Chemotherapy: 963 Real Stories
963 stories match chemotherapy. 777 of them mention surgery.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Keely’s Patient Story
Keely first felt a lump in her left breast on March 4, 2023, while away for her daughter’s soccer tournament. She had never routinely checked her breasts, but that night she felt strongly prompted to do so. On April 17, biopsy results confirmed poorly…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Stefanie’s Patient Story
Stefanie London was diagnosed with breast cancer without a family history of the disease. The diagnosis was difficult to absorb, and the prospect of surgery felt especially daunting because her previous hospital experiences had been related to psychiatric…
Read this storyStage IV Lung Cancer: Joanne’s Patient Story
Joanne Sabol was 65 when a lump in her neck led to imaging and a biopsy in July 2005. She was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer and was initially told that palliative care was her only option. Joanne sought a second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering…
Read this storyStage IV BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Lauren’s Patient Story
Lauren Corduck learned on December 31, 2016, that she carried a BRCA1 mutation inherited from her father. She had been preparing to consider risk-reducing surgery, but an MRI ordered for severe back pain revealed an unexpected finding. Further evaluation…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Vilma’s Patient Story
Vilma Rosario had recently come through treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma when a follow-up visit found a peach-size cyst on her ovary. Because the mass could have been benign, borderline or malignant, she met a gynecologic cancer surgeon for further…
Read this storyStage I Ovarian Cancer: Jane’s Survivor Story
Jane McGrath was 45 when persistent bloating, back pain and fatigue led her to seek medical attention. A transvaginal ultrasound and a second scan showed a growth about the size of an orange on her left ovary. She was referred to Memorial Sloan Kettering…
Read this storyStage II Ovarian Cancer: Dana’s Survivor Story
A painful lump in the left side of this patient’s abdomen eventually led to a diagnosis of bilateral ovarian cancer in 2018. Early imaging showed very large tumors, but repeat evaluation at MD Anderson found that the cancer had not spread extensively. It was…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Rosa’s Survivor Story
Rosa sought a second opinion after a breast lump and redness and swelling led to her cancer diagnosis. Following her doctor's recommendation, she underwent a lumpectomy to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. She…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Sofia’s Survivor Story
Sofia experienced burning pain in both breasts for about two years before her diagnosis. An early examination did not identify a clear problem. When the pain returned, mammography, ultrasound and MRI were performed, and ultrasound showed two cysts in the…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Sol’s Patient Story
Sol had a family history of cancer and sought testing while her sister was undergoing treatment. She was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer after also noticing lumps in her breast. Feeling that she had not received enough information at first, she sought…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Sonia’s Survivor Story
Sonia first noticed burning pain in her breast and a lump that gradually became larger and harder. She went to a general medicine clinic, where a mammogram was ordered. She later had a breast ultrasound that identified the tumor. Because she felt the first…
Read this storyStage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Nahilys’s Patient Story
Nahilys had previously experienced thyroid cancer when, one year later, she was diagnosed with stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer. A niece had also had breast cancer. Nahilys sought a second opinion from a more experienced doctor and approached the new…
Read this storyStage IV Breast Cancer: Nathalie’s Patient Story
Nathalie, a homemaker and mother of two from Colombia, had been living with stage 4 breast cancer for more than three years. A strong family history prompted her to seek evaluation after noticing changes in breast shape and areas of thickening. Several…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Nelly’s Patient Story
Nelly, from Colombia, sought medical care after noticing a change in the shape of her breast and a lump. She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and felt frightened, nervous, vulnerable, and worried about what the illness would mean for her family. Her…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Christopher’s Survivor Story
Christopher Lynch was 51 when a headache, vomiting, difficulty eating, and balance problems led him to seek care in early 2016. An endoscopic procedure found stomach cancer, and an MRI then showed a large, deep tumor in his left cerebellum. The brain tumor…
Read this storyStage IV Ovarian Cancer: Manisha’s Survivor Story
Manisha Koirala was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in 2012 after persistent sickness and abdominal bloating. The cancer had spread beyond the ovaries. After a second opinion confirmed the diagnosis, Manisha traveled from Nepal to New York for…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Erika’s Patient Story
Erika developed painful, sore breasts with small bumps and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The diagnosis was frightening and left her nervous, worried, and overwhelmed. Her initial recommendation included mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Martha’s Patient Story
Martha learned that she had breast cancer after attending a breast ultrasound. Her doctors recommended mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, and she chose to proceed with all three treatments. Treatment brought hair loss, loss of appetite, and…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Mery’s Patient Story
Mery, from Colombia, learned she had breast cancer during a medical checkup and examination. The diagnosis left her grieving, confused, isolated, and powerless, and she sought a second opinion before deciding on treatment. Her care included mastectomy…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Mia’s Patient Story
Mia sought medical attention after developing breast pain and severe fatigue and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The news brought anger, fear, sadness, surprise, and a sense of vulnerability. She did not seek a second opinion. Her treatment included…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Mina’s Survivor Story
Mina had no symptoms when a mammogram found a tumor during health checks arranged in her final month of job-based insurance. She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and felt frightened, helpless, and worried. The original treatment plan included…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Aishah’s Survivor Story
Aishah was 51 when she accepted a free mammogram offered through her workplace. The test unexpectedly found a breast lump, and her GP referred her to hospital. She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and also experienced irritation of the breast skin…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Barsha’s Survivor Story
Barsha was 69 when she felt a suspicious lump in her left breast during an oil massage. She sensed that something was wrong and sought medical assessment. After being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, she obtained a second opinion from a more experienced…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Camila’s Survivor Story
Camila was 43 when she felt a breast lump while breastfeeding. Her gynecologist initially thought it might be caused by clogged milk ducts, but further testing showed stage 2 breast cancer. The diagnosis left her nervous, worried and powerless, especially as…
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