a highly active volunteer with the Cancer Association of South Africa.
When Josh Tehan’s four-year-old son, Ethan, started feeling tired all the time while complaining of lower back pain, that led to a hospital visit. Shortly thereafter, Josh was stunned with the news his son had been diagnosed with leukemia. As Ethan underwent a regimen that included chemotherapy, Josh spearheaded in-home care for Ethan that included numerous family members. Ethan survived leukemia, and now as a teenager, he is a straight-A student who plays basketball and hosts a podcast. This is the story of the emotional and mental challenges Josh faced as his son’s caregiver.
Sayen Gates’ training as a medical assistant came in handy when her aunt was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. This is the story of how she combined her expertise and her compassion to address the challenges that came with leading her family’s care for her aunt.
A kickboxer and an ultramarathoner in his early forties, Dale De Steno was in excellent health. That’s why he was stunned to be diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. Thanks to a targeted therapy regimen, he survived, but 18 months later, the cancer returned. In the Autumn of 2023, Dale passed away, but his family and friends still want you to hear his story
Jeff Knapp twice survived a form of tongue cancer. His journey was arduous and multi-faceted. It included radiation, chemotherapy, his jaw being cut in half and the removal of part of his tongue, ending his career as an actor. But Jeff’s life is as full as can be, including travel and marathon running with his wife, Robin.
When Andrew McPherson, in his late twenties, saw blood in his phlegm when he coughed, he thought it was no big deal; but a friend encouraged him to get his cough checked out by a doctor. A series of tests revealed a Stage 2A cancerous nodule in his left lung. Even though he was able to avoid chemotherapy, phases of his treatment regimen following a sleeve lobectomy were quite painful. Nonetheless, thanks to early detection, Andrew survived, has returned to his job, has returned to the golf course and is a vigorous advocate for others diagnosed with lung cancer.
When Molly Lindquist detected a lump in her left breast, she didn’t think it was a big deal. After all, she was 32 years old and in good health. But a trip to the doctor triggered a chain of events that culminated with a bilateral mastectomy. Molly survived breast cancer and immediately wanted to take action to help others. She joined Manta Cares, an organization that seeks to provide those diagnosed with breast cancer with a roadmap to make their journey as smooth as possible.
What began as a sharp pain in his left nipple led to a diagnosis of breast cancer for Harvey Singer. A regimen including twelve weeks of chemotherapy led to survivorship, but Harvey learned the health care system offered little in the way of support for a man diagnosed with breast cancer. His experience inspired his establishment of an organization which helps men all over the world as they seek guidance in the fight against breast cancer.
The courageous and compassionate actions of a dying nine-year-old cancer patient inspired the founding of the Minnesota-based Pinkyswear Foundation. Through the years, the Foundation has donated millions to families with pediatric cancer patients. Erica Neubery Campbell is Pinkyswear’s executive director, who shares a heartwarming story.
What began as stomach pains for Don Melillo became a 2012 diagnosis of liver cancer. To compound this bad news, Melillo was told his only life-saving option was that of a full liver transplant. He underwent the procedure, achieved survivorship and now leads an active lifestyle. This is his story.
When Teresa Davis-Mills underwent a colonoscopy, it revealed two polyps, but one of them turned out to be cancerous. Teresa combined a healthy diet with a simultaneous regimen of radiation and chemotherapy, which led to survivorship. Physically she can do whatever she was able to do before her diagnosis but wants to help others through a book she wrote that lists the mistakes she made during her cancer journey in hopes that those who read the book can avoid those same mistakes.
Not long after Rachel Rump was diagnosed with Stage II Cervical Cancer, her home was severely damaged by a burst pipe, and her dog died, all while raising a toddler as a single mom. But she was able to stare down the stress from all of the above and achieved survivorship. This is her extremely inspirational story.
Complications from treatment that helped Boyd Dunleavy survive two bouts of Acute Myeloid Leukemia resulted in subsequent brain and spinal cord issues. Through a successful stem cell transplant, faith and dogged determination, Boyd started from scratch to become a distance runner, competing in more than 30 marathons and half marathons. This is his story.
When Neal Augenstein started coughing, he thought it would soon go away, like any cough; but one test led to another, and Neal, who had never smoked a cigarette, soon learned he had Stage Four lung cancer. Instead of chemo or radiation, he was put on a targeted therapy regimen. Thanks to that, and a subsequent surgical procedure, he has survived advanced lung cancer.
Gregory Proctor first experienced lower back pain, which worsened to the point to which he could no longer walk. An MRI revealed a mass on his upper right hip, which became a diagnosis of multiple myeloma and a warning from his doctor that he should “get his affairs in order.” However, through an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, a stem cell transplant and his faith, Gregory is now in remission. This is his story.
After Mark Kageyama was diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer, he learned the disease had spread to his bones and lungs. Severely weakened and his weight dropping to 120 pounds, Mark combined chemotherapy and natural remedies to get the upper hand on cancer. His weight has returned to 170, and his health is very close to its pre-diagnosis level. This is his story.
When Naniki Seboni had a dermatologist check out an unusual-looking mole on her leg, she was shocked to learn she had Stage III malignant melanoma. Thankfully, through a surgical procedure the mole was removed and so was the cancer. She survived and now gives back by advocating for others diagnosed with skin cancer.
Once Paoola Sefair survived papillary thyroid cancer, she wanted to help others. She learned from her own cancer journey that the journey includes an emotional piece that often goes unaddressed. That’s when she co-founded My CareCrew, a support group featuring a free app that enables cancer patients, caregivers and their family and friends to craft a personalized care plan with an eye toward making the cancer journey’s emotional component go as smoothly as possible for all concerned.
A marathon runner, Erin Gratsch, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She thought the treatment cured the cancer, but six years later, a more aggressive form of breast cancer returned. Erin countered with an aggressive treatment plan, including chemotherapy and radiation. That, plus a positive attitude and the mental toughness of a marathoner, has brought Erin to survivorship.
When 17-year-old Asa Newell felt acute pain in a testicle, pain that reached around to his back, first he hesitated, but then he went to get it checked out. It didn’t take a doctor long to determine that Asa had testicular cancer. Asa wanted to minimize or eliminate the possibility of it spreading or returning, so he chose an aggressive, chemotherapy-based treatment regimen. That, along with a positive attitude resulted in survivorship.
In 2015, Brenda Farris was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a mastectomy on her left breast and a powerful regimen of anti-cancer diet and exercise, she survived her diagnosis. However, seven years later, she was again diagnosed with breast cancer. Incredibly, the cancer was in the same area of her first diagnosis, had not spread, and was fully operable, a development she attributes to her anti-cancer regimen. While continuing on her cancer journey, Brenda is a tireless advocate for others battling cancer.
When Anne Shimabukuro, a healthy mother of two, noticed a sharp pain in her left side in 2005, one that manifested itself when she ate, she immediately sought medical attention. That led to a diagnosis of a malignant tumor in her pancreas. She wasted no time in getting part of her pancreas removed. It required a surgical procedure, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Anne survived pancreatic cancer and today enjoys a healthy lifestyle.
Once Derrill Holly saw his Gleason scores were high, he ran not from, but toward the prospect of a prostate cancer diagnosis. He was diagnosed Stage IV and opted for a prostatectomy. He followed that up with an implant procedure and enjoys an active lifestyle, which includes being a happy husband and grandfather.
What began as a severe skin rash for Patty Pittala became a diagnosis of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Thanks to a positive, proactive attitude, and a no-nonsense treatment regimen, Patty attained survivorship. She enjoys a healthy lifestyle that includes her taking up kayaking. This is her story.
For many who survive cancer, once their treatment ends, another chapter begins, and that chapter can be rough. That’s why Tom Tressler co-founded Move Beyond Surviving, a support group that believes in the power of exercise and exploring nature as a way to ease and enhance the survivorship journey.
During a breast self-examination, 29-year-old Stephanie Smith discovered what turned out to be a 4cm tumor. This while she was carrying a child. The surgeon who saw her was reluctant to perform a biopsy on the tumor because of her pregnancy, but Stephanie insisted. While she was expecting, Stephanie dealt with chemotherapy and radiation, but she survived breast cancer and in 2019 gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Early detection made all the difference for Curtis Snyder in his journey with colorectal cancer. He tells Cancer Interviews about the importance of self-advocacy and getting a colonoscopy, and shares how life is virtually the same as it was, pre-diagnosis.
Karla Chavez had just had her thyroid removed after a diagnosis of thyroid cancer, when she was jolted with more bad news: a diagnosis of Stage II Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, a rare form of cervical cancer. After a battle that included eight rounds of chemotherapy and her learning she would have to wear a colostomy bag, Karla has resumed her career as a civil engineer in her native Honduras. She is also actively involved with Cervivor, a US-based cervical cancer support group.
Rachel Bretbrunner sought medical attention after a pain trip and fall while hiking. That led to a diagnosis of bone cancer, a rare form of sarcoma. Rachel loves hiking and camping. She survived the diagnosis and while she can no longer hike, she is still able to camp.
Annie Parrish underwent a procedure resulting in the removal of her thyroid, but survived thyroid cancer and has gone on to flourish as a mom and a nurse. This is her story.
Gillian Lichota saw her life flash before her eyes when she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer…while she was carrying a child. Not only did she survive cancer and give birth to a healthy son, but Gillian founded the iRise Above Foundation, a DC-based breast cancer support group.
Gillian Lichota saw her life flash before her eyes when she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer…while she was carrying a child. Not only did she survive cancer and give birth to a healthy son, but Gillian founded the iRise Above Foundation, a DC-based breast cancer support group.
When Jeff Moreau detected a lump on the right side of his neck, he saw a doctor. That visit led to his being diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. Jeff survived and has been free of cancer since 2007, but that didn’t stop him from taking an enormous step to help others. He is the Executive Director of the Vermont Cancer Support Network. This is his story.
When Jeff Moreau detected a lump on the right side of his neck, he saw a doctor. That visit led to his being diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. Jeff survived and has been free of cancer since 2007, but that didn’t stop him from taking an enormous step to help others. He is the Executive Director of the Vermont Cancer Support Network. This is his story.
Mike Craycraft survived Stage One testicular cancer, then took a major proactive step to help others diagnosed with the disease. He founded the Cincinnati-based Testicular Cancer Society. Its web address is testicularcancersociety.org.
Mike Craycraft survived Stage One testicular cancer, then took a major proactive step to help others diagnosed with the disease. He founded the Cincinnati-based Testicular Cancer Society. Its web address is testicularcancersociety.org.
A dentist by trade, Dr. Shyamala Peesapati lost her father to a rare form of cancer. Her experience as his caregiver inspired her to become a voice for those with rare diseases, who often have little to nothing in the way of support resources. Her message of advocacy can be found on her website, www.therareworldofficial.com.
Patrick Owen quickly realized he had some form of cancer when the seemingly harmless act of slipping into a ski boot resulted in a split femur. This is the story of how he survived a diagnosis of renal cancer through immunotherapy and faith.
What began as a routine physical for Kelley Pratt turned into a diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer, a rare form of the disease. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it was determined the cancer had metastasized to her chest. However, Kelley was in the hands of an outstanding care team and she has been in survivorship since 2004. This is the story of all she overcame.
Francie Nordin was diagnosed with epilepsy and while she sought to address her diagnosis with natural remedies, her doctor insisted on medication. Francie believes that medication led to a subsequent diagnosis of blood cancer. That’s when she put her assertive qualities to work and assumed the role as her own advocate. She credits her self-advocacy and her faith as the key ingredients in her survivorship. This is her story.
Not long after Tony Bartholomew reconnected with Monica, his high school girlfriend, she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. Without a moment’s hesitation, Tony sprung into action as Monica’s caregiver and was by her side through every step of a journey that included ten very difficult weeks of chemotherapy. She has been cancer free since 2017 and the two are now married.
Allison Hancock survived breast cancer, then decided to take action to help others with their cancer journeys. She became a volunteer the Oregon-based Breast Friends Cancer Support Network before ascending to the position of Executive Director. This is her story.
What began as lower back pain for Annamarya Scaccia became a diagnosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Annamarya has survived the removal of a kidney, and post-treatment has become a competitive bodybuilder, and serves as an advocate for others through the written and spoken word. This is her story.
When Heidi Slansky survived Stage III breast cancer AND skin cancer, she wanted to come to the aid of female cancer survivors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Inspired by slipping on boxing gloves and how they made her feel like she was truly fighting cancer, Heidi founded Cancer StrongHER. Its mission is to help women physically and mentally by provided a forum to actively carry the fight through boxing fitness, tae kwon do, yoga and pilates. At all times, the classes she offers are free of charge. Those outside Dallas-Fort Worth can learn more about what Cancer StrongHER has to offer by checking out its website, www.cancerstrongher.org.
With a family history of prostate cancer, Max Schlueter wasn’t surprised when he was diagnosed. What did come as a surprise was his cancer metastasizing to hip and spine. A treatment regimen combining Lupron and chemotherapy kept the cancer at bay; however, years later, the cancer returned years later attacking the nerve linings of his legs and feet, rendering him a paraplegic. Between determination, his Buddhist faith and a stellar team of physician therapists, Max regained his ability to walk. Now retired, he has returned to an active lifestyle of skiing, kayaking and mountain climbing.
Multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer affecting the places that bone marrow is active in an adult. A diagnosis of Stage 3B multiple myeloma cost Victor Phiri the use of his left eye and reduced the field of vision in his right eye. After he went into remission, osteolytic lesions were discovered in his left humerus bone, which limits the function of his arm. Thanks to his faith and the support of friends and family, Victor maintains a positive attitude and continues to work as a pharmacist in Lusaka, Zambia.
Laura Kieger’s family found itself in a century-long struggle with a rare genetic cancer syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). This battle became the subject of a book she wrote, “Summer’s Complaint.” Through her work as an author, Laura has gone on to become a fierce advocate for those diagnosed with FAP and other rare cancers. This is her story.
The term 'biomarker' sounds complicated, and it is; but now and going forward, it can do plenty to reduce your risk of cancer and the more you know about it, the better. Listen to this tutorial on the subject from Whitney Jones, MD, founder of the Louisville-based Colon Cancer Prevention Project.
Cathy Leman was a dietician and personal trainer when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Upon surviving breast cancer, she decided to redirect her career path in a manner that melded her dietician and training expertise with her survivorship. The result was Health Rebuild, a platform that seeks to optimize one’s cancer survivorship through sound dietary practices.
Jim Nedelka is a prostate cancer survivor. When he learned of his diagnosis, he wasted no time, considered his options and immediately chose radiation treatment. Because of early detection and his proactive approach, Jim has been cancer free since 2017.
It is difficult to get a screening for lung cancer and for those who are diagnosed, they often face a cruel and inaccurate stigma. Those are just some of the obstacles attached to a lung cancer journey, which are addressed in detail by Nancy Torrison, executive director of the Twin Cities-based A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation.
Alex Ramirez is a colon cancer survivor. When he started feeling fatigued more than usual, he sought medical attention. That doctor visit resulted in a blood test, which led to a colonoscopy, which revealed a cancerous tumor in Alex’s colon, and a diagnosis of Stage Two colon cancer. Following surgery, Alex had to wear an ostomy bag, and faced additional surgery when three times the procedure resulted in infection. Thankfully, Alex went into remission and through a reversal procedure was able to get the ostomy bag removed. He wants to make himself available to anyone who has non-medical questions about their cancer journey.
Nick Pifani needed three different treatment regimens, but survived Stage Three pancreatic cancer. It took chemotherapy, then radiation treatment, then a Whipple surgical procedure, but he is in remission and has resumed his active pre-diagnosis life of running, swimming and cycling.
Michelle Beck has survived breast cancer not once but twice. Because of a family history of breast cancer, she had an inkling that she, too, would be diagnosed, and that if she were diagnosed, she would get a mastectomy. In 2012, Michelle was diagnosed, but when she saw her diagnosis was a treatable ER-PR+/HER2-, she changed her mind and opted for a lumpectomy. However, she was diagnosed again in 2017, and this time sought a bilateral mastectomy with full reconstruction. She has gone into remission and seeks to help others through her involvement with the support group Breast Friends of Oregon. After beginning as a volunteer, Michelle is now on staff at Breast Friends, and hosts the weekly Breast Friends Cancer Support Network podcast.
Lori Shipman is a survivor of Stage 1A lung cancer. Her journey began with a persistent cough, and after a lengthy chain of events came her diagnosis. But she survived and has returned to an active lifestyle, including swimming, kayaking and running.
Xylon van Eyck endured a difficult journey, but he survived Hodgkin Lymphoma. In addition to a successful career as a broadcaster, he was in excellent health as a competitive cyclist. However, while vacationing in Thailand, he began vomiting blood. Upon returning to his native South Africa, first an ulcer was detected, then a biopsy revealed Hodgkin Lymphoma. Xylon underwent radiation treatment and chemotherapy, but they failed to kill all the cancer cells. He then needed a second round of chemotherapy, which included a higher dosage, that plus a stem cell transplant. After all that, Xylan went into remission. He is extremely appreciative of his life and his health. Xylan cycles, runs his own successful business and lives next to a game preserve, which sometimes results in wild animals sleeping in his back yard.
Tens of millions worldwide are affected by close to 7,000 rare diseases, some of them cancers. Oftentimes, they have little in the way of support where diagnosis, treatment and aftercare are concerned; but they have a friend in the Rare Disease Interest Group, based at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Carol Lacey went through an arduous journey, but survived cervical cancer. In addition to undergoing radiation treatment and chemotherapy, she had six organs removed. Despite having not one but two ostomy bags, Carol continues her work in the tech industry and leads an active life. She also works with a support group, Cervivor, which seeks to help those diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Sallie McAdoo brings a rich and varied health care background to her position as medical director of the Kidney Cancer Association. Now in its fourth decade, the KCA is a one-stop destination for information and guidance to those on a journey with kidney cancer.
Steve Jacobsen was diagnosed with a form of head and neck cancer. Oropharyngeal cancer affected the back of his tongue to the extent he could not eat like you and I, and had no idea if he could eat again. After radiation treatment and chemotherapy, a PET scan revealed the cancer was gone. He can eat again, but says the toughest part of his journey was, after the insertion of a feeding tube, not knowing if he could ever swallow or eat again. Steve believes for everyone diagnosed with cancer, part of their care team should be a therapist who can help to keep the patient's emotions on a straight path.
In her late teens, Lexi Mestas was suffering from symptoms of ovarian cancer, but didn’t know they were related to ovarian cancer until undergoing the necessary tests. Diagnosed with Low-grade Serous Carcinoma, Lexi via debulking surgery, she had both ovaries removed, along with her spleen, appendix, omentum and a hysterectomy. With the support of family and the support group, Cure Our Ovarian Cancer, Lexi exercises daily and advocates for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Pete Solomon, colorectal cancer survivor and former television sportscaster who also helped others by working in a library for the handicapped, was in good health until he noticed he was becoming increasingly fatigued. A trip to the doctor led to a colonoscopy and a diagnosis of Stage Four colorectal cancer, a procedure that included chemotherapy, resulting in the removal of his colon and five lymph nodes. In addition to the occasional mental lapses that are a byproduct of chemo, Pete had to wear and maintain a colostomy bag. Pete’s cancer journey eventually took a turn for the better, and physically he can do practically everything he could prior to the diagnosis. By way of advice, he suggests you listen to your body and trust your care team.
Teona Ducre survived first a misdiagnosis, then a correct diagnosis of Stage III pancreatic cancer. Even while going through treatment, which included chemotherapy, she was a vigorous advocate for those going through a pancreatic cancer journey. In remission since 2016, Teona is a blogger, a public speaker in the fight against cancer, and she is a tireless volunteer for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN.org).
When air bubbles were discovered in Freda Botha’s stomach, she was told a corrective procedure would take one hour. However, doctors discovered polyps on her colon, six hours later she awoke with a stoma bag installed, and told she needed to go on chemotherapy. Freda was diagnosed with colon cancer, but she survived, and now works as a volunteer with the Cancer Action Network of South Africa to help others.
Marissa Willis has survived kidney cancer and through the Kidney Cancer Association works as an advocate for others on a kidney cancer journey. Her proactive approach resulted in the cancer being caught at Stage II.
Through early detection and a proactive approach, major league baseball player and manager Dusty Baker has survived prostate cancer to lead a robust life on and off the field. This is his story.
After being diagnosed with Stage 3B lung cancer, Gary Brausen went through a painful journey that included radiation, aggressive chemotherapy and the loss of a lung; but he survived, and now works hard to help others with their cancer journeys.
Santana Campobasso of Pretoria, South Africa, was diagnosed with Stage One Piloytic Asterocytoma brain cancer at age four. After an eight-hour surgical procedure and twenty doses of radiation, she had to re-learn the ability to walk and talk, all while dealing with the taunting of classmates. She overcame those challenges, helps those diagnosed with brain cancer, is now a successful hairdresser and when times allows, she is a belly dancer. #braincancer #piloyticasterocytomabraincancer #braincancersurvivor
Here is the story of former major league baseball pitcher Dave Dravecky, who combined faith and perseverance in a cancer journey that included amputation of his left arm, shoulder and part of his collarbone. His journey continues as a highly-sought public speaker and through his foundation, Endurance.org. #cancersurvivor #strengththroughfaith #endurance.org
Michelle Stravitz survived triple negative breast cancer, then co-founded 2Unstoppable.org, which advocates the inclusion of exercise in the cancer journey. #breastcancer #triplenegativebreastcancer #cancerandexercise #2unstoppable.org
Tom Aronson was a caregiver when his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Now he is doing his best to raise awareness of the connection between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. #cancercaregiver #cancerpatientadvocate #cancerfundraiser
Diagnosed at a time when the treatment of breast cancer wasn't nearly as sophisticated as it is today, Lisa Fues is a two-time survivor. She also makes time to help others on their cancer journeys. #breastcancersurvivor #breastcancerpatientadvocate
Dan "Dry Dock" Shockley faced challenges during his 22 years with the U.S. Navy, but nothing like the adversity he overcame when surviving colorectal cancer. #colorectalcancersurvivor #ostomy
Early detection helped Chris Mayberry survive Papillary Thyroid Cancer. #thyroidcancersurvivor #cancerwarrior #papillarythyroidcancer #earlydetection
Andre Dawson is a prostate cancer survivor and advocate, and shares his journey with us. It began with his love for baseball as a boy and his dream of becoming a major league baseball player, to an incredible 20-year career as a player, and being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. After his playing days, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thanks to early detection and a proactive approach, he has survived prostate cancer and works to help others with their cancer journeys. #prostatecancersurvivor #earlydetection #baseballhalloffame #montrealexpos #chicagocubs
Sharon Henefin of Tualitan, Oregon is living proof that a fruitful life can be led after treatment for breast cancer. She has been free of breast cancer since 1993, and seeks to help others through the Tigard, Oregon-based support group, Breast Friends. This is her story. #breastcancersurvivor #breastcancerwarrior #breastfriends
Jane Ludemann survived Low-Grade Serous Carcinoma, a rare form of ovarian cancer, and now heads a foundation, Cure Our Ovarian Cancer, that aims to help those diagnosed with ovarian cancer. #ovariancancersurvivor #ovariancancerwarrior #lowgradeserouscarcinoma #cureourovariancancer.org
Early detection, which came from her daughter, enabled Janet Frega to survive skin cancer, specifically Stage Zero In Situ Melanoma. Listen as she shares her story and makes sure she and her family take the steps necessary to avoid skin cancer in the future.
Whitney Jones, M.D. has a background as a gastroenterology doctor. In 2003, he founded the Colon Cancer Prevention Project in Louisville, Kentucky. In his capacity with the Project, he gets out the word as to how one can lower their risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer, and how the journey can be eased for those who have been so diagnosed. He also travels the country advocating for legislation that can increase and improve colon cancer screening.
Pam Mendenhall shares her experiences as a 3 time cancer patient caregiver from Dubuque, Iowa. At the same time, she was the caregiver for her husband and two sons.
Jack Rolle shares his journey with us after surviving Childhood Mixed Cell Germinoma Brain Cancer from Winston Salem, North Carolina. During this video you will hear Jack perform his hit single, "Day I Die".
Jenni Dyrdahl shares her journey with us through Stage 4 Metastatic Adenocarcinoma (Lung Cancer) from her home in Fairbault, Minnesota USA. In addition to sharing her journey, Jenni sounds the alarm for increased access to lung cancer screening. #lungcancersurvivor #stage4metastaticadenocarcinoma #lungcancerscreening #lungcancerawareness
Chris Melton is a Basal Cell Carcinoma survivor who shares his journey with us from Fairfax Station, Virginia. His acting on early detection led to a good outcome and he continues to practice a disciplined approach to avoid overexposure to the sun.
Elise Roth Tedeschi is a Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer Survivor from Smyrna, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. She is also a motivational speaker and the Co-Chairperson of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network - Atlanta Affiliate. Elise shares her journey in detail, from originally being misdiagnosed, to pursuing second and third medical opinions to finally become properly diagnosed with a positive approach to her cancer treatment.
Valronica Scales faced a long, difficult cancer journey, but she survived Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. Now, with the aid of ThyCa, a global support group, she flourishes as an advocate for those battling thyroid cancer.
Crit Luallen, former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, with the aid of the Louisville-based Colon Cancer Prevention Project, survived colon cancer.
Jack McCallum, prostate cancer survivor, legendary Sports Illustrated writer and author of The Prostate Monologues book, shares his journey with prostate cancer and the work he has done to help others who are also dealing with prostate cancer.
Holly Witulski, Hodgkin lymphoma survivor shares her journey from New Jersey to Colorado, where she found out she had Hodgkin lymphoma cancer and then back to New Jersey for chemotherapy and radiation oncology treatments and then back to Colorado where she got married and had a son and enjoys living as a Hodgkin lymphoma cancer survivor where she works as a coffee shop barista and loves spending time gardening in her beautiful backyard. Holly explains how she successfully navigated cancer without health insurance as she was between jobs at the time she was diagnosed with cancer. Truly an inspiring cancer survivor story!
Renee Marrero of White Bear Township, Minnesota USA describes her journey with Multifocal Lung Adenocarcinoma in Situ, also known as Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
Chad Andrus, non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer survivor shares his story with us from his pre-cancer career as a radio sportscaster and professional basketball play by play announcer to finding out something was wrong with him on his honeymoon while on a ship in the Mediterranean Sea, coming home and continuing to work through his non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer treatments and now being cancer free.
Sue Babbitt is a bladder cancer survivor who lives in Denver, Colorado and shares her story of being diagnosed with bladder cancer, and overcoming it through surgery and chemotherapy. Sue also explains about she continues to have a very active livestyle and loves to travel, play basketball with her grand kids and go swimming!
Gianna Velarde of Lima, Peru, shares her journey as a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma cancer at age 15. She went through 16 chemotherapy treatments and 32 rounds of radiation therapy and went on to accomplish the goal she set for herself as being the 1st Peruvian women to ride in the world famous Dakar Rally on motorcycle. Gianna Valerde shares a truly inspirational story with us on this episode of the Cancer Interviews podcast!
Tim Scott is an amazing two-time cancer survivor from Irvine, California who was first diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma, which is a cancer associated with the eye. He underwent successful Brachytherapy radiation treatment and several years later he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and underwent successful chemotherapy treatment and is now cancer free. Tim has raised over $100,000 for charitable causes associated with both Ocular Melanoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma through his love of running and golf and competed in the 1st annual Speedgolf World Championships in 2012.
Elke had breast cancer, and has been in remission for three and a half years. She lives in Golden, Colorado, enjoys riding her bike, hiking in the mountains and playing with her kitties. We can all learn from hearing what Elke has to say.
Greg found himself in the role of caregiver after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. He explains the role he played as a caregiver and emphasizes taking good notes or an audio recording, with the doctor's permission.
Suzanne Foster was the caregiver for her cancer patient husband, Jim Foster and Suzanne shares her memories of the cancer journey and offers other cancer caregivers many helpful tips, suggestions and resources to help them care for their love one during their own cancer journey.
Bruce Morton is a survivor of prostate cancer and underwent a medial treatment known as Brachytherapy, also know as Seeds, which are radioactive surgical implants used to eliminate the cancer in the surrounding tissue of the prostate.
In this episode, podcast founder, Jim Foster, two-time Hodgkin lymphoma cancer survivor, introduces his co-hosts, Bruce Morton, prostate cancer survivor and Suzanne Foster, patient caregiver. All three of them explain why it is their passion to be a part of the Cancer Interviews podcast.
Jim Foster, cancer survivor, founder and host of Cancer Interviews provides an overview of what to expect in future episodes, how the podcast was created and who it is dedicated to.