Radiation: 614 Real Stories
614 stories match radiation. 511 of them mention surgery.
Stage I Breast Cancer: Anna’s Survivor Story
Anna, 51, noticed a lump and a change in the shape of one breast before being diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, grief, isolation, and financial stress. Her first oncologist recommended lumpectomy, lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Tessa’s Patient Story
Tessa’s breast cancer was detected during a routine mammogram, when a small tumor measuring about 12 mm was found. The diagnosis came as a surprise, especially because Tessa was caring for an elderly mother at the time and felt there was little space in life…
Read this storyStage III Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Elizabeth’s Survivor Story
Elizabeth was living in Canada when blood in her stool led her to seek medical care in December 2022. Testing showed Stage III rectal adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis left her angry, frightened, and worried about dying and leaving her children without their…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Diana’s Survivor Story
Diana was 40 when persistent pain in her right breast led her to feel a small lump. She was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and initially felt powerless, vulnerable and sad. Her doctors explained that treatment offered a chance of survival if the cancer…
Read this storyStage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Paisley’s Patient Story
Paisley was attending an appointment for an unrelated neck problem when a doctor felt a lump about 4 cm above her left nipple. She had undergone mammography 3 months earlier, but dense breast tissue had obscured the tumor. Ultrasound followed by biopsy…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Valiente’s Patient Story
Valiente, a mother from Colombia, found a painless lump in her right breast. Evaluation by oncology and breast specialists, including MRI, confirmed Stage III breast cancer. The diagnosis led her to make major lifestyle changes, including exercising twice as…
Read this storyStage 0 Breast Cancer: Jacqueline’s Survivor Story
Jacqueline, 52, is from Ireland and was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer after taking part in a sleep apnea study. A PET scan from the study picked up an abnormality. At first, she was told it was a papilloma cyst, but it turned out to be Stage 0 breast…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Carlie’s Patient Story
Carlie, 51, was diagnosed with Stage IIIB breast cancer after about 6 months of symptoms in her right breast, including an itchy nipple, sharp searing pain, fatigue, and a feeling that something was off. At first she was told the cancer looked like Stage IIB…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Carmen’s Survivor Story
Carmen, 56, is from Colombia, works in bacteriology, and has 1 child. She went to the doctor after a mass in her right breast began to grow and change the shape of the breast. She also noticed redness, swelling, nipple itching, and throbbing pain. She was…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Martha’s Patient Story
Martha noticed bleeding from her nipple and sought medical attention. After obtaining a second opinion because she wanted clearer information, she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis left her fearful, helpless, and worried, even after…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Sanjana’s Patient Story
Sanjana was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer about 2 years ago after breast thickening, swelling and sudden pain prompted her to seek medical attention. Her treatment journey included chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy, and she says she…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Sarah’s Survivor Story
Sarah was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 2022 after a radiologist noticed a dark lump during a routine mammogram. The diagnosis brought anger, fear, helplessness and grief, and she responded by making changes to her diet and exercise routine. Her…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Edith’s Patient Story
Edith noticed rapid changes in the size and shape of her left breast, followed by a new lump. She was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. The diagnosis left her feeling powerless, vulnerable, and guilty that she had not recognized the symptoms earlier, but…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Martha’s Patient Story
Martha noticed a highly visible mass in her right breast and was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. She sought a second opinion from a more experienced doctor and also researched her options before deciding on treatment. Following medical recommendations…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Ada’s Survivor Story
Ada was 50 when she faced stage 3 breast cancer after noticing breast lumps and pain in her armpits. The diagnosis brought feelings of helplessness, insecurity, grief and fear, but she chose to follow a broad treatment plan. Her care included a mastectomy…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Katie’s Survivor Story
Katie Robb Sewall was 27 when a double mastectomy in 2014 changed what she thought was stage 0 breast cancer into a Stage III diagnosis. Pathology showed the cancer had spread from the breast ducts into lymph nodes. Katie and her husband, Craig, had to move…
Read this storyStage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jacque’s Patient Story
Jacque, an academic advisor and mother of 2 grown children, found a hard, gritty, annoying lump under her left arm and breast in 2019. Her OB-GYN agreed it should be checked, but a mammogram and ultrasound were initially reassuring, and the radiologist told…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Daniel’s Patient Story
Daniel ‘Joe’ Einspahr noticed a persistent sensation of hunger in 2018 that did not improve after eating. An endoscopy showed stomach cancer, interrupting a multi-year cross-country bicycle trip he had been completing with his son. Joe received 3 rounds of…
Read this storyStage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Abby’s Survivor Story
Abby Kanarek was 60 when a backache led to an X-ray that showed a lung mass. Soon after, temporary leg numbness and loss of movement on the left side of her body sent her to emergency care, where scans found the lung mass plus a large brain tumor and 5…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Tony’s Patient Story
Tony was 69 when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He died on July 24, 2013, only 2 months later and less than 1 month before his 70th birthday. Chemotherapy could only be given while he was an outpatient. Although he was released from hospital, repeated…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Sundar’s Survivor Story
Sundar Matpadi was diagnosed with stomach cancer in August 2012 at age 46. Sundar underwent total gastrectomy the following month, followed by 92 days of oral chemotherapy and 30 days of radiation. Treatment ended in May 2013. The treatment and recovery…
Read this storyGastric Adenocarcinoma: Alan’s Patient Story
Alan Gorman was diagnosed with signet cell adenocarcinoma of the stomach in March 2014 at age 50. Symptoms had begun about 7 months earlier with chest pain. Initial X-rays and blood tests appeared normal, and acid-reflux treatment was started. As the symptoms…
Read this storyGastric Cancer Patient Story
Mr. Knight was diagnosed with stomach cancer on May 21, 2014, at age 62. One week later, on May 28, he underwent surgery to remove his stomach. He began chemotherapy and radiation on August 13 and completed 5 weeks of combined treatment. The course was…
Read this storyStage IV Lung Cancer: Anne’s Patient Story
Anne LaPorte spent decades as a nurse and had already lived through lung cancer as a caregiver. Her father was diagnosed with very advanced lung cancer in 2008 and died after moving to hospice. In 2017, her daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin…
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