Chemotherapy: 963 Real Stories
963 stories match chemotherapy. 777 of them mention surgery.
Stage I Breast Cancer: Mariana’s Patient Story
Mariana was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer through a health examination after also experiencing a pricking pain. Her family history included two cousins with breast cancer and two cousins with leukemia. She felt emotionally neutral when first given the…
Read this storyStage II HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Faith’s Survivor Story
Faith, 37, was pregnant in mid-2021 when she told her obstetrician about lumps in her breasts. There was no unusual discharge or pain, but ultrasound and biopsy confirmed Stage II ER-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, sadness…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Marisol’s Survivor Story
Marisol found several large lumps in her right breast and was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis left her frightened, nervous, worried, and powerless. Following her doctor’s recommendation, she chose a plan that included mastectomy…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Shamala’s Survivor Story
Shamala found a small lump near her right breast and sought medical attention because it felt out of place. Testing led to a diagnosis of Stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, sadness and a strong sense of helplessness, but she focused on what…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Cancer: Mawar’s Patient Story
Mawar sought medical help after persistent fatigue, heartburn and pain around the stomach or breastbone. The evaluation led to a diagnosis of Stage II stomach cancer. Following the doctor's recommendation, Mawar underwent a partial gastrectomy and also…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Aurora’s Patient Story
Aurora, 41, was pregnant in 2021 when half of her breast became hard. She was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer, a frightening and overwhelming experience that left her worried and powerless. She changed her diet after diagnosis and began eating…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Cancer: Miguel’s Patient Story
Miguel, from the United States, saw a doctor after repeated digestive problems, a persistent stomach ache and unexplained weight loss. An endoscopy found an ulcer, and the evaluation led to a diagnosis of Stage II stomach cancer. Treatment started with…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Luz’s Survivor Story
Luz sought medical care after developing arm and shoulder pain and noticing changes in the shape and size of her breast. With guidance from her doctor, she chose a mastectomy, lymph-node surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. Making the decision left her…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Martha’s Survivor Story
Martha’s breast cancer was found during a regular examination after she experienced pain extending from her breast to her back, swelling, and a change in breast size. Her family history included a sister with breast cancer and a mother with liver cancer…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Beth’s Survivor Story
Beth, 41, followed her intuition after persistent breast pain continued beyond her menstrual cycle. She scheduled a mammogram, and by that evening she learned she had Stage III breast cancer. She had no other symptoms, so acting on that pain became a key part…
Read this storyStage IV Breast Cancer: Harper’s Patient Story
Harper, 58, sought medical help after noticing a red patch on her breast. Testing at a hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand led to a diagnosis of Stage IV breast cancer. The news was overwhelming, especially because she had already lost her father and…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Ana’s Survivor Story
Ana was 57 and living in Colombia when she found a lump in her left breast while bathing. A general practitioner arranged a mammogram and then a biopsy, which confirmed stage 2 breast cancer. She was a stay-at-home mother of 3 and the head of her household…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Stella’s Patient Story
Stella sought evaluation after developing redness and flaky skin on her breast, especially because two maternal aunts had breast cancer. A mammogram led to a diagnosis of Stage I breast cancer. Fear, anxiety and worry were prominent at first, and she…
Read this storyStage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Amanda’s Patient Story
Amanda was 34 when she was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer in April 2021. Her family history included an uncle, aunt and grandfather with colon cancer. The diagnosis of colon adenocarcinoma came as a shock, especially because she had a young son and…
Read this storyStage I HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Betty’s Survivor Story
Betty, 59, sought medical attention after noticing white spots around her nipple. Testing showed Stage I breast cancer. The diagnosis was frightening and made her worry about dying too young, especially because cancer had affected other members of her family…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Angie’s Patient Story
Angie was 40 when shooting pain in her breast and persistent fatigue led to a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis. She was told that her estimated 5-year survival rate was 70%, a number that added to feelings of fear, worry and being overwhelmed. Chemotherapy…
Read this storyStage IV Breast Cancer: Stephanie’s Patient Story
Stephanie, a Frenchwoman living in New Zealand, found a lump in her right breast in late November 2021. Mammography, ultrasound and biopsy confirmed breast cancer. She was 49 years old. The disease was initially thought to be Stage I, but MRI showed spread to…
Read this storyStage III Colorectal Cancer: Cleo’s Survivor Story
Cleo was diagnosed with Stage III colorectal cancer in February 2021 after weight loss, persistent stomach pain, and blood in her stool led to a colonoscopy. The tumor had begun to spread locally but was still described as contained within the colon. The…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Hwee’s Patient Story
Hwee Lin, 66, sought help after a sharp pain in her breast persisted and did not go away. Her general practitioner referred her to a local hospital for further evaluation, where she was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis filled her with fear…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Angela’s Survivor Story
Angela developed diarrhea, blood in the stool, weight loss, loss of appetite and general discomfort over several months. Access to medical care was difficult during the COVID period, and when Angela was eventually assessed, what had seemed like it might be…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Ingrid’s Patient Story
Ingrid’s breast cancer was found during follow-up after an annual gynecology visit, when mammography showed a breast mass. An oncologist performed a biopsy and confirmed stage 2 breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy, and…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Onagh’s Survivor Story
Onagh found a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. The news brought fear, grief, resentment, isolation, and a sense of vulnerability. After diagnosis, she increased her exercise and reduced her alcohol intake from 8 drinks to 2…
Read this storyStage III Colorectal Cancer: Anna’s Survivor Story
Anna’s colorectal cancer was found through routine bowel screening even though there were no symptoms. A colonoscopy identified a tumor, and the diagnosis was Stage III colorectal cancer. The news was especially difficult because Anna had already lost a…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Cherie’s Survivor Story
Cherie was 57 when she felt a hard lump in her breast. After receiving a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis, she sought a second opinion from a more experienced doctor. She also researched her condition and found an estimated 85% 5-year survival rate for people…
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