World Cancer Day: A Few of Our Favorite Patient Stories

Over the years, many patients have reached out to Patient Power with inspiring stories of hope, perseverance, and bravery. In honor of World Cancer Day, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite patient stories, and we hope they are as impactful to you as they’ve been to us.

T.J. Sharpe Overcomes Stage IV Melanoma

When T.J. Sharpe was told that his two-week long fever was actually stage IV melanoma, his first reaction was disbelief. He’d beaten melanoma over a decade earlier, but with the tumors spreading through his body, he was told that he had an estimated two years to live.

However, after doing extensive research on clinical trials, T.J. managed to find one that was perfect for him. His tumors shrank to half their original size, and today he has no signs of cancer in his body at all.

“I’ve found meaning in being able to share my story with others.” Sharpe said. “As I have transitioned from ‘patient’ to ‘survivor,’ I know that my ability to help others is a valuable and needed resource in the cancer world.”

We Will Overcome: Have the Chat

At Patient Power’s recent We Will Overcome virtual event, three-time cancer survivor Minister Dawn Watson and Veita Bland, MD, spoke with Tigerlily Foundation founder and CEO Maimah Karmo about being open about cancer with your family.

Their candid, insightful talk emphasized the impact that talking about cancer head-on can have with your loved ones, doctors, and other patients.

For Kate Watson, Treatment Success Means “I Get to Share My Story”

Patient Power followed Kate Watson through every stage of her journey after she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at 35 years old. In this final episode of our five-part series, Kate reflected on how her battle with cancer and eventual recovery inspired her to lead the charge for more breast cancer research. She began leading a support group for women with stage IV breast cancer, hoping that her own experience would inspire others to keep hope alive.

“I decided that maybe I was given this gift of successful treatments to share my story and to help bring people together,” she said.

From Terminal CML to 26-Year Survivor

In 1995, 37-year-old Army major Mel Mann was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and given a timeline of only three years to live. “People run around and stay so busy, and they forget just about the simple things in life and what's really important,” Mann said. “What I wanted was more time with my five-year-old daughter and more time with my wife and more time with my family and friends.”

Eventually, Mann decided he’d try a new clinical trial for a drug that we now know as Gleevec – he was the second person to ever try the drug, and to this day, he’s the longest living survivor of Gleevec treatment for the disease.

“When I was diagnosed, time slowed down,” Mann said, “and I started to value time. A week was like a month, or longer than before. I was in the now. I became more mindful of things.”

A Community Of Care

Regardless of what the cancer type that these patients have battled, the one thing that brings them together is their overwhelming desire to help others with their stories. Whether it’s overcoming illness or working to normalize conversations about cancer with family and friends, their stories are a constant reminder of how hope can rise above any diagnosis.

Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you! Contact us at comments@patientpower.info.