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Six Months of Explaining Away a Cough That Turned Out to Be Stage 4 ALK-Positive Lung Cancer
Nay T., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Stage 4B (Metastatic), ALK+ Symptoms: Persistent cough, loss of voice that never returned, loss of 30 lbs in six weeks without dieting, chest pain and difficulty breathing at night, waking up in the middle of the night with deep chest pain and feeling like drowning, coughing up blood…
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At 19, Every Nurse Told Taylor She Was Too Young for Rectal Cancer; She Wasn’t
Taylor M., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3C Symptoms: Irregular bowel movements, rectal bleeding Treatments: Clinical trial (radiation therapy and chemotherapy), chemotherapy, surgeries (ovarian transposition (oophoropexy), total proctocolectomy with ileostomy, hysterectomy)
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Diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, Julee Was Given 18 to 24 Months to Live
Julee P., Leiomyosarcoma Symptoms: Right flank pain, off-smelling (sulfur-smelling) urine, post-surgical left leg numbness, bowel obstruction, chest pain, numbness and tingling in the right hand Treatments: Surgeries (tumor removal and ureter reimplantation, microwave ablation, histotripsy, tumor ablation), clinical trial (doxorubicin-based regimen), radiation therapy (upcoming)
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No Symptoms, No Warning: How a Fertility Scan Revealed Lynn’s Stage 4 HLRCC Kidney Cancer
Lynn T., Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC), FH-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma (FHdRCC), Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: None; caught during a pelvic MRI for uterine fibroids Treatments: Surgery (nephrectomy, right), clinical trial (bevacizumab, atezolizumab, erlotinib)
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Two Cancer Diagnoses in 14 Months: How Jeff Advocated Through Stage 3B Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Jeffrey R., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 3B; Prostate Cancer Symptoms: None; diagnosed through routine screening colonoscopy Treatments: JANUS clinical trial (radiation therapy, oral chemotherapy, chemotherapy infusions)
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I Have Stage 4 Melanoma: Chris on Faith, Scanxiety, and New Treatments
Chris K., Melanoma, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptom: Swollen lymph nodes in the neck Treatments: Surgeries (lymphadenectomy, wide local excision, reconstruction), Immunotherapy (neoadjuvant immunotherapy – ipilimumab and nivolumab, PD-1/LAG-3 combination – nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw through a clinical trial)
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Kina’s Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer Experience Highlights Fierce Self-Advocacy
Kina L., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Flare-up of IBS symptoms, appearance of blood in stool Treatments: Surgeries through a clinical trial (double thoracotomy, lung resection), chemotherapy (including chemoperfusion, through a clinical trial)
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Will’s Experience with Stage 4 Liver Cancer is Marked by Moments of Joy
Will M., Liver Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: General uneasiness, exhaustion, diarrhea, hard mass in the abdomen, worsening abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant Treatments: Surgery (kyphoplasty), chemotherapy, targeted therapy, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiation therapy, clinical trial
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Emily’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer Story
Emily K., Colon Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Abdominal pain, blood in stool Treatments: Surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, clinical trials
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Gigi’s Stage 1A, High-Grade Serous HER2+, PR+, ER- Endometrial Cancer Story
Gigi D., High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Stage 1A, HER2+, PR+, ER- Symptoms: Hiccup-like sensations behind the sternum, gastrointestinal issues, spotting Treatment: Chemotherapy (carboplatin & paclitaxel)
