Patient Stories

After achieving remission of stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma, Sydney was told she would have less than a 5% chance of conception because of the treatment she received. Then 2 miracles happened.

“The first thing I said was, there’s no way. I consider myself the healthiest person I know. There’s nothing that I did that could have caused cancer,” Rachelle said. “I was just in complete shock.”

At age 28, Thomas Iorio went into the hospital with a possible ear infection, after noticing swollen lymph nodes, and came out with a probable cancer diagnosis.

Roger and Cherie Paige, both psychologists, became caught in a storm of fighting against cancer, with the assistance of family, friends, and numerous professional “stormtroopers.”

"What I remember clearly is that I was supposed to have only 14 to 18 months to live. That was about 6 years ago," says Melanie Kabo.

Melissa Marshall found comfort and inspiration to help herself and others cope with cancer through both art and music.

Jason Micheli, a pastor and the author of Cancer is Funny: Keeping Faith in Stage-Serious Chemo, explains his mindset and the difficulties of dealing with uncertainty after a lymphoma diagnosis.

“As the CEO of a biotechnology company involved in cancer drugs development, I was familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer,” says Michael Becker, who was himself diagnosed with stage IV oropharyngeal cancer.

Lori Plutchak is part of a unique kind of cancer support group: the Team Survivor San Diego Sea Dragons boat racing team, which is made up of nearly 40 cancer survivors.

Lisa D’Ottavio, who has no family history of breast cancer, recounts her journey with breast cancer, which began with a phone call from her breast surgeon.

Donna Avery describes her stage III esophageal cancer diagnosis and the path that led her to regain her ability to do something that brings her joy: whistling.