Patient stories
We care for patients from both near and far, and continually draw great inspiration and hope from our patients. We consider it a privilege to assist these individuals and their families as they live with cancer. Some have agreed to share their stories with you.
George of Palatine, Illinois
George, 73, had always kept himself physically fit and in good shape, describing himself as a “work out type of guy.” Although rarely sick, when George reached his mid-60s his children insisted that he find a primary physician and start getting regular physical exams. Fittingly he turned to a fellow YMCA member, a general internist, who became his personal physician. Continue reading…
Eileen of Cincinnati, Ohio
When 76-year-old Eileen learned that she had advanced primary liver cancer in January 2004 and was urged to get her affairs in order, she was understandably devastated. She had too many commitments to fulfill to spend time being sick. “I had just become president of a volunteer organization,” says Eileen. “And I had other obligations through the local children’s museum. I was destroyed: I needed to step down.” Continue reading…
Joe of Tucson, Arizona, and Spring Green, Wisconsin
Some 20 years ago, Joe contracted Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion he received while undergoing open heart surgery. A leading cause of chronic liver disease, the virus was the likely cause of the tumor that was discovered on Joe’s liver in August 2003. Cryoablation took care of this tumor, but a year later Joe had developed another small lesion, which was removed by radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Unfortunately, this treatment could not stem the tide, and Joe experienced the growth of many more tumors that were unresponsive to drug therapy as well. Continue reading…
Josephine of Melrose Park, Illinois
Raising two elementary school-aged daughters with her husband and making a warm and comfortable home for her family keeps Josephine on her toes. So when she was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor in her mid-30s, this now 43 year-old had to shift from “hyper” to normal speed in her fight against cancer. Continue reading…