Surgery: 1,095 Real Stories
1,095 stories match surgery. 777 of them mention chemotherapy.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lucy’s Survivor Story
Lucy E. was diagnosed with grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer 3 days after her 24th birthday. She had found a breast lump and pushed for biopsy even after being told it was likely fibrous tissue. She already knew she carried a BRCA1 mutation, which made…
Read this storyStage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lucy’s Patient Story
Lucy was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 days after her 24th birthday. Her risk was already personal: her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer twice and, after the second diagnosis, learned she carried a BRCA1 mutation. Lucy then had genetic testing…
Read this storyStage II HER2-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Lanie’s Patient Story
Lanie Jones had already survived adrenal carcinoma as a toddler when she found a breast lump in July 2008, shortly before starting nursing school. At first, she delayed the ultrasound because she was 24 and could not imagine having cancer again. When the lump…
Read this storyStage II HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Becki’s Patient Story
Becki, 43, sought a second opinion after feeling that her previous doctor had not given her enough information. Mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy confirmed Stage II triple-positive breast cancer: ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2-positive. The diagnosis was…
Read this storyStage IV Breast Cancer: Adriana’s Patient Story
Adriana was 39 when a lump under her left armpit made her feel that something was wrong. On October 19, 2023, she learned that she had stage 4 breast cancer. Following her doctors' recommendation, Adriana underwent a mastectomy and then intensive chemotherapy…
Read this storyStage III Colorectal Cancer: Ceejay’s Patient Story
Ceejay first noticed breathlessness, which was traced to severe anemia. Blood tests and bowel tests followed, along with symptoms that included alternating diarrhea and constipation and a feeling that the bowel did not empty completely. Further evaluation led…
Read this storyHR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Annette’s Patient Story
Annette La Fontaine was diagnosed with ductal breast cancer in 2021 after finding a lump while showering. She had been through years of intense stress, including family illness, separation, and the pressures of COVID, and she describes reaching diagnosis…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Amanda’s Survivor Story
Amanda was 71 when a black spot noticed during a routine check led to further investigation. A mammogram confirmed stage 2 breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, helplessness and worry, but she trusted her medical team and followed the recommended…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Margaret’s Patient Story
Margaret sought medical care after noticing discharge from her nipple. She was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis left her fearful and sad, although she also felt optimistic and hopeful about what came next. Based on her doctor’s…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Cece’s Survivor Story
Cece, a former nurse in Ireland, noticed one new symptom: difficulty swallowing. Because Cece was very fit and felt the symptom was unusual, medical evaluation followed quickly. In September 2023, Cece was diagnosed with Stage II stomach cancer, specifically…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Gayna’s Survivor Story
Gayna, 57, first noticed flattening on the underside of her left breast. That change led her to seek medical advice, and she was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. She felt relatively neutral when she first received the news, but the diagnosis still pushed…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Maeve’s Patient Story
Maeve felt a lump at the top of her breast and was referred from her general practitioner to another hospital for evaluation. After the diagnosis, she began eating more healthfully, increased her exercise, and stopped drinking alcohol. Following medical…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Margaret’s Patient Story
Margaret, a mother of two from Ireland, noticed a large breast lump that appeared almost overnight, together with itching. She was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. Although the news was difficult, she tried to remain optimistic and hopeful. Her…
Read this storyStage III Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Colin’s Survivor Story
Colin, a truck driver living in Australia, sought medical care in August 2023 after several weeks of an upset stomach. Testing showed Stage III colon adenocarcinoma. Although he had suspected bowel cancer might be the cause, he tried to stay optimistic after…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Grace’s Patient Story
Grace, 67, discovered her breast cancer through a routine mammogram in July 2023. She had been going for mammograms every 2 years, and this one revealed something unexpected. The diagnosis was Stage II breast cancer. Grace felt empty, confused, disillusioned…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Maria’s Patient Story
Maria was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer while her sister was also undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, nervousness, worry, and a sense of being overwhelmed. She tried to remain optimistic through prayer, acceptance…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Teri’s Survivor Story
Teri’s breast cancer was found during a routine mammogram in May 2023. Follow-up ultrasound and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis after the screening study detected something suspicious. Teri had not noticed major symptoms, although nipple discharge occurred…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Hu’s Patient Story
Hu Jia, from Taiwan, discovered she had breast cancer in June 2023 after an unusual sequence of events. Her cat kept sniffing her, and about a month later a lump appeared in the swollen area. The diagnosis was confirmed at the hospital and was found at Stage…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Patricia’s Survivor Story
Patricia was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in May 2023 after her first NHS mammogram led to a biopsy. She had experienced no symptoms and described the mammogram as lifesaving. The diagnosis brought sadness and fear. Patricia underwent a mastectomy…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Alicia’s Patient Story
Alicia, 54, was working in human resources in the United Kingdom when she felt a tiny lump around her nipple and noticed changes in breast shape. She had the changes checked by a doctor and was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. The news left her…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Catriona’s Survivor Story
Catriona was 62 when bleeding from her nipple led to a stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis in July 2023. She had not expected cancer and was surprised by the news. The experience prompted her to reassess her priorities and how she wanted to use her time…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Pearline’s Patient Story
Pearline, from New Zealand, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2023 after a routine mammogram found a suspicious area and a core needle biopsy confirmed cancer. Her surgeon told her that the estimated 5-year survival rate was 44%. A few months…
Read this storyStage III Colorectal Cancer: Gina’s Patient Story
Gina was diagnosed with Stage III colorectal cancer in January 2023 after back pain led to imaging for a large ovarian cyst and bowel thickening. Cancer was removed surgically, but the temporary stoma did not function and she needed a second operation the…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Cancer: Sagan’s Patient Story
Sagan was evaluated after digestive symptoms led to blood testing and an endoscopy, where doctors found a stomach mass. MRI was also used to assess whether the cancer had spread. The eventual diagnosis was Stage II stomach cancer. Sagan already lived with a…
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