

Tessa Parry-Wingfield survived Ocular Melanoma | Eye Enucleation | Uveal Melanoma | Monocular Vision
DESCRIPTION While jogging in 2023, Tessa Parry-Wingfield felt an unusual sensation in her left eye. It wasn’t painful but merited medical attention. She was seen by three doctors before learning she had ocular melanoma, a form of eye cancer. Because of the particulars of her diagnosis, she had to undergo an enucleation, the removal of her cancerous eye. With an acrylic implant taking the place of the cancerous eye, Tessa had an enormous amount of learning ahead of her, mo
Jan 1013 min read


Bhavika Taunk cared for her son, diagnosed with leukemia | pediatric cancer | bone marrow transplant
DESCRIPTION For Bhavika Taunk, life took a radical turn in 2017 when her four-year-old son, Kabir, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After a bone marrow transplant, he went on an aggressive chemotherapy regimen for two years. Kabir relapsed twice, but has been in remission since 2020. Bhavika tells the story of how she cared for her son and how she reaches out to other parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Bhavika, her husband and two young sons retur
Dec 31, 202516 min read


Brian Vesall survived Stage 2A testicular cancer | orchiectomy | bleomycin | etopside | cisplatin | teratoma
DESCRIPTION In 2021, Brian Vesall noticed some pain in one of his testicles when getting in his car. He sought medical attention, which led to his getting an ultrasound. After briefly looking at the scan, a urologist confirmed to Brian that he had Stage 2A testicular cancer. He underwent an orchiectomy to remove the cancerous testicle, followed by an aggressive chemotherapy regimen of bleomycin, etopiside and cisplatin. But he wasn’t done. Brian also underwent an additio
Dec 27, 202511 min read


Marcel D’Allende survived Stage 4 Lung Cancer | carboplatin | pemetrexed | durvalumab | immunotherapy
DESCRIPTION Marcel D'Allende was in outstanding health, an avid hiker in the mountains overlooking her hometown of Cape Town, South Africa. However, in October 2021, she began to experience shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. That led to a diagnosis of Stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma, or lung cancer. Determined not to let cancer define her, she underwent a treatment regimen of radiotherapy, then chemotherapy with carboplatin and pemetrexed, and immunotherapy wi
Dec 11, 202512 min read


Margo Wickersham survived bladder cancer | cystoscopy | radical cystectomy | plasmacytoid | stoma
DESCRIPTION In November 2019, Margo Wickersham noticed blood in her urine. Three months later, she was diagnosed with two types of bladder cancer. After an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, she underwent a radical cystectomy and a hysterectomy in June 2020, resulting in the removal of her bladder, uterus and cervix, all this during the quarantine phase of the COVID pandemic. Ever since, Margo has been cancer-free, but she had to get fitted with a stoma bag and had to le
Dec 4, 202513 min read


Casey Kang survived acute lymphoblastic leukemia | experimental immunotherapy | doxorubicin | methotrexate
DESCRIPTION When she began experiencing severe bruising and fatigue and turning pale in late 2013, Casey Kang sought medical attention. This led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She was placed on an aggressive, 18-month chemotherapy regimen, which included doxorubicin and methotrexate. Casey relapsed three times during which she was placed on an experimental immunotherapy. All told, she spent 168 days in a hospital, but Casey achieved survivorship. She is
Nov 25, 20253 min read


Genetic testing helped stacy martin survive gastric cancer | prophylactic total gastrectomy
DESCRIPTION Stacy Martin says genetic testing saved her life. The testing indicated she had the CDH1 mutation. The mutation gave her an 80 percent chance of getting gastric cancer and a 60 percent chance of breast cancer. She opted for a prophylactic total gastrectomy to remove her stomach and addressed the possibility of breast cancer with a bilateral mastectomy. Without a stomach, Stacy has had to change the way she eats, requiring food every two hours, and having to c
Nov 9, 202515 min read


Jonathan Gegerson survived head and neck cancer | salivary duct carcinoma | taxol | herceptin
DESCRIPTION In 2019, Jonathan Gegerson sought medical attention went he felt a lump on the right side of his neck. After a couple of scans and a biopsy, he was diagnosed with salivary duct carcinoma, a rare form of head and neck cancer. Jonathan survived, but not before enduring 67 sessions of radiation, 12 cycles of chemotherapy (carboplatin, taxol, herceptin) and seven surgeries. He still undergoes a targeted therapy on a monthly basis, and the surgery has affected his s
Nov 4, 202511 min read


Luke Mutter survived cholangiocarcinoma | systemic chemotherapy | oxaliplatin | folfirinox |trastuzumab
DESCRIPTION It took two chemotherapy regimens, but Luke Mutter survived a rare form of bile duct cancer. A CT scan found a 14cm tumor...
Oct 7, 20253 min read


erin bloodworth exercise oncologist | fitness assessment | individualized exercise program | lymphedema | neuropathy
DESCRIPTION Are you or a loved one navigating cancer treatment or survivorship? Discover how exercise oncology—a powerful, evidence-based...
Aug 29, 202511 min read


Stewart Greenfield survived stage IV bladder cancer | cisplatin | gemcidibine | nivolumab | immunotherapy
DESCRIPTION For Stewart Greenfield, the third time was the charm. After checking pictures of his bladder in 2016, two doctors told him...
Aug 14, 202512 min read


Noelle Gatlin survived Stage II pancreatic cancer | Whipple procedure | pancreatic duodenectomy
DESCRIPTION Noelle Gatlin had to endure a lengthy, multi-step process, but she survived Stage II pancreatic cancer. A visit to an...
Aug 8, 202513 min read


Nicole Scott Is A Kidney Cancer Patient Caregiver | Partial Nephrectomy | Caregiver Burnout | Hernia
DESCRIPTION Nicole Scott and her husband, Keith, worked at the same Ohio hospital. When Keith noticed abdominal pain in his left side,...
Jul 25, 202510 min read


Guy Nakoa survived Stage IV breast cancer | mastectomy | ibrance | letrozole | radiation treatment
DESCRIPTION Guy Nakoa has survived two diagnoses of Stage IV breast cancer. He initially felt a lump in his breast while showering in...
Jun 12, 202514 min read


Whitney Jones, MD, thinks biomarkers and genetic testing can help people get in front of cancer
DESCRIPTION Whitney Jones, MD, the founder of the Colon Cancer Prevention Project is a staunch advocate of increased usage of biomarkers...
Jun 2, 202515 min read


Sheila Romanski twice survived breast cancer | autologous stem cell transplant | lumpectomy | diep flap
DESCRIPTION Sheila Romanski is with us today after overcoming two diagnoses of breast cancer and the removal of a tumor in her left...
May 26, 202517 min read


Daniel Garza survived anal cancer | fistula | strangulated intestine | 5-fluorouracil | ostomy bag
DESCRIPTION In 2015, Daniel Garza experienced bloating and difficulty completing a bowel movement. A subsequent digital rectal exam...
May 20, 202512 min read


Patti Turner survived anaplastc thyroid cancer | radioactive iodine | external beam radiation Hurthle cells
DESCRIPTION What began as a small lump in her throat turned into a diagnosis of thyroid cancer for Patti Turner. It took two surgical...
Apr 25, 202511 min read


Former NFL Star Rick Upchurch Battles Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia With Strength and Hope
DESCRIPTION In this powerful and deeply personal story, we follow former Denver Broncos wide receiver Rick Upchurch as he opens up about...
Apr 16, 202512 min read


Jeff Kallis survived renal cell carcinoma | kidney cancer | right kidney nephrectomy | diverticulosis | ct urogram
DESCRIPTION Jeff Kallis survived renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer. When he experienced pain in his lower flank and saw...
Apr 2, 202511 min read






