Cancer Interviews

At age 18, Steve Garraty ran on his high school's track team and was in great shape. But he noticed a lump on the left side of his neck and a tingling sensation anytime he drank alcohol. The lump grew, he sought medical attention and the lump turned out to be a mass. He had the lump surgically removed, but only days later, he received a phone call informing him he had Stage III Hodgkin's lymphoma. Steve was put on a chemotherapy regimen of ABVD and MOPP. He suffered the usual side effects associated with chemo, but achieved survivorship. He cannot run anymore because of how it affects his knees and back, but otherwise leads a happy life with his wife and two sons.

Like many other teenagers, Steve felt invincible, so at first he wasn't concerned about the lump in his neck; but he visited a buddy whose mom was a nurse. As soon as she saw the lump, she was alarmed. Steve told his parents about the lump, and they became alarmed as well. The lump then grew rapidly. When he sought medical attention, a biopsy revealed a mass the size of a grapefruit.

The mass was removed, but further tests showed in addition to Steve's neck the mass spread to his chest and stomach, and that he had Stage III Hodgkin's lymphoma. When learning of his diagnosis, he was most concerned about whether he would be able to attend a party the following night.

The oncologist told Steve the only treatment option was chemotherapy.

Treatment began in the summer of 1986 and finished in the spring of 1987. Every two weeks Steve went in and the care team alternated between two regimen. One was MOPP, which stands for mustargen, oncovin, procarbazine and prednisone. The other was ABVD, which stands for adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine. Steve experienced many of the typical side effects tied to chemo, including nausea, fatigue and hair loss.

Steve was making progress. His care team informed him the tumor was shrinking, and on a subsequent visit, he was surprised to learn there was no evidence of disease.

While it might sound strange, Steve Garraty said in retrospect, cancer saved his life. It forced him to change his lifestyle in a positive way. Without his cancer journey, he said drugs and alcohol would be playing a major role and that had he gone to college, he would have flunked out.

Steve has gone on to write a book documenting his story. The book, "Greatfruit, How Cancer Led to Living a More Fruitful Life." It seeks to be of aid to anyone who has experienced trauma and tragedy, regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with cancer.

Additional Resources:

Steve's Book: "Greatfruit, How Cancer Led to Living a More Fruitful Life."

Steve Website: https://www.stevegarraty.com

· Amazon: https://bit.ly/4kkB4mB

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/foryou/

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevegarratyauthor/

In 2024, Andrew Kettner began to experience shortness of breath and a cough that wouldn't go away. This led to the detection of a mass extending from his heart to his lung. Tumor marker tests resulted in an incredible diagnosis of a rare form of testicular cancer. He was put on a chemotherapy regimen of etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin, followed by a sternotomy for a resection of the mass. The regimen was difficult, but Andrew achieved survivorship and says his health is about 70 percent of what it, pre-diagnosis.

Andrew Kettner was nearing the end of a quarter-century serving in the Marines when his solid health took a turn for the worse. He had trouble taking in a full breath, had a cough that wouldn't stop and anytime he tried climbing stairs, he felt dizzy.

He didn't seek medical attention right away, but when he did, he underwent a series of tests, including an x-ray that revealed a mass going from his heart to his lung. He went on subsequently undergo three tumor marker tests. Two of the three, AFP and HCG, indicated his tumor was consistent with testicular cancer despite the mass being located in his upper body.

Andrew chose a chemotherapy regimen, which ran the risk of attacking his kidneys or his liver, but would address the tumor near his lung. Via two ports, he received four cycles of a VIP regimen, including etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin. When that was completed, he underwent a sternotomy, aimed at a radical resection of the mass. A complication from the sternotomy was a blood clot, deep vein thrombosis.

In 2025, he was pronounced having no evidence of disease. Because of the location of the mass, he still has both testicles. Andrew has neuropathy in both his hands and his feet, and says his health is approximately 70 percent of what it was, pre-diagnosis. Nonetheless, he is grateful for the level of health he has and that he can spend quality time with his wife and three teenage sons.

Additional Resources:

Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewkettner

Support Group: https://testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org

In 2018, an avid runner, Cortney Stevens suddenly started feeling unusually tired and unusually itchy. Seeking medical attention, the first doctor she went to said she had a six-inch mediastinal mass that went from her left lung to her clavicle, but that it wasn't cancer. However, Cortney sought a second opinion, and after further testing, she was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was put on a chemotherapy regimen of adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine, plus external beam radiation. Cortney cycles because she can no longer run competitively, and she can no longer have children, but she has achieved survivorship.

Cortney was accustomed to running long distances and competing in half marathons, but in August 2018, she began to feel extremely tired all the time. She would feel so fatigued that she would fall asleep at work. In addition, she would feel so itchy that she would scratch the itch until she bled. Because she was training for a half marathon, she attributed her fatigue to her training. But then she suffered a burning sensation anytime she as much took a sip of alcohol. She decided it time to seek medical attention when there was pain in her left arm. It became discolored, was hot to the touch and swelled to approximately twice the size of her right arm.

A six-inch mediastinal mass was discovered. It extended from her left lung to her clavicle. A biopsy was taken of a lymph node in her neck and her oncologist said cancer was not indicated, that instead the problem was likely a soft tissue disorder. However, Cortney's family was skeptical. She switched hospitals, and when more extensive tests were conducted, she was told she had Stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Cortney was placed on a six-month chemotherapy regimen. Known commonly as ABVD chemo, it consisted of adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine. She also had an on-body injector of Neulasta after each round of chemo. With every other chemotherapy round, she was given a shot of Lupron in an attempt to preserve her fertility.

Once the chemo was completed, residual activity was detected in the mass in her chest. As a result, she needed 20 rounds of external beam radiation. The radiation was effective, and in 2019, Cortney Stevens was told there was no evidence of disease.

A byproduct of chemotherapy, Cortney felt neuropathy in her hands and feet. The neuropathy in her hands went away, but it remained in her feet, leaving them numb at times. That is why she can no longer run competitively. However, she does cycle vigorously on her stationary bike. Cortney and her husband learned the Lupron was not effective, and as a result, she will not be able to bear children. That said, she still thinks of herself as a mom to her nieces, nephews, her two dogs and a cat.

Additional Resources:

Additional Resources:

Cortney's website:

https://wwwcortneystevensbooks.com

Cortney's book:

"Surviving Chaos," a cautionary tale about what happens when your world implodes

It's available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, plus her publisher,

https://wwwhuntsvillsindependent.com/product-page/surviving-chaos

For anyone battling cancer, having to deal with radiation therapy or chemotherapy is tough enough. However, upon learning in 2021 that she had anal cancer, Susie Sanchez was simultaneously prescribed both over a grueling six-week period. Amazingly, she completed the regimen of Mitomycin-C and Xarelto and was told there was no evidence of disease. Because of the radiation's burning in the pelvic region, she had to relearn how to walk, and reduced control of her bladder and intestine forces her to closely monitor what she eats and drinks and when, combined with always needing to know the location of the closest bathroom.

Susie Sanchez had been in great physical shape throughout her adult life, which included her being an NFL cheerleader at age 38. However, all that changed in August 2020. She started experiencing extreme, annoying itching in her anus. Seeking medical attention, she thought her problem could be sufficiently addressed with a topical crème.

Her doctor prescribed such a remedy, but it was not effective. She eventually went to a proctologist who identified a fissure in her anus as the probable source of her problem. After subjecting Susie to an anascope exam, he wanted to perform a biopsy on her anus.

Only days later, she received a phone call from the doctor's office at 9:30pm. At the time, she was home alone as her husband was out of town on a golfing trip. She looped into the conversation, and that's how she got the news: She had Stage II anal cancer.

Susie did not want to undergo a regimen of radiation treatment or chemotherapy. Some research she had done on Google indicated that following major surgery she would have to wear a bag for the rest of her life. She was content with that option.

However, when she returned to her oncologist, she was told her chances of survival if she opted for surgery and the bag was about 74 percent; but if she simultaneously underwent radiation treatment and chemotherapy, those survival chances rose to 90 percent. So, in April 2021, Susie decided to go with the radiation and chemo. It would be a grueling, painful six-week regimen. She later learned many people undergoing the same regimen didn't last the six weeks, but amazingly, Susie stuck with it and finished the six weeks.

The radiation resulted in burning in the pelvic region, which among other things made what used to be a routine trip to the bathroom extremely painful. She got through such visits to the toilet by closing her eyes and screaming the alphabet from A to Z in an attempt to block out the pain.

Once the two-pronged treatment concluded, Susie was thrilled to learn there was no evidence of disease. However, that began a new chapter for her, one tied to post-treatment.

Susie Sanchez had to get on a treadmill to re-learn how to walk. Thanks to the radiation, she had reduced control of her bowels and intestines. This required her to closely monitor her consumption of coffee and fiber and always be aware of where the nearest bathroom was. She travels extensively for her job, so when she flies, she always gets an aisle seat.

Susie can no longer perform the dance of a cheerleader, but she is happy with her life as she now knows it.

Additional Resources:

Susie's website: https://www.susiesanchez.com

Susie's book: The Dream Lived, an inspirational memoir of being an NFL cheerleader at age 38.

In 2023, Jameel Haiat began to experience pain in his throat so severe he couldn't swallow. This led to a diagnosis of throat cancer. The tumor was extremely close to his vocal cords. Jameel was given the option of a tracheotomy or a combined regimen of cisplatin chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation therapy. The former raised the possibility that Jameel could lose his ability to speak, which is why he went with the chemo and radiation. The treatment was needed as Jameel said he felt as he had "razor blades" in his mouth and throat. He now consumes food and beverages through a gastric tube that lands food and beverage in his stomach. Although he gains necessary nutrition, he has had to adjust just what he can and cannot eat. He cannot do heavy lifting but has a gym in his home so that he can get a manageable level of exercise and maintain muscle mass.

An artist and a poet, Jameel moved from Los Angeles to Thailand in April 2023. About a month later, he thought he had come down with a severe sore throat. His doctor thought what was ailing Jameel was nothing serious and prescribed some antibiotics. The pain went away, but returned six months later. Not only that, but suddenly he couldn't swallow. He returned to his doctor, tests were performed and he was diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer.

Jameel was 58 at the time. He was pumping iron, hiking, had a healthy diet, rarely drank and felt he was in the best shape of his life. So, when he learned of his diagnosis, he laughed because he thought his doctor is joking, but it was no joke. Regarding treatment, he was given two choices. One could be a combination of chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation treatment. The other was a tracheotomy, but the doctor told Jameel such a procedure would be high-risk because of the tumor's location, close to the vocal cords. Jameel already couldn't swallow. He didn't want to risk being able to no longer speak, so he chose the chemo and radiation.

While he was able to deal with the cisplatin, the radiation was another story. Jameel said he had burning and blistering on his neck, and when he tried to swallow, it felt like he had razor blades in his mouth and throat. In addition to the acute physical pain, there was the emotional pain of knowing he would never swallow again. In his hospital room, he was often in tears.

Jameel felt he was moving closer to survivorship when he was discharged from the hospital. He was hooked up to a gastric tube, through which he consumed food and beverage. Jameel has modified his diet, so that it is compatible with the tube.

These days, Jameel Haiat cannot do the heavy lifting he could do prior to his diagnosis. He can no longer travel by air. Although he can travel by car, he must take with him the right foods and fluids. What remains the same is his ability to engage in art and poetry.

Additional Resources:

Jameel's website, with his bio, poetry books, art and other writings

https://www.jameelhaiat.com

Jameel on Instagram, which chronicles his daily life through video and poetry

https://www.instagram.com/jameelh1

Not long after going in for a colonoscopy in 2015, John Morrissey was told he had Stage One colon cancer. A Denver-based radio traffic reporter, John learned of his diagnosis with a telephone call from his oncologist two minutes before he was scheduled to deliver a live report! He composed himself, delivered a flawless update, then immediately decided he had to take action. In three weeks, he underwent a surgical procedure that successfully removed a cancerous polyp. After three weeks of rest, John returned to work. He goes in for colonoscopies every five years, and cancer-free, has resumed a normal life in Mazatlan, Mexico.

John waited until he was 60 years old before getting his first colonoscopy. It revealed some polyps, but on a Wednesday, the doctor wouldn't know if any were cancerous until running some tests. The following Friday, John was just about to conclude his traffic reporting shift. He had one more update to do at 5:58pm. His cellphone rang at 5:56. It was his oncologist. He didn't want to answer this call because he was about to go on the air, but he also didn't want to wait until Monday to learn the test results. He took the call, and that's when he learned he had colon cancer, that he had one cancerous polyp.

John Morrissey didn't hesitate and scheduled surgery in three weeks. The procedure was a success, but it caused tremendous pain to his stomach muscles. He rested another three weeks, but during that time, lying down, sitting down, standing up, anything involving his stomach muscles was very painful. However, the pain subsided and he was soon back at work, updating listeners on traffic conditions in and around Denver.

John still needs to go in for colonoscopies every five years. Just about the only change in his routine is that he tries to keep his consumption of red meat and processed meats to a minimum. He has moved to Mazatlan, Mexico and enjoys a normal life hanging out at the beach.

Additional Resources:

Support Group:

Colon Cancer Prevention Project: https://www.coloncancerpreventionproject.org

When Steve Harrison experienced fatigue, back soreness and shoulder pain in 2024, he attributed it to his "getting old." He was in his early fifties. But when he began to have difficulty breathing, he sought medical attention. Because Steve also had asthma, his doctor had COPD, she prescribed an inhaler. That did little to no good. He saw another doctor who ran a variety of tests, which found pleural fusion. After a bronchoscopy and a biopsy, he was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. In addition to chemotherapy, the oncologist prescribed a TKI inhibitor, known as tagrisso. After nine treatments, he was taken off chemo, but remains on tagrisso, which is not a cure, but a treatment, and has allowed Steve to get on with his life. He would say his health is roughly 70-80 percent of what it was, pre-diagnosis.

Steve's San Diego job as a construction inspector was physically stressful. That's why when was getting tired more often than usual, when he had back and shoulder pain, he did not immediately seek medical attention because he thought it was part of getting old. But things went from bad to worse. In addition to having shortness of breath, he began to get night sweats. He thought he could address these issues with Tylenol and Theraflu.

He finally went to his primary care doctor who listened to his chest, thought he had COPD and gave him an inhaler. That worked for one day, then didn't work at all. On a visit to the Grand Canyon, the 6,000-foot elevation really made it tough for him to breath. In addition, he was constantly tired and sore all over. Upon returning to San Diego, he went to the emergency room.

Steve underwent a variety of tests. Doctors found pleural fusion, which is fluid inside the lung. They said the fluid needed to be removed. A thoracentesis was performed, which removed about 400cc of a yellowish fluid. Once it was out, Steve could breathe again. Then he underwent another test, a biopsy. It indicated Steve had metastatic Stage IV lung cancer, which had metastasized from the base of his skull to his spine.

The cause of the cancer was a mutation, EGFR exon 19 deletion. The oncologist prescribed a two-pronged chemotherapy regimen of carboplatin and pemetrexed for the lung and for the mutation, a TKI inhibitor known as tagrisso.

Steve suffered the side effects generally associated with chemotherapy. During his nine treatments, he experienced fatigue, cognitive issues and food tasted terrible. His oncologist eventually took him off the chemo, kept him on the tagrisso.

The bone lesions eventually disappeared, and Steve's health has returned to about 70-80 percent of what it was before his diagnosis. Steve says the tagrisso is not a cure, but does keep his lung cancer at bay.

By way of advice, he says science has come a long way, so much so that a diagnosis of metastatic Stage IV lung cancer should not be considered a death sentence. He also urges anyone diagnosed with the disease to "dive deep" and stay mentally strong even when it seems that is very hard to do.

Additional Resources:

Support Group:

The A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation https://www.abreathofhope.org

Steve's YouTube channel EFGRandme

Prior to his 2025 prostate cancer diagnosis, Stuart Hopgood experienced no symptoms. But a visit to his general practitioner included blood work, which revealed a PSA of 74.2! Stuart was referred to a urologist, who called for a needle-point biopsy. The biopsy not only showed Stuart that he had Stage IV prostate cancer, but that it had metastasized to his pelvic area, a rib and his clavicle. He put on Trelstar, a form of hormonal therapy, six weeks of radiation therapy and Erieada, a form of oral chemotherapy. While Stuart will never be cured, this regimen successfully addressed not only the cancer in his prostate, but the cells that had metastasized.

Stuart thought he was in good health. He was an avid golfer and at that point, the worst one could say about his health was that he experienced frequent urination at night. But when I went in for his annual physical, the blood work showed his astronomic PSA. At first, his doctor thought that high number might be due to some sort of infection and prescribed antibiotics. They brought down the PSA somewhat, but Stuart's GP sent him to a urologist, who ordered a scan and a physical examination. That was enough to warrant a needle point biopsy, which indicated Stuart had Stage IV prostate cancer.

The urologist called for a PET scan to confirm the staging of the cancer. He also introduced a hormone-based therapy with the drug Trelstar. The PET scan showed the cancer had spread into the pelvic area, his clavicle and one of his ribs. At that point, his care was turned over to a radiation oncologist. The urologist then recommended a combination of radiation therapy and oral chemotherapy. The pill was a new drug, Erieada. Meanwhile, the Trelstar was injected into a muscle three times a month. The radiation took place in 26 sessions over a six-week period.

The urologist said there was no cure for Stuart's cancer because it was Stage IV and because with a Gleason score of eight, it was quite aggressive. The urologist said this regimen could extend Stuart's life.

The oral chemotherapy was not as invasive as chemotherapy administered through a port, but Stuar said the worst part was the fatigue, which he said could not be aided by sleep. He completed his radiation treatment in August 2025, but from it he still suffers aching muscles and hot flashes.

As the treatment went on, progress was made. In March 2026, his PSA had plummeted to just about zero and all the cancer cells that had metastasized were brought under control.

Meanwhile, scar tissue associated with the radiation had impeded normal urinary function. To combat that, Stuart underwent a successful surgical procedure called TURP surgery. He still urinates frequently at night and there is some pain tied to the nerve endings in his urinary canal.

Overall, Stuart Hopgood is thankful for overcoming so much and being afforded time to spend with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Additional Resources:

Support Group:

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

In 2015, Andrew Allers was hit and fell while competing in a soccer match. He immediately sought medical attention. and a CT scan revealed a baseball-sized tumor on one of his kidneys, which led to a diagnosis of Stage III renal cell carcinoma, or, kidney cancer. A radical open-assisted nephrectomy removed the entire cancerous kidney. Andrew thought he was in the clear, but in 2019, he was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer. Not only that, but the cancer had spread to his bones and his brain. However, all of the above was successfully treated with an immunotherapy regimen, including ipilimumab and nivolumab. Physically, Andrew considers his health at about 65 percent of what it was pre-diagnosis, but his cognitive skills are just as sharp as ever.

Andrew Allers led an active lifestyle in 2015. From suburban Connecticut, he commuted to his job on Wall Street, but still found the time and energy to compete in an over-40 soccer league. It was during a match that he took a hit, fell on his side. Not only did he think he had broken a rib, but there was blood in his urine. He went to the emergency department. A CT scan was ordered, and it revealed a baseball-sized mass on his kidney. Andrew was referred to a urologist, who checked out the scan and told Andrew he had Stage III kidney cancer.

A radical open-assisted nephrectomy was performed to successfully remove the cancerous kidney. However, just two years later while playing tennis, he felt a pain in his back. A biopsy was performed and Stage IV kidney cancer was indicated. In addition, Andrew underwent a bone scan which revealed a tumor in his left hip socket. It was radiated immediately, but to be safe, he was put on an immunotherapy regimen with two agents, ipilimumab and nivolumab. Side effects included a full body rash and muscle aches making it difficult to make up and down stairs. The immunotherapy was supplemented with a rheumatological drug, IVIG, or intravenous immunoglobin. A few months later, his tumors had shrunk measurably.

There was yet another issue for Andrew. He experienced problems with his left field of vision, and underwent a CT scan, which he had a pair of brain tumors. For that he underwent a successful surgical procedure in May 2020.

These days from a physical perspective, Andrew Allers says his health is about 65 percent of what it was before his soccer accident. His biggest setback is that he can no longer run. He says his cognitive skills have not suffered and that his mental health is better than ever.

Additional Resources:

Support Group:

The Kidney Cancer Association https://www.kidneycancer.org

Patients Stories Andrew has written for The Kidney Cancer Association:

https://www.kidneycancer.org/andrew-allers/

https://www.kidneycancer.org/andrew-allers-plan/

In 2024, Dominique Bieger knew something was wrong when she felt a tickling, biting sensation in her left breast. After a series of mammograms, an echogram, an ultrasound and a vacuum assisted biopsy, she learned she had invasive ductal carcinoma, or breast cancer. She would have to get a quadrant of the cancerous breast surgically removed. Dominique was happy to learn she could avoid chemotherapy, instead for hormonal treatment, featuring letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor. The letrozole left her hands, her feet and joints in severe pain. She went off the letrozole and is investigating another post-surgery regimen. Much of the pain is gone, leaving Dominique free to pursue a career as a chef.

When Dominique noticed this irritating sensation in her left breast, she did not immediately seek medical attention. Because various cousins had been diagnosed with the BRCA mutation, in 2019, Dominique underwent a mammogram which showed she did not have the mutation. She underwent another mammogram in 2023, which again showed her breasts to be cancer-free.

However, she had another mammogram done in 2025, along with a vacuum assisted biopsy. Days later, the hospital called her and asked her to come in. When she did, she was told she had invasive ductal carcinoma in a quadrant of her left breast, and the cancer had to be removed.

After a successful surgical procedure, Dominique was told she would not have to be put on chemotherapy. Instead, a hormonal regimen would suffice. Its primary ingredient was letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor. She also underwent fifteen rounds of radiation treatment.

Dominique said the letrozole was very difficult as it resulted in pain in her hands, feet and joints. At times, it also made her depressed. To make matters worse, her work was done on the computer, and she was in too much pain to work.

Dominique Bieger is off the letrozole. She and her care team and trying to craft a regimen that will be effective without resulting in so much pain.

By way of advice, Dominique says if your doctor suggests a certain schedule for you to get a mammogram, to follow that schedule. It can make the difference between staying in front of breast cancer and getting a diagnosis.

Additional Resources:

Dominique's YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@DominiqueJoileSmallWonders

Dominique's LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-florence-b-80354417