Cancer Stories from Patients, Survivors & Caregivers
Explore the most in-depth cancer patient stories and survivor stories out there. You can start by choosing cancer type or by popular cancer questions.
We know no two patients have the same journey, but people who’ve been through cancer treatment can help give you a sense of calm and control after a diagnosis. Learn about first symptoms, treatment decisions, questions to ask your doctor, and navigating life with cancer.
A connected and educated patient
is an empowered patient.
FAQs curated by cancer survivors
- Diagnosis
- What were the 1st symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
- How did you choose hospitals?
- Treatment
- What were the treatment options?
- Describe each cycle of chemotherapy
- What were the side effects?
- Quality of life
- How did you deal with the hair loss?
- What are the steps for fertility preservation?
Timelines by patients done with treatments
Cancer Stories
Start by choosing the stories here organized by cancer origin:
Spring Spotlights:
NBC’s Al Roker Shares His Prostate Cancer Story
Al Roker has become a beloved, familiar face for so many as the Weather and News Anchor for the TODAY Show on NBC for decades.
Now, he’s also a prostate cancer thriver and patient advocate with a powerful message: Get screened and do it regularly, it could save your life.
Chef Ryan Scott & Pediatric Cancer
You may have seen him on shows like Top Chef, The Today Show & Beat Bobby Flay, but Chef Ryan Scott shares a personal story here at The Patient Story: overcoming his pediatric colon cancer diagnosis.
Read more + watch him cook up a quick, healthy & yummy dish from his upcoming cookbook!
Featured Patient Stories
Lauren Chiarello, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
On Resiliency
“We face so many different life challenges, mine happened to be cancer, but I think that any difficult challenge we face, we have the power and strength to overcome it.”
Carlos Colarte, Multiple Myeloma
Impact on Marriage
“Don’t let cancer and the treatment control your life. Continue to do the things you enjoy. This is just as important for the spouse as it is for the patient.”
Dave Bjork, Lung Cancer
Fighting Stigma
“If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer. People who are advocating in the lung community and very active are talking about how anybody can get lung cancer.”
The Caregiver Perspective
- What should I be asking the doctor?
- How do I support my partner through treatment?
- How do we pay for this?
- What are the different kinds of cancer treatment?
Navigating Cancer Articles
- How can I deal with treatment side effects?
- How do I talk to my kids about cancer?
- Can we get pregnant after chemotherapy?
- How can I ask others for support?
Recommended by
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NOTE: Information on the site is not medical advice. It’s shared by our cancer community members.