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.

When care meets research: A patient's path through breast cancer

a woman sit on her sofa with a large golden Laborador lounging with her

After learning she had breast cancer, Patricia Latham agreed to take part in a clinical trial, the goal of which was to determine whether women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer might safely avoid radiation.

“Many people who join trials do it not only for themselves but to contribute to medical knowledge. They recognize that the treatments helping them today came from patients before them who were willing to take part,” she said.

Read about her journey

Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

A seemingly everyday symptom eventually led to an unusual diagnosis.

a man poses in the captain's chair of his pontoon boat

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Clinical Trial

Matt Dellinger turned down a clinical trial at first, thinking it was a last-ditch option. When he learned more about clinical trials, he became a proponent.

Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma

Rare Lymphoma

An uncommon cancer diagnosis was unwelcome news upon retirement. But Rich Maxwell found a focused team at Hollings Cancer Center.

Leukemia

Second Chance

Bikes are Sylvie Baele's passion – her lifeline. So it makes sense that, after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, she would ride in LOWVELO.

a woman sits surrounded by six children of various ages all wearing pink

Breast Cancer

'Beautiful' Journey

Davetta Greene got through breast cancer thanks to faith, family and her Hollings Cancer Center team.

a woman in a pink tank top poses in a garden setting

Breast Cancer

Life-saving Mammogram

Life sometimes gets in the way of routine health care. Luckily for Laura Dobbins, she got back on track with screening mammograms right in time.

“ 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

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.

“ 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

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.

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.

Breast Cancer

Allison Hopkins Prey was overwhelmed by the support she received during breast cancer treatment – and happy to now say, two years later, it feels so long ago.

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.