Cancer Survivor Stories

What to know

Cancer survivors share their inspiring stories in videos, blog posts, and podcasts.

Wenora

Videos

Stories of Life After Cancer

Mark, Xenia, Wenora, and Ana Maria share heartfelt advice for other cancer survivors in this video.

Wenora

"Continue looking forward to the future, because none of us know what that will bring," says Wenora, who has survived several cancers.

Mark

"Give yourself leniency. You have to give yourself that room to grow into the new you," says Mark, who survived Hodgkin lymphoma.

Xenia

"I wish for everyone to have those people that they can call on," says Xenia, who survived endometrial and uterine cancers.

Jackie

"You may not have symptoms," says Jackie, a lung cancer survivor who never smoked. "So test your house for radon."

Ana

"I had one question, but I was too afraid to ask it: 'Am I gonna die?'" recalls cervical cancer survivor Ana in this animated video.

Linda

"We've been given one body, and we must take care of it," says ovarian cancer survivor Linda in this animated video.

Stories by type of cancer

Breast cancer in young women

Sisters Emily and Caroline have a BRCA gene mutation. They took different paths.

More breast cancer stories

Cervical cancer

"We need to adopt a mindset that ensures that we are making ourselves a priority," says Patti.

More cervical cancer stories

Colorectal cancer

"The surgery was successful. But I never would have found it early if I hadn't been screened," says Robert.

More colorectal cancer stories

Ovarian cancer

"If my doctor hadn't acted quickly, the outcome would have been much different," says Janet.

More ovarian cancer stories

Uterine cancer

"Listen to your body. It does tell you things. It's about knowing yourself. Once you know, you can fight it,'" says Lynn.

More uterine cancer stories

Vaginal and vulvar cancers

"Do not let fear, embarrassment, or shame prevent you from finding the help you need," says Sarah.

More vaginal and vulvar cancer stories

Improving mental health care for people with cancer

Patient-provider communication: Improving the mental health of cancer survivors
Distress screening is recommended for cancer patients in all clinical settings.

Four cancer survivors share their stories about talking to their doctors about mental health issues during and after their cancer treatment.

The Provider Education for Mental Health Care of Cancer Survivors Training was created to support health care providers, improve knowledge about cancer patients' mental health care, and promote recommended distress screening.

Talking to Family About Your BRCA Gene Mutation

Watch these stories for advice on how to make these conversations easier from young women who were the first in their families to learn about their risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Blog posts

Healthy Lungs to Speak Out about Radon

How did Jackie, who never smoked, develop lung cancer? She is grateful that she found an answer.

Knowing Her Family History Saved Her Life

"Only you know your body," said breast cancer survivor Celeste. "Listen to your inner voice, whatever you may call it."

Talk to Your Doctor About Prostate Cancer

"I was a bit surprised, but not shocked," Lorenzo said when a routine checkup showed his PSA level was high.

Pediatric Cancer Can't Stop This STAR Athlete

"Look for the light at the end of the tunnel, because it is there whether you notice it at first or not," says Tyler.

The Sun Is My Vice

"I fell in love with the sun-assisted caramel color that my Afro Puerto Rican roots blessed me with every summer," says melanoma survivor Robin.

Perspective

"Keeping my mind focused and my attitude positive made all the difference in the world," says breast cancer survivor Ronda.

Reflections on My Childhood Cancer Experience

"The impact of cancer doesn't stop as soon as treatment is finished," says Jordyn.

Throat Cancer Changed His World

"When you hear the word 'cancer,' your world changes in an instant," says Lewis.

I Have Liver Cancer, but You Don't Have To

"The doctor asked, 'How long have you had hepatitis C?' And I said, 'I didn't even know I had it!'" recalls Gary.

More blog posts

Podcasts

My Motivated Moment podcast series

When was the last time you felt motivated to take action? The moment everything changed? My Motivated Moment is a podcast series featuring compelling stories from brave people answering these questions about their experiences with breast cancer and sharing how they took charge of their health.

Jackie

"Now I know there's no obstacle that I can't handle. Survivorship means taking charge, understanding what you have to do to take care of yourself, and working with your doctors as a team," says Jackie, who survived lung cancer. Podcast | Transcript