Cancer Patient Stories

At MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, our patients are the heart and soul of our efforts to improve cancer care. Read their inspiring cancer patient stories below, and learn why they chose to seek care from our team of experts.

Breast cancer survivor reflects on two years since diagnosis

breast cancer survivor Allison Prey poses in a garden setting

Triple-negative breast cancer survivor Allison Hopkins Prey was fortunate to have support from many circles in her life — including Hollings' Breast Cancer Survivors' Fit Club — during her treatment journey.

“I was just really blown away by the thoughtfulness and the handwritten notes of people sharing their own experiences,” she said.

Read about her journey

two elegant women sit on a sofa and chat

Glioblastoma

Living with Glioblastoma

Two women found friendship and solidarity as they go about their lives after a glioblastoma diagnosis.

A man and woman pose in a garden setting, the man tilting his head to touch the woman's head

Lymphoma

Clinical Trial

Anthony Cannella has always been willing to try the newest treatments for lymphoma. So he readily agreed to sign up for a CAR-T clinical trial at Hollings.

Rectal Cancer

Five-year Milestone

Now more than five years out from colorectal cancer surgery, Lara Lambert is reminding everyone of the importance of screening.

Two women with huge grins on their faces wield light sabers

Hereditary Cancer

When cancer runs in the family, what do you do? Two Midlands women talk about their experience and the choices they've made.

a well dressed woman poses in a large interior walkway

Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer Survivor

Barbara Karinshak is celebrating her cancer-free status this Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

an elegantly dressed woman smiles while standing between a doctor dressed in a tie and button down and a doctor in his scrubs

Breast Cancer

50-State Tour

Breast cancer survivor Agnes Judge capped off her U.S. tour of cancer centers with a visit to Hollings, the place where she was diagnosed and treated.

“ It shows what these people at Hollings are doing. They took me – and I was really struggling when I came here in November – and in a little bit over three months, they turned me around. ”

Ted Kopacko, CAR-T cell therapy patient and lymphoma survivor
Ted's story

a woman poses on the back porch of her home

Lung Cancer

Celebrating Little Victories

Lung cancer survivor Denise Swick reflects on a year of ups and downs as she went through treatment.

two men in regular chairs and a woman in an exam chair all look to a doctor in dark blue scrubs who leans back against a counter and is talking

Head & Neck Cancer

Jaw in a Day

A complicated, multidisciplinary surgery allowed a cancer survivor to leave the operating room with a full set of teeth.

portrait of a man standing outside in a garden setting with a fountain in the background

Kidney Cancer

Helping Others

When kidney cancer survivor JJ Messervy talked to a fellow patient in the waiting room, he knew he wanted to raise money for the Hollings patient support fund.

a woman in bright pink headband, glasses and earring smiles in a garden setting

Lung Cancer

Surviving Lung Cancer

Faith and positivity - those are the things that have kept Cynthia Waddy going through the ups and downs of lung cancer treatment.

an older couple poses under a brick pergola

Lung Cancer

"If you have life, you have hope," explains lung cancer survivor Juan Ramonell.

Breast Cancer

Larissa Shannon didn't want to tell people about her breast cancer - she knew she couldn't handle the 'puppy dog eyes' from her students.

“ And when you can look back and say, ‘Dang, that’s what I’ve come through?’ I mean, that just gives you chills within itself. To know that you conquered this and you’re a survivor – that’s huge. ”

Danielle Lee, leukemia and breast cancer survivor
Danielle's story

a smiling woman with a nearly bald head wearing a light pink shirt

image of the back of a young woman as she speaks into a microphone and gestures with an arm while facing a group of people doing yoga on a large grassy area below

Breast Cancer

Why I Ride

Diagnosed with breast cancer at only 27, Kelsey Harrison is now raising money to go toward cancer research.

a family wedding photo featuring the father of the groom, the groom in a cream suit with brown tie, the mother of the groom in taupe holding flowers and the sister of the groom in bronze holding flowers

Uterine Cancer

Hollings Cancer Network

Facing a challenging journey with uterine cancer, Debra Morin made a list of five things to remember each day.

Uterine Cancer

Uterine Cancer Survivor

Diagnosed with a rare uterine cancer at only 46, Lakisha Mack turned to faith, her family and her doctors.

a young woman sits cross legged on top of a hospital bed, smiling at someone off camera

intestinal T-cell lymphoma

3,000 Transplants

The Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant team recently celebrated 3,000 transplants – and patient Kennedy Golden exemplifies why they do what they do.

Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Sarah Harry may be retired but she is one busy woman: caregiving, church activities - and chemotherapy for herself.

A woman sits on a wooden bench on a pier with marsh and river behind her

Bladder Cancer

After a bladder cancer diagnosis, one patient wants to raise awareness among women about this disease that can be mistaken for a UTI.

a stylish young woman poses in front of grand old homes of Charleston SC

Lung Cancer

ALK Mutation

Laura Reed was diagnosed with cancer at the same age that her mother had died. But decades have passed and treatments have improved, giving her hope.

portrait of Hollings Cancer Center patient Jayne Adams

Bladder Cancer

A New Chapter

A writer told her doctor she had too many books still to write to be sidelined by cancer.

a woman with short blonde hair, red glasses and chunky necklaces pauses to smile at the camera over her client's head

Melanoma

Melanoma Aware

After a melanoma diagnosis, this hairdresser is urging her clients to get suspicious spots checked out.

Tongue Cancer

First, A Wedding

A clinical trial of a new drug combination gave hope to a young woman diagnosed with tongue cancer.

cancer survivor and MUSC instructor Michelle Brown Nelson

Salivary Gland Cancer

Giving Back

Knowing that past research made treatment of her salivary gland cancer possible, Michelle Brown-Nelson wanted to donate an unexpected windfall to new research.

a woman kneels in the grass next to a large dog

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Survivor

Susan Fasola's lung cancer was caught at an early stage, and that meant she could be treated solely with surgery - no chemo, no radiation, no drugs.

Breast Cancer

Personalized Care

Dana Booker's complex breast cancer case required multi-disciplinary care – and doctors who understood that getting to a concert was important, too.

a woman smooths a white veil as she stands in a shop surrounded by wedding dresses

Breast Cancer

October Bride

October will always be more than Breast Cancer Awareness Month for this breast cancer survivor. It's now her wedding anniversary month.

image of woman siting on sofa surrounded by her drawings and paintings

Breast Cancer

Finding Hope

Kathryn Diamond felt hopeless when she realized she had breast cancer. But then she learned how much treatments have changed.

immunotherapy patient Andy Abrams smiles and looks relaxed during his infusion treatment

Colon & Lung Cancer

To Catch a Cancer

Andy Abrams likes to say he’s the poster child for routine cancer screenings. In his case, one screening led to the diagnosis and treatment of two cancers.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer Survivor

Prostate cancer survivor shares his story to encourage other men to know their options and take action.

a woman stands in her booth surrounded by her art

Oral Cancer

"It's been an experience," is Susan Shelton's understated way of explaining her journey with oral cancer.

a woman points off camera in a goofy manner while another woman looks at her and laughs

Ovarian Cancer

Mirroring Positivity

Carol Sullivan was stunned to learn she had ovarian cancer. She decided to pursue aggressive medical options - and to consciously maintain a positive mindset.

a doctor and patient pose in an exam room with a small framed artwork

Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm

HIPEC Hope

A specialized chemotherapy treatment allowed a retired art teacher to continue with her love of painting, despite a rare cancer diagnosis.

a man carries a woman in ankle deep water at the beach

Esophageal Cancer

After esophageal cancer treatment, Huger man is grateful for time with his family.