Surgery: 1,095 Real Stories
1,095 stories match surgery. 777 of them mention chemotherapy.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Gretchen’s Survivor Story
Because a germline CDH1 mutation also increased her risk of lobular breast cancer, Gretchen Borzi alternated mammograms and breast MRI every 6 months. In March 2014, MRI identified a small abnormal area that was confirmed by biopsy as invasive lobular…
Read this storyStage III BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Meredith’s Survivor Story
Meredith Ippolito’s ovarian cancer was discovered unexpectedly in 2008. She had sought care for rectal bleeding, and a colonoscopy found flat polyps but no cancer. Doctors decided to perform a colon resection. During that operation, cancer was found, and…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Sara’s Patient Story
Sara Souto Strom built her career around understanding why people develop cancer and what influences survival. In 2002, that work became personal when an acid taste in her mouth led her to have an endoscopy. The test revealed early-stage stomach cancer. Sara…
Read this storyStage IV Ovarian Cancer: Bre’s Patient Story
At age 26, this patient had worsening bloating, stomach problems and abdominal pain that several doctors initially dismissed. An emergency-room CT scan showed large tumors, and surgery that had been expected to be straightforward instead revealed Stage IV…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Jennifer’s Survivor Story
Jennifer Gerres, 32, was a podiatric surgery resident when she developed pain and nausea that progressed to passing clotted blood and severe cramps. Her husband urged her to call Cleveland Clinic’s same-day appointment line, and the care team convinced her to…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Johanna’s Patient Story
Johanna Chelcun was 26 when she underwent total gastrectomy because hereditary diffuse gastric cancer affected her family. Preoperative screening had not found abnormalities, but pathology after surgery identified 32 cancerous lesions in her stomach. Recovery…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Laura’s Patient Story
Laura McFetridge Ayala learned at age 22 that she carried a CDH1 mutation linked to hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. Five months later, a biopsy found cancer, which affected the timing of her surgery. She underwent total gastrectomy in August 2011, becoming…
Read this storyStage III Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Bridgette’s Survivor Story
Bridgette was 66 when she found a lump under her arm in the shower. Just 3 weeks earlier, her mammogram had been reported as clear. Further testing led to a stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis in May 2012. The diagnosis was frightening…
Read this storyStage IV Breast Cancer: Su’s Patient Story
Su Chiao was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 2010 after finding a lump in the breast. The diagnosis brought fear, helplessness and anxiety, and Su Chiao responded by trying to eat more healthily and exercise more. Over the years, the cancer did not…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Martha’s Survivor Story
Martha was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer more than a decade ago after the cancer was found during a health examination. She had no symptoms and no family history of breast cancer, so the diagnosis was unexpected. She sought a second opinion while…
Read this storyStage I BRCA1 Breast Cancer: Karen’s Patient Story
Karen first had a breast lump biopsied and learned that it was a benign galactocele. A separate, asymptomatic lesion was found in the other breast and became the focus of follow-up. When it was rechecked and biopsied three months later, it was diagnosed as…
Read this storyStage 0 Breast Cancer: Linda’s Survivor Story
Linda, originally from Malaysia, found a lump above her right breast while showering in 2007. Further evaluation showed stage 0 breast cancer. She had no other symptoms. The diagnosis left her worried, nervous, and overwhelmed. Following her doctor’s…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Mary’s Survivor Story
Mary was diagnosed with stage 3 metaplastic breast cancer in May 2007 after an 11-month delay. She had noticed a lump in her left breast, along with nipple discharge, redness, irritation, and thickening. Across nine medical visits, mammography, scanning…
Read this storyStage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Betsy’s Patient Story
Betsy sought medical attention immediately after severe rectal bleeding and was diagnosed in April 2020 with Stage III colon adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis was unexpected because Betsy had felt well and had been living a healthy lifestyle. Treatment began with…
Read this storyStage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Alecia’s Patient Story
Alecia learned she had Stage IV colorectal cancer in August 2020 after a blood test showed a hemoglobin level of 6 and a colonoscopy found colon adenocarcinoma. Before diagnosis she had frequent diarrhea and fatigue. She began treatment with 4 cycles of…
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