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Ashley Was Told It Was Nothing, Until a Lesion Changed Everything: She Had Multiple Myeloma
Ashley J., Multiple Myeloma Symptoms: Extreme pelvic pain, fatigue Treatments: Radiation therapy, chemotherapy
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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 at 32 for Stage 4 Breast Cancer; Claire’s Now Three Years Cancer-Free
Claire W., Breast Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic), HER2+ Symptom: Swollen and rock-hard breast Treatments: Chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab, ongoing maintenance), surgeries (unilateral mastectomy of the right breast, full axillary lymph node clearance), radiation therapy
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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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From ‘Routine Hernia’ to Rare Cancer: Katie’s Stage 4 Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma (ASPS) Story
Katie L., Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma (ASPS), Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptom: Appearance of lump in abdominal area Treatments: Radiation therapy, surgeries (abdominal resection with mesh placement, reconstruction), immunotherapy
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How an Athlete’s Mindset Guided Marina’s Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Experience – Twice
Marina B., Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Stage 2, BRCA1+ Symptoms: Month-long twinge of pain in breast (first diagnosis), appearance of lump in armpit (second diagnosis) Treatments: Chemotherapy (AC and paclitaxel), surgery (mastectomy and reconstruction), radiation therapy
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Colon Cancer at 24: Meagan’s Story of Listening to One Symptom
Meagan M., Colon Cancer, Stage 3C Symptom: Appearance of blood in stool Treatments: Surgery (partial colectomy), chemotherapy (FOLFOX)
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Trust Your Body, Trust Your Care Team: How Aleeshia Faced Rare Burkitt Lymphoma at 33
Aleeshia T., Burkitt Lymphoma, Stage 4B Symptoms: Severe fatigue, deep shoulder pain, ear pain with inflammation, abdominal and pelvic pain, bloating, early fullness, nausea, difficulty eating, inability to urinate despite feeling an urgent need, internal bleeding, delayed period/bleeding, intense whole‑body pain leading to collapse Treatments: Surgeries (emergency laparoscopic surgery with left ovary removal), chemotherapy (R‑CODOX‑M/IVAC),…
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Diagnosed with Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer at 21: Julia’s Experience
Julia T., Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Stage 3C Symptoms: Unexplained weight loss and then rapid weight gain, chronic acid reflux and heartburn, persistent bloating and abdominal distension, early satiety, frequent urination with hip pain, extreme abdominal pain and tenderness Treatments: Surgeries (abdominal surgery to remove large ovarian cysts, full hysterectomy, debulking surgery), chemotherapy, hormone therapy…
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“I Knew It Was Back”: How Amanda Knew Her Hodgkin Lymphoma Was Back
Amanda P., Relapsed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Stage 4 Symptom: Sudden, unexplained weight loss Treatments: Immunotherapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant (autologous)
