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A Rash Only My Wife Worried About Turned Out to Be BPDCN, an Ultra-Rare Blood Cancer
Jim T., Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN) Symptoms:Persistent itching, rash on the upper back Treatments: Targeted therapy (tagraxofusp/Elzonris), allogeneic stem cell transplant
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Mayo Clinic Rewrote Courtney’s Diagnosis: Composite Lymphoma
Courney L., Composite Lymphoma Symptoms: Firm, non-movable lump near the left elbow and the area became warm and discolored, with swelling gradually spreading through the arm; increasing heaviness, weakness, shaking, numbness, and tingling in the left arm, eventually struggling to hold up the arm or use it normally; night sweats; overwhelming fatigue; loss of appetite;…
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I Thought It Was Just Bloating; It Was Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer
Joy K., Ovarian Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic), BRCA2+ Symptoms: Sprain-like abdominal pain, severe bloating/abdominal hardness, ascites (massive fluid buildup in stomach), inflammation, exhaustion Treatments: Paracentesis (fluid drainage), chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab), surgery, PARP inhibitor (olaparib)
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14 Years Later and Still Here: How Katie Smith Has Survived ‘Inoperable’ Brain Cancer
Katie S., Glioblastoma, Grade 4, IDH1+ Symptoms: Left arm heaviness and weakness, reduced fine motor control in the left hand, intermittent tingling in the left fingers Treatments: Surgeries (craniotomy, twice), radiation therapy, chemotherapy (temozolomide, CCNU), monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab)
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Yvonne McClaren’s Stage 4 Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis, and the Life She Built Afterwards
Yvonne McClaren, Head and Neck Cancer (Oropharyngeal Cancer), Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptom: Persistent one-sided sore throat Treatments: Surgeries (bilateral tonsillectomy, partial throat resection, neck dissection), chemotherapy, radiation therapy
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From Multiple Tumors to a Liver Transplant: How Keaton Survived Rare Bile Duct Cancer (Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma)
Keaton H., Bile Duct Cancer (Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma) Symptoms: Mild heartburn and gastrointestinal discomfort, persistent low-grade abdominal pain Treatments: Chemotherapy (gemcitabine, cisplatin, FOLFOX), monoclonal antibodies (durvalumab, zenocutuzumab), radiation therapy (Y-90 radioembolization), surgery (liver transplant)
Bile Duct Cancer, Chemotherapy, cisplatin (Platinol), durvalumab (Imfinzi), FOLFOX (folinic acid, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin), gemcitabine (Gemzar), Immunotherapy, Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma, Liver transplant, Monoclonal Antibody, Patient Stories, Radiation Therapy, Treatments, Y-90 radioembolization, zenocutuzumab (Bizengri) -
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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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Living From Scan to Scan: Young Dad Nathan’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer Story
Nathan G., Colon Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Persistent heartburn, feeling full after eating, severe abdominal pain Treatments: Surgeries (colectomy, cytoreductive surgery, lymphanadectomy), chemotherapy (FOLFOX, HIPEC or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy)
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“I’m Going to Beat This”: Rich’s Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Experience
Rich N., Pancreatic Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Week-long stomach pain and constipation Treatments: Chemotherapy (FOLFIRINOX), targeted radiation therapy
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I was My Best Advocate: David’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer Experience
Helen D., Colon Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Pelvic pressure and pain, burning with urination, bloating, constipation for a short period, low energy or fatigue, discomfort sitting, night sweats Treatments: Chemotherapy (FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, hepatic artery infusion pump therapy), targeted therapy (panitumumab), surgeries (liver resection and ablations, colon resection, full hysterectomy)
