Patient Stories

Jessica Morris was blindsided by her brain cancer diagnosis after hiking with friends and having a full-blown seizure. Frustrated by the lack of treatment options for and the short life expectancy associated with glioblastoma, she created the nonprofit organization OurBrainBank.

In 2015, Amanda Bruffy, RN, BSN, CNRN, OCN, was about to turn 30, newly single, and had a great job as an oncology nurse navigator when she couldn’t get over a nagging abdominal pain. “My role as an oncology nurse navigator has forever been changed after being on the receiving end of a cancer diagnosis,” she says.

Christie Bevington shares her story of how immunotherapy was the only treatment that helped stop her cancer progression and relieve her back pain caused by lung cancer.

Michael Morigi shares his very positive experience with immunotherapy in the treatment of his stage III bladder cancer.

Sara Olsher was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 years old. Explaining her diagnosis to her 6-year-old daughter and parenting through her treatment proved to be difficult. To help families like hers, Sara founded Mighty + Bright, which provides resources for families going through hard times, and wrote and illustrated the children’s book, “Someone I Love Has Cancer.”

Kristen Foreman dealt with an ovarian cancer diagnosis at age 33. After removal of her ovaries, she completed chemotherapy, followed by 6 weeks of radiation, during a global pandemic. She now aspires to support others facing similar circumstances.

George Valentine was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2002. He shares some of his hard-learned tips on how to deal with a cancer diagnosis and the high costs of treatment.