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From Rib Pain to the OR: Tracy’s Pancreatic Cancer Experience
Tracy R. T., Pancreatic Cancer (Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma), Stage 3 Symptom: Pain in the right rib area that radiated to the back Treatments: Surgery (pancreaticoduodectomy or Whipple procedure), chemotherapy (FOLFORINOX, gemcitabine, capecitabine), radiation therapy (upcoming)
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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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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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“Not Me. That’s Not My Story.”: Haley’s Rarest of the Rare Diagnosis – Breast-Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
Haley K., Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Symptoms: Dark urine, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, constipation, poor-quality sleep, mood swings due to hormonal changes Treatment: Chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel)
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Bile Duct Cancer at 27: Morgan’s Path to Answers, Care, and No Evidence of Disease
Morgan O., Bile Duct Cancer (Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma) Symptoms: Fatigue, nausea, severe abdominal pain, dark urine, itching, clay-colored stool, significant weight loss, jaundice Treatments: Surgeries (liver resections), chemotherapy
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Finding Her Voice: Anjee’s Path Through Metastatic Kidney Cancer
Anjee A., Kidney Cancer (Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma with Rhabdoid Features), Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptom: Appearance of blood in urine Treatments: Surgeries (radical nephrectomy, adrenalectomy), immunotherapy (pembrolizumab), TKI inhibitor (axitinib), HIF-2α inhibitor (belzutifan)
Adrenalectomy, axitinib (Inlyta), Belzutifan, Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2 Alpha (HIF2α) Inhibitor, Immunotherapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Kidney Cancer, Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Nephrectomy, Patient Stories, Radical nephrectomy, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Surgery, Targeted Therapy, Treatments, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) -
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Tongue Cancer at 37: Brittany’s Misdiagnosis, Major Surgery, and Finding Her Voice Again
Brittany Z., Tongue Cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue and Lymph Nodes), Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Painful tongue rash, loss of mobility, severe ear pain Treatments: Surgeries (partial glossectomy, lymphadenectomy, tonsillectomy, tracheostomy, feeding tube placement, tongue reconstruction), radiation therapy, chemotherapy (cisplatin)
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Kelsey’s Stage 4 EGFR+ and ALK+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Story
Kelsey D., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, EGFR+, ALK+, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Severe back pain, falling due to collapsed spinal vertebrae Treatments: Radiation therapy, targeted therapy (tyrosine kinase inhibitor, osimertinib), surgery (spinal fusion surgery), chemotherapy (through a clinical trial)
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“I Was Weeks Away from Liver Failure”: Jim’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer
Jim S., Colon Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptom: Back pain, especially when sleeping for long periods Treatments: Surgery (partial colectomy), chemotherapy (FOLFIRINOX, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, irinotecan), monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab)
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Kalei’s Stage 4 Rectal Cancer Story: Has My Cancer Returned?
Kalei M., Rectal Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: More frequent bowel movements, presence of mucus, tissue-like substance, and blood in stool, stomach cramping and sharp pains Treatments: Radiation therapy, chemotherapy (FOLFOX), surgeries (two lung resections)
