Cancer Survivor Stories

The goal of cancer research is to provide benefit for cancer survivors and their loved ones. Please read the courageous stories below from a variety of cancer survivors to learn how we are transforming patient care by making research count for patients and survivors.

Note: Submissions to this page represent the opinions of the presenters. They do not represent the position or the opinion of the AACR or its members and should not be considered medical advice.

Kelly Hoefler

Kelly Hoefler

Kelly Hoefler, breast cancer, mammogram

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Emily Garnett

Emily Garnett

After a fairly easy pregnancy, my husband and I welcomed our son into our lives. But I began experiencing some significant mid-back pain around eight weeks after he was...

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Debbie Farner

Debbie Farner

For several months, I was in pain. I thought I had pulled a muscle in my back, or had kidney stones, or maybe a heart attack. I had no...

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Joe Harris

Joe Harris

People run for many different reasons. Some run for the pure enjoyment it brings, some for the competition, some to be with friends, and others, most importantly, to support...

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Paula Berg

Paula Berg

I am a beautifully pale 27 year old who has Stage IV melanoma and is SURVIVING!  I found out that I had melanoma when I was eight months pregnant with...

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Takae Brewer, MD

Takae Brewer, MD

I am a doctor and a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36 immediately after I completed my first year of medical school. It was...

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Jim Newton

Jim Newton

I have been a runner for 38 years and have covered over 45,000 miles while training for 17 marathons, 12 half marathons, and numerous other races. I felt I...

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Annie Ellis

Annie Ellis

She had symptoms for nine months and never thought it could be cancer. This ovarian cancer survivor, now in remission, takes an active role in making treatment decisions. On...

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Bianca Lundien Kennedy

Bianca Lundien Kennedy

Her battle with cancer changed her world forever, but during the struggle Bianca went from being a victim to becoming a fighter against cancer and an example for others....

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Chris Calder

Chris Calder

Beating Bladder Cancer Made Chris Calder a Novelist

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