Dale Atkinson Description

In 2024, Dale Atkinson was diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer. His diagnosis preceded by the death of his mother and was preceded by his partner being diagnosed with lung cancer. All this in the space of a few weeks. Dale was active in sports and consumed a healthy diet, but in 2019 began to suffer chronic acid reflux. His symptoms were repeatedly treated as acid reflux, but it wasn't until 2024 that he underwent an endoscopy, which immediately revealed a tumor and a diagnosis of Stage IV esophageal cancer. Dale was told he didn't have long to live and was immediately placed in palliative care. However, he did extensive research and essentially designed his own care plan, combining conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy with non-mainstream remedies. In 2025, the tumor shrank and he was declared to have No Evidence of Disease.

In 2019, Dale Atkinson was still in his twenties, was on a vegetarian diet and was active in four sports, including rugby. Then he began to experience chronic acid reflux and heartburn. Sleep was interrupted by rising into his throat. He had difficulty swallowing. Dale sought medical attention, but his symptoms were repeatedly treated as reflux.

In 2024, Dale was scheduled for an endoscopy. Because his partner had just been diagnosed with lung cancer, she could not drive, and because of that, Dale was not anesthetized for the procedure. As a result, along with his care team, he viewed the endoscopy, which showed a 9.2cm tumor and with it a diagnosis of Stage IV esophageal cancer.

Doctors told Dale he did not have long to live and that his only treatment option was palliative care. He was diagnosed on October 12, 2024. Nine days earlier, his partner was diagnosed with lung cancer and on October 27, his mother passed away. Overwhelmed with devastating news, once it all sunk in, Dale decided he would let determination spearhead his journey, determination and not fear.

His palliative care regimen was supposed to consist of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but Dale said he approximately 5,000 research paper, concluded which non-traditional therapies could be of help and asked that his regimen include a combination of the non-mainstream medications along with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

He learned in January 2025 his tumor decreased in size, he was able to swallow normally and could go hours at a time without any pain. He was declared No Evidence of Disease, and thought things were getting back to normal. He got off his protocol, but in March, cancer symptoms returned. Dale got back on his protocol, and months later, again was declared NED. He still suffers from chemo-related brain fog but enjoys life with his partner and two young sons.

Additional Resources:

Dale's charity: "Beyond the Standard."

Dale's blog: https://www.thelifeorganic.com

Dale's fitness center: https://www.peakhealthandfitness.co.uk

Early in Dr, Jessa Landmann's medical training, she discovered a need for attention given to those after they had received treatment for cancer. The post-treatment phase can be difficult physically, mentally and emotionally. Nutrition, what survivors eat, how much they eat and when they eat is where she starts in dealing with those going through the multi-layered challenges of post-treatment. Dr. Landmann urges those in the post-treatment phase to be proactive and seek direction from healthcare professionals.

Dr. Landmann is by trade a naturopathic doctor. At the forefront of her care for those who have been treated for cancer is what is known as complimentary therapies. She says this is an "umbrella term" for everything from exercise to nutrition to acupuncture to mindfulness and meditation and herbal supplements. When she encounters one in the post-treatment phase, the thing she sees most is fatigue. Patients tell her the bulk of the treatment may be in the past, but they still feel exhausted.

She seeks to utilize the therapies in her toolbox to make post-treatment patients feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. When there is improvement in all three areas, then she says survivors are more apt to as best as possible, return to the life they led before they were diagnosed.

Before her caring for survivors become more multi-faceted, Jessa starts by trying to improve their diet. She says a lot of people experience eating problems during treatment, whether it is from nausea or a change in appetite or changes in taste or certain medications like steroids for example increase people's appetite, so maybe they are eating more than they usually do, maybe they gain some weight, or a lot of people want that comfort food, maybe they are not eating in the healthiest way. That's when she takes a deep dive into the person's eating habits, making sure there is enough protein, enough fruits and vegetables, not a lot of processed food. She also watches the time of day in which the person is eating. For example, if someone eats late at night he or she can have more frequent night-time awakenings. That might lead to poor sleep and fatigue during the day.

Dr. Jessa Landmann says the best thing a survivor can do is to look into ways in which they can improve the post-treatment phase of their cancer journey. There is much more to optimized healing during this difficult time, but she says a great place to start is being proactive about diet and exercise and to try to do as many things as the survivor did before they were diagnosed.

Additional Resources:

Jessa's website: https://www.drjessalandmann.com

Jessa's Book: "Beyond Cancer Fatigue: A Path to Reclaiming Energy", available on Amazon, but Cancer Interviews listeners and viewers can take advantage of a 20 percent discount if they purchase the book on the Wiley Publishing website by entering the code BCF20 at checkout.

Mike Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1999. That he is still with us in and of itself is amazing; what is even more incredible is that he later learned he had been walking around with symptoms of the disease since 1986! When he initially reported the symptoms to doctors, they performed some tests and claimed at worst he had a twisted bowel. Mike went to a different doctor who ran an MRI and a CT scan and told Mike he had pancreatic cancer. After discussing the diagnosis with his wife, they decided to be proactive and opted for a Whipple Procedure, a complex, 13-hour procedure that got rid of hundreds of tiny tumors on his pancreas. However, in 2018, more tumors were back. They were removed with a nanoknife procedure, but Mike was told for the rest of his life he would have to take lanreotide, a monthly injection to keep the tumors at bay.

His health seemed to be just fine until 1986, when Mike experienced pain shooting through his abdomen and back. He found himself with severe diarrhea and sustained vomiting for twenty minutes at a time. Mike sought medical attention. Despite doctors running various tests, they said there was nothing wrong with him that indicated cancer, and that the worst possible scenario was twisted bowel.

In 1999, Mike went to another doctor who performed a CT scan and an MRI. Shortly thereafter, he and his wife were called to the doctor's office where they were told Mike had pancreatic cancer. The doctor urged Mike to undergo a Whipple Procedure to get rid of hundreds of small tumors on his pancreas. When he asked the doctor of the consequences should Mike pass on the Whipple Procedure, Mike was told the consequences could be sudden death because the tumors could "explode." Mike and his wife chose to go ahead with the Whipple Procedure.

It was a 13-hour surgery. Mike had his gall bladder, bile duct and part of his pancreas removed. Then the bile duct was re-attached to his small intestine so that he could eat and digest food. Mike said his recovery from the procedure took close to one year, but the tumors were gone.

All seemed well for Mike until 2018 when two tumors were detected. This time he underwent a nanoknife procedure. He was told the tumors were gone, but in 2024, they reappeared. His doctor told him that for the rest of his life, Mike would have to get a monthly injection of lanreotide, aimed at keeping the tumors from spreading.

Mike Fitzpatrick is glad to be alive, but suffers from neuropathy, which results in chronic fatigue and a loss of balance.

Additional Resources:

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: https://www.pancan.org

The Cancer Support Studio: https://www.cancersupportstudio.com

The One Cancer Place Institute: https://www.onecancerplace.org

Mike's Blog: 50 for Fitz, available on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram

Michelle Reed is still with us after being diagnosed with NMI bladder cancer in 2018; but she will stop short of saying she has survived the disease. Since surgery to remove a 7mm mass, she has had ten recurrences. Post-treatment included a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine, which she says she will be taking for the rest of her life. Managing her cancer consists of making she comes in for her scheduled scans and listening to her body. Michelle does much to help others as they battle cancer through her book and her website.

In 2018, Michelle Reed had a lot on her plate. Her son had just been in an auto accident and while she was caring for him and working at a full time job, she noticed blood in her urine. With all she had going on, she was slow to seek medical attention, but when the condition wouldn't go away, she went to an urgent care. She made five such visits, each time being told she probably just had a urinary tract infection or mini kidney stones. Michelle had friends who had suffered kidney stones, knew they were quite painful, and that tipped her off, that the diagnoses she had received at the urgent care were inaccurate.

She eventually saw a urologist who conducted a FISH test, which stands Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization urinalysis, which combined with a CT scan, revealed a 7mm mass on her bladder. Her doctor said it was urgent that Michelle undergo surgery to remove the mass. He added that a best-case scenario was complete removal of the mass after which she could go home, while a worst-case scenario would her being hooked up to a bag for the rest of her life. Thankfully, the entire mass was removed.

However, Michelle Reed will never say she has 'survived' bladder cancer. After the surgery, she was put on a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine. She says she will always be on that regimen. Michelle also says since her diagnosis, she has had no less than ten recurrences of bladder cancer, requiring several surgeries. She also knows there is the possibility that another surgical procedure could be in her future.

Michelle says the quality of her urinary function varies from day to day, and that also will be with her for the rest of her life, as well as fatigue that is a byproduct of her treatment.

By way of advice to others who find themselves 'managing' their cancer, she says to be sure to be present for all your scheduled appointments and listen to your body.

Michelle Reed makes a steadfast effort to help others battling cancer with a book anda website.

Additional Resources:

Michelle's Book: Cancer Care Book

Michelle's Website: https://www.cancersupportstudio.com

John Walker Pattison is still with us despite two protracted battles with cancer. He was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma in 1975 and relapsed three times. Then in 2018, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, a diagnosis after which he relapsed once. After his lymphoma diagnosis, treatment included an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, which included nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisolone. John said effects from the chemo hampered his fight with bladder cancer and still affect him today, although his urinary function is just fine.

John was in his late teens when he began to experience fatigue, night sweats, recurring cough and weight loss, among other symptoms. He was doing heavy lifting in the shipbuilding business, had difficulty at work and one day on the job he collapsed. Realizing he needed medical attention, he underwent scans and biopsies, and they led to a diagnosis of Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma. He was told his chances of recovery were slim.

In May 1975, his care team prescribed a chemotherapy cocktail of nitrogen mustard, prednisolone, procarbazine and vincristine, which only added to a high degree of fear he had for his future.

Things went from bad to worse when he was informed that the chemo regimen didn't work and he relapsed. In April 1976, he was put on a different regimen with cyclophosphamide taking the place of nitrogen mustard. That, too, was ineffective, resulting in another relapse. In December of that year, his care team tried radiotherapy, again with no success.

In April 1977, John went on a regimen of palliative chemotherapy, with single agent vinblastine. On a subsequent visit, his oncologist raised his arms in triumph and shocked John by telling him he was cancer free.

John Walker Pattison thought cancer was in his rear-view mirror, but in 2018, while traveling by air, he discovered blood in his urine. He was a health care professional and immediately knew something was wrong. Again seeking medical attention, he was diagnosed with Grade II Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma. He underwent surgery, followed by bladder installation of mitomycin chemotherapy. That was followed by transurethral laser ablation in 2020. Not long after that procedure, again, John was told he was cancer free.

John Walker Pattison enjoys normal urinary function, but says he will be dealing with the side effects of the chemotherapy and radiotherapy he underwent in the seventies.

That said, John wants to help others diagnosed with cancer. He has written a book, "Shadow of a Survivor," which he hopes will be a source of hope and inspiration.

Additional Resources:

John's Book, "Shadow of a Survivor," available on Amazon

John's Website, https://www.johnpattison.co.uk

The average age in which people are diagnosed with colon cancer continues to drop. Louisville-based gastroenterologist Ben Evans, MD says for decades the conventional wisdom was that one should begin getting screened for colon cancer at age 50. Now, he says you should learn your family history with colon cancer and colon polyps, and with that as your guide, you should start screening as early as your twenties. Dr. Evans says that while the colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colon screening, there are stool-based testing alternatives that can be done in the privacy of your home. However, he notes that if one of the home-based tests reveal a positive result, you will need to undergo a colonoscopy.

Intense research has yet to come up with an answer as to why those being diagnosed with colon cancer are getting increasingly younger. Dr. Evans says the mortality rate for those diagnosed with cancer continues to climb while to varying degrees, the mortality rate is dropping for all other types of cancer.

In addition to checking your family history with colon cancer, you can help yourself by living a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Evans suggests quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and consumption of processed foods, while being sure to load up on fruits and vegetables.

Dr. Evans says you should be aware of colon cancer symptoms. They include bloody stool, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. If any of these symptoms materialize, he says you should not leave anything to chance and seek medical attention.

Additional Resources:

Support Group:

The Colon Cancer Prevention

Project: https://www.coloncancerpreventionproject.org

In 2018, for Cindy Koerner, pain in her right breast led to a diagnosis of Stage 3A breast cancer. She was put on a three-pronged, high-dosage chemotherapy regimen of epirubicin, nab-paclitataxel and cyclophosphamide. The cyclophosphamide compromised her immune system, resulting in fatigue and fever. The chemo regimen shut down her ovaries, but when they became active about a year later, Cindy was told if they remained active, the possibility of a relapse would increase, so she opted to have them removed. These days, Cindy believes her health is at approximately 80 percent of what it was before her diagnosis, but she admits she gets tired easily, which prevents her from doing activities that she thinks would leave her exhausted.

Cindy's cancer journey began in 2018 when she felt pain behind the nipple in her right breast. The pain would leave, only to return when her menstrual cycle returned. She saw her gynecologist, who called for an ultrasound, which the doctor said did not reveal anything abnormal. When the pain continued to come and go, she went back to the gynecologist. Another ultrasound, the gynecologist said revealed nothing unusual.

However, in 2020, she noticed a change in the shape of her breast and that it included a dimple. Another trip to the doctor and another scan indicated a tumor and a diagnosis of Stage 3A breast cancer. Cindy later learned that such a diagnosis should have provided her with multiple treatment options, but at the time her care team told her she would be going on an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy. Because of the advent of COVID, treatment was made more difficult for Cindy from an emotional perspective because she had to remain in isolation.

The regimen included epirubicin, nab-paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide. She had to come in for a dosage every two weeks. Like many on chemotherapy, Cindy suffered hair loss, but she said the cyclophosphamide was the roughest. It played havoc with her immune system, leading to fatigue, fever and depression. However, this was not the only hurdle in her journey.

Cindy's tumor was hormone receptor positive, which reacted to the estradiol in her body. This had implications for her ovaries. The chemo had rendered them inactive, but about a year later, they became active again. She was told when the ovaries are active, that increases the possibility of the cancer returning. As a result, with injections of zoladex, a GnRH analogon, she opted to have her ovaries removed.

Cindy Koerner has returned to work as a cancer biologist with the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg. She says her health is about 80 percent of what it was before her diagnosis and there are some activities she avoids because she fears they would leave her exhausted.

Cindy is also a cancer patient advocate. Among her messages to patients is to have a heightened awareness of their treatment options, which she admits she didn't have at the time of her diagnosis.

At age four, Hope Nightingale complained of severe pain in her legs. At first, her parents thought she was just being a hypochondriac. That changed when she fell off her scooter and broke the distal femur in her left leg. The following year, 2011, this led to a diagnosis of Stage II osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. After a regimen of neoadjuvant chemotherapy featuring cisplatin and doxorubicin, Hope underwent a surgical procedure, a vascularized fibula transplant. Her left femur was removed, and her right fibula was inserted in its place. Confined to a wheelchair and then crutches at such a young age, Hope underwent extensive physiotherapy rehabilitation so that she could relearn how to walk despite her left leg being 2cm shorter than her right leg. Hope has survived and is training to compete in a half marathon!

Hope says as a four-year-old she was often accused of overreacting to just about everything. So, when she complained of pain in her legs, her parents did not take the complaints seriously. That changed when she fell off her scooter, couldn't get up and her parents discovered she had broken her left leg. She had her distal femur x-rayed. That led to a biopsy, and, at age five, a diagnosis of Stage II osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

Treatment was to begin with neoadjuvant chemotherapy aimed at shrinking the tumor. Hope said unlike many people, outside of hair loss, she suffered few nasty side effects.

Next was a vascularized fibula transplant. The cancerous left distal femur was removed and was replaced by her right fibula. A result of this surgery was the loss of both her quadricep muscles.

Hope returned to school, but in a wheelchair with casts on both legs. This did not go unnoticed by her classmates, most of whom wanted to know what happened. Hope says her diagnosis was not a blessing, but she felt blessed that her diagnosis took place at such a young age, when she was unable to process it in full. She said physically, it was tough being in a wheelchair, but emotionally it was tougher because at recess, she wanted to join her friends, running around and playing. Hope said it was amazing that sometimes her chums would halt their activities and gather around her to include her in their fun.

Hope eventually got out of the wheelchair and was on crutches, but that, too, was frustrating because she wanted to be ambulatory, like her friends.

At this time, Hope Nightingale had to relearn how to walk, which involved extensive physiotherapy rehabilitation. As if that were not tough enough, the surgery left her left leg 2cm shorter than her right leg. She went to a specialist who gave her a wedge to put in her left shoe, removing the discrepancy in the length of her legs.

These days, Hope leads an active lifestyle. She enjoys going to the beach near her hometown of Cape Town and to the mountains and vineyards outside of town. Not only is she walking, but Hope is training to run a half marathon.

Additional Resources:

Support Group:

Cancer Association of South Africa https://www.cansa.org.za

When Jess began to feel pain in her right leg in 2020, she thought it was sciatica. When extreme pain radiated to her lower back, a physical therapist thought she had a bulging disc. However, her condition worsened, she went in for an MRI, and it revealed a tumor originally thought to be on her spinal cord. Further tests indicated the tumor was inside her spinal cord and a diagnosis of myxopapillary ependymoma, a rare cancer. The tumor was surgically removed, but her post-treatment life was very difficult. There were prolonged instances in which she could not move her legs, which brought her to tears not only from the pain, but the chilling thought of the rest of her being spent in bed or on the couch. Jess went through all sorts of medications from morphine to medical marijuana, but medical savior was a spinal cord stimulator. It has enabled her to maximize her movements with little or no pain.

In 2020, Jess led an active lifestyle. It included soccer and other activities with two young sons. But she started experiencing pain in her right leg. She thought it was sciatica but believed it would go away. When it didn't, and pain radiated to her lower back, she saw a physical therapist, who thought Jess had a bulging disc. One night at home, Jess fell and said one of her sons looked her in the eye and told her she needed to see a doctor.

Jess underwent an MRI. It indicated she had a tumor on or near her spinal cord. Doctors were initially baffled because they could not pinpoint the tumor's location, but additional tests showed the tumor was inside her spinal cord. A surgical procedure to remove the tumor was completed successfully. It was after the procedure when Jess was regaining consciousness in her hospital that she was informed she had Stage II myxopapillary ependymoma, a rare cancer. Ten days after surgery, Jess underwent a spinal tap at the location of the tumor to determine whether any tumor cells had been left behind. Thankfully, the results were clear and have remained clear ever since.

However, many challenges awaited Jess. There were instances in which she was immobilized, having to remain in bed. She felt pain from head to toe. Certain fabrics rubbing against caused pain. As did extreme temperatures or the wind. She was prescribed opioids, which she said did nothing to alleviate the pain. She was given morphine. Eventually doctors prescribed pregabalin and duloxetine, medications which were able to reduce the pain. Jess also tried medical marijuana, which reduced the pain.

The biggest development in her recovery was her working with a specialist in New Hampshire who performs spinal cord stimulator procedures. Jess completed a trial with a stimulator and when using it, much of her pain was gone and she regained much of her mobility.

Jess says her spinal cord will never be the same and neither will she, but she is grateful for the mobility she has. She adds that since October 2025, she has been sober from alcohol and cannabis.

Additional Resources:

Support Groups:

The CERN Foundation: https://www.cern-foundation.org

walk.talk.connect: https://walktalkconnect.org

Book:

ReConnected: Stories from Spinal Cord Tumor & Dawn Standera, available on Amazon

https://www.youtube.com/@reconnected-SCTtumorstories

Adam Deans was an athletic teenager and had aspirations of becoming a professional athlete. However, all that changed when he fell down a flight of stairs at school. At first, doctors thought Adam had dislocated his left knee, but upon getting further medical attention, tests showed he had cancer, known as osteosarcoma in his distal femur. Doctors recommended chemotherapy, but when that was ineffective, the leg was amputated in 2005. In 2008, a friend introduced Adam to wheelchair basketball. Still with his athletic prowess, he learned the sport quickly and became good at it, eventually the Australian national team. It won the world championship in 2014 and in 2016, Adam played for the national team at the Paralympics at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Adam retired from wheelchair basketball in 2017, but now married with two children, he is happy with his life.

Adam wanted to become a professional football player in his native Australia. He seemed positioned for such a pursuit until one day in his final year of high school when his leg broke as he was going down a flight of stairs. Rushing him to the hospital, paramedics initially thought Adam had dislocated his left knee and tried popping it back into place; but at the hospital, tests showed he was going downstairs with a broken distal femur, broken because of the presence of a cancerous tumor.

He soon learned he had osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Not only that, but at age 17, he would have to have his left leg amputated, followed by two rounds of chemotherapy. He was gratified to experience very few of the nasty side effects that come with chemo, the worst being hair loss.

Like most teenagers, Adam wanted to fit in with his peers. He wondered how that could happen and wondered if girls would find him attractive. That was in 2005. In 2008, a friend overcame a great deal of resistance and persuaded Adam to attend a wheelchair basketball practice. At first, Adam was intimidated at the prospect of simultaneously handling a basketball and a wheelchair, but his athletic prowess kicked in. He made the local team in Perth, then found a spot on the powerful Australian national team.

In 2014, the Aussies won the wheelchair basketball world championship and was favored to win gold in the paralympics at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, the squad came home without a medal after it was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The following year, Adam retired from competitive wheelchair basketball, but his story should be a source of inspiration for anyone whose cancer diagnosis will result in disability. He has gone on to get married and has two children.

By way of advice, Adam Deans says anyone diagnosed with cancer should not try to proceed by themselves. He says anyone diagnosed should not be afraid to lean on others because "that's what loved ones are for."

Additional Resources:

Support Group: Sock It To Sarcoma https://www.sockittosarcoma.org.au