Patient Stories

With this moving portrait of how a cancer diagnosis can shake up one’s emotions and sense of self, Lydia DeJesus describes her experience with breast cancer and how she found her strength again.

After ignoring his abdominal pain and blood in his stool because of family stresses, Joe Bullock finally had a colonoscopy done at the urging of his wife. A stage III colon cancer diagnosis and the support he received from other patients provided new insights.

Melanie Shepard was diagnosed with stage IIIB ovarian cancer during the pandemic; she shares her experience of receiving treatment and support during these uniquely stressful times.

Lucia Hernandez was forced to have a thyroidectomy, removal of the entire thyroid to treat her cancer, which caused her anxiety after having had an emergency gallbladder surgery that did not go well.

At age 68, Dan Greene was told the intense pain in his abdomen was likely pancreatic cancer, until further testing determined he had stage IV stomach cancer. Joining a clinical trial gave him a second chance.

Losing weight and her appetite made Lydia Virgo go to the doctor to get a blood test, which showed a low iron count. Although exhibiting no pain, Lydia’s CT scan and colonoscopy revealed a tumor in her colon.

A decade after his son passed away from a rare form of bone cancer at age 16, Mark DeLong was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He learned, among other things, the healing power of being vulnerable and sharing personal stories.