-
·
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)
-
·
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)
-
·
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)
-
·
“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)
-
·
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
-
·
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 (Welireg), Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2 Alpha (HIF2α) Inhibitor, Immunotherapy, Kidney Cancer, Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Nephrectomy, Patient Stories, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Radical nephrectomy, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Surgery, Targeted Therapy, Treatments, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) -
·
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)
Chemotherapy, cisplatin (Platinol), Feeding tube placement, Head and Neck Cancer, Lymphadenectomy, Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue, Partial glossectomy, Patient Stories, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue, Surgery, Tongue Cancer, Tonsillectomy, Tracheostomy, Treatments -
·
Kelsey’s Stage 4 EGFR+ and ALK+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Story
Kelsey D., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Stage 4 (Metastatic), EGFR exon 19 deletion, ALK+ 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)
-
·
“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)
-
·
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)
