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Justin on Life as a Melanoma Care Partner After His Wife’s Cancer Metastasized
Justin C., Spouse of Megan C., Melanoma Patient “I don’t know that I would be able to go through the things that she endures. I know she has to, and she does it, but she does it with a smile.”
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The Financial Cost of Lung Cancer Treatment: Jennifer’s Almost Two Years of Self-Advocacy
Jennifer W., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Stage 4 (Metastatic), ALK+ Symptoms: Left-sided rib pain, fatigue with the need for daytime naps, interruptive and persistent cough Treatments: Radiation therapy (targeted radiation), targeted therapy (alectinib, lorlatinib), monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab), biphosphonate (zoledronic acid), chemotherapy (upcoming)
alectinib (Alecensa), ALK Inhibitor, ALK-Positive NSCLC, bevacizumab (Avastin), Biphosphonates, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, lorlatinib (Lorbrena), Lung Cancer, Metastatic ALK-Positive NSCLC, Monoclonal Antibody, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Patient Stories, Radiation Therapy, Targeted radiation therapy, Targeted Therapy, Treatments, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI), zoledronic acid (Zometa) -
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Stage 4 Melanoma: Supporting Each Other When Cancer Progressed
Megan & Justin C., Melanoma Patient (Megan) and Care Partner (Justin), Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Itchy mole on the back that changed color and texture, escalating pain in the hip, lower back, and leg Treatments: Surgeries (wide excision of mole, removal of 10 lymph nodes from right armpit, orthopedic hardware surgery in the femur), immunotherapy,…
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How Alicia Pushed for Answers When Her Ocular Melanoma Spread to Her Liver
Alicia M., Ocular Melanoma, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Peripheral vision loss, loss of balance resulting in falling, unexplained 15-pound weight loss Treatments: Radiation therapy (gold plaque brachytherapy), chemotherapy (melphalan), upcoming dual immunotherapy
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Amanda’s Rare Genetic Condition, Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, Led to Breast Cancer and Osteosarcoma Back to Back
Amanda R., Breast Cancer (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ or DCIS) and Osteosarcoma, TP53 (Li-Fraumeni Syndrome) Symptoms: breast cancer: breast lump, nipple discharge, nipple sore and chafing; osteosarcoma: jaw pain, swollen cheek Treatments: breast cancer: surgery (double mastectomy), chemotherapy; osteosarcoma: chemotherapy, surgery (maxillectomy: jaw surgery with skin graft and prosthetic plate)
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Marisa’s Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and BRCA2 Discovery
Marisa S., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 1, BRCA2, ATM (variant of unknown significance) Symptoms: Intense stomach pain, bloating, presence of blood in stool Treatments: Surgeries (polyp removal, precancerous tissue removal, nipple-sparing double mastectomy with tissue expanders, exchange to implants, revision surgery with fat grafting, salpingectomy)
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At 23, Summer’s Osteosarcoma Started as Knee Pain That Wouldn’t Go Away
Summer K., Recurrent Osteosarcoma, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Primary Cancer: Soreness and inflammation of the right knee; Recurrence: Appearance of nodules and tumor in lung, and lump on side Treatments: Primary Cancer: Chemotherapy, surgeries (limb-salvage surgery (proximal tibia replacement with gastrocnemius flap), proximal tibia arthroplasty); Recurrence: surgeries (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) wedge lung resection, subcutaneous…
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Diagnosed with Myxoid Liposarcoma After Doctors Called Her Lump a Lipoma
Kat G., Low-Grade Myxoid Liposarcoma Symptoms: Night sweats, appearance of a painless, golf ball-sized lump on inner right thigh Treatments: Radiation therapy including through a clinical trial, surgery (upcoming limb salvage surgery)
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After a Year of Unanswered Symptoms, Marcie Learned She Had Stage 3 Adrenal Cancer
Marcie B., Adrenal Cancer (Adrenocortical Carcinoma), Stage 3 Symptoms: Abdominal pain, chronic low-grade fever, diarrhea, vomiting, generally feeling unwell Treatments: Surgeries (adrenalectomy, partial pancreatectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy (mitotane)
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Amber’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer Symptoms: How She Pushed Past “You’re Too Young” to Get Answers
Amber K., Colon Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Blood in stool, abdominal discomfort, changes in bowel habits, weight loss, dizziness, blurry vision Treatments: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgeries (colectomy, lymphadenectomy)
