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14 Years Into Metastatic Breast Cancer, Lesley Glenn Asks for a New Biopsy at Every Progression
Lesley Glenn, Breast Cancer, Stage 4 (De Novo Oligometastatic), HER2-Low, ER+ Symptom: Appearance of a palpable lump in breast Treatments: Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery (tumor resection), hormone therapy (tamoxifen), targeted therapy
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Growing Up, Her Father Had Stage 4 Colon Cancer, Then She Was Diagnosed at 43
Kathryn W., Colon Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Abdominal pain, shortness of breath, dark thin stools, exhaustion Treatments: Surgeries (right hemicolectomy, right hepatectomy, abdominal resections, right lung resection, left lung resection), chemotherapy (FOLFOX)
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Kiana Had a Heart Transplant in 2023; Six Months Later She Was Diagnosed With Stage 4 DLBCL
Kiana Had a Heart Transplant in 2023; Six Months Later She Was Diagnosed With Stage 4 DLBCL Kiana had a transplant in October 2023 to replace a heart that had been failing since 2019. Her diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) story started when she was still recovering from the operation in the spring of 2024.…
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Not 100% Sure He’d Survive Stomach Cancer Surgery, Frank Proposed to His Partner First
Frank R., Stomach Cancer Symptoms: Elevated resting heart rate, slow internal gastrointestinal bleeding, severe anemia, vomiting blood Treatments: Chemotherapy, surgeries (total gastrectomy, lymphadenectomy)
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Kristin Thought She Was Burned Out; It Was Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer
Kristin L., Ovarian Cancer (High-Grade Serous Carcinoma), Stage 4 (Metastatic) Symptoms: Fatigue, bloating, shortness of breath, increased frequency of urination, chest pains, bleeding for 30 days straight, steady pain on left side Treatments: Chemotherapy (paclitaxel, carboplatin, gemcitabine, doxorubicin), surgery (debulking surgery with HIPEC), monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab), clinical trial (mirvetuximab soravtansine and a PARP inhibitor)
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), bevacizumab (Avastin), carboplatin, Chemotherapy, Clinical Trials, Debulking, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), gemcitabine (Gemzar), High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy), Immunotherapy, Metastatic High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere), Monoclonal Antibody, Ovarian Cancer, paclitaxel (Abraxane, Taxol), PARP Inhibitor, Patient Stories, Surgery, Treatments -
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Allison’s 15 Years of Caregiving Through Fanconi Anemia and Multiple Cancers
Allison B., Spouse of Sean B., Fanconi Anemia (FA) and Skin, Tongue, Bladder, Esophageal, Throat, and Liver Cancer Patient “[Caregivers] are part of the story too; this is going to impact every part of your life and your well-being. Recognize that and name that from the beginning.”
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How a Rare Genetic Disorder Finally Explained Angela’s Colon Cancer and Small Bowel Cancers
Angela F., Colon Cancer and Small Bowel Cancer Symptoms: Colon Cancer: None; found through routine bloodwork and a stool test; Small Bowel Cancer: coughing up blood, recurring heart palpitations Treatments: Surgeries (total proctocolectomy, temporary ileostomy, ileostomy reversal, hysterectomy, small bowel tumor resection), immunotherapy (pembrolizumab)
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Two Years of ‘It’s Just Anxiety’ Before an X-ray Found Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma
Rhea G., Hodgkin Lymphoma, Stage 4 Symptoms: Debilitating leg pain, severe chest pain, heart palpitations, amenorrhea, intense night sweats Treatments: Pericardiocentesis, chemotherapy (AVD), immunotherapy, hormone therapy (goserelin)
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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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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)
