Survivorship Today: Cancer Survivor Stories - Bristol Myers Squibb

Survivorship

Today

What It’s Like to Live with Cancer

Breakthroughs in cancer research are making it possible for more people to survive cancer. Still, most people don’t understand that the disease can have lasting impacts on a person’s health and well-being.

 

Group Conversations With Cancer Survivors

 

Explore selections from group conversations with survivors and experts from different walks of life.

 

Survivor Perspectives

Survivor Perspectives

“Learning to be resilient and trying to cope with cancer is much harder than people realize.”

- Linda, living with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)

  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Caregiver perspective

Survivorship Today: Living past the fear

Linda shares how with the help of her partner, she’s able to look past the fear of cancer and continue to participate in the activities she loves.
2023-09-28
“It’s taken a lot of years and a lifetime of challenges to break me down, build me up and believe that I’m somebody.”
- Daniel, anal cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Caregiver perspective
  • Well-being
  • Physical impact

Daniel: Using humor to cope and connect

Daniel shares his journey of learning to embrace cancer survivorship, and how through humor and entertainment he is able to both process his experience and create opportunities to connect with others.
2019-07-31
“I had to learn how to be accepting of this new version of myself.”

- Brandi, living with Ewing sarcoma and U.S. Army veteran
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being

Cancer Survivorship Q&A: Mental health

Cancer survivors share their emotional struggles and journeys to prioritizing mental health.
2023-03-23
“When you have cancer, it’s not only trauma on your body, it’s trauma on your mind.”
– Tamron, peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being

In Her Shoes: Addressing mental health

The CEO and founder of Black Health Matters leads an intimate conversation with an oncology social worker and cancer survivors to discuss the realities of living with cancer as a Black woman.
2021-07-18
“Learning to be resilient and trying to cope with cancer is much harder than people realize.”
- Linda, living with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Caregiver perspective

Linda: Living past the fear

Linda shares how with the help of her partner, she’s able to look past the fear of cancer and continue to participate in the activities she loves.
2022-11-16
“I made a promise to myself that somehow, I was going to be a patient advocate. I needed to be able to offer hope and encouragement to others.”
– Melani, stomach and breast cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Physical impact

At home with Melani

Melani shares how her experience with a lesser-known cancer inspired her to be an advocate for others in the survivorship community.
2022-08-28
“Support can be found in many different ways and places.”
- Dr. Melanie Goldfarb, MD, MSC, professor of surgery, endocrine surgeon, cancer survivorship advocate
  • Healthcare provider perspective
  • Well-being

Q&A with Dr. Goldfarb: Healthcare and support for cancer survivors

Dr. Melanie Goldfarb, an associate professor, endocrine surgeon and survivorship advocate, addresses cancer survivors’ frequently asked questions.
2023-06-20
Opening my eyes to what it is like to have something like cancer, I realized fairly quickly who was important in my life and who wasn't."
- Randy, lung cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being

Cancer Survivorship Q&A: Impact on friendships

Cancer survivors Kate, Randy and Daniel share how the realities of cancer impacted their friendships in unexpected ways.
2021-05-17

Fighting the stigma: How candid conversations may help men facing cancer 

Hear from Bin, a prostate cancer survivor

 

  • Patient perspective
  • Health equity
  • Well-being

Fighting the stigma: How candid conversations may help men facing cancer

Bin opens up about the health disparities he faced as a Black, male cancer survivor. Read more about his leap into advocacy to help empower underserved communities, including communities of color. 
Read More >

Related Resources

2021-11-16
"As a Lynch syndrome patient who has had three cancers, knowing that I possibly have additional cancers in my future and a history of the disease in my family is a continued challenge for me, but it has also fueled the fire for my advocacy."
- Wenora, colon, endometrial and basal cell carcinoma survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Health equity

At home with Wenora

Wenora shares how genetic testing and her work in research advocacy played a role in her survivorship journey.
2021-11-15
"For those of us that are in our senior seasoned years, the jargon, the new techniques for communicating, all seem a bit overwhelming at first."
- Loretta, breast cancer survivor, advocate
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Health equity

At home with Loretta

Loretta shares how a cancer diagnosis and family history of the disease inspired her to help seniors with cancer navigate telehealth and receive access to care.
2021-07-19

From athlete to activist: Fighting for health equity

Hear how Woody became a lifelong advocate.

 

  • Patient perspective
  • Health equity
  • Well-being

From athlete to activist: Fighting for health equity

Hear how Woody became a lifelong advocate.
Read More >
2021-04-10
"Creativity has helped me to refocus on the important things in life.”
- Joe, tongue and thyroid cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective

At home with Joe

Joe shares how art motivates him to stay positive during challenging times.
2021-05-10
“Helping to advocate on behalf of cancer patients has given me the strength and the healing that, ultimately, my body and soul needed.”
- Amanda, breast cancer and melanoma survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Physical impact

Amanda: Learning to be your own advocate

Faced with cancer, Amanda became an advocate for not only herself, but for all women who have to make difficult fertility decisions while fighting for their lives.

Related Resources

2023-09-28
“Religion, culture and social norms defined the way I approached cancer. Identifying the barriers that brought into my life and breaking them down helped me recoup.”  
- Daniel, anal cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Physical impact

Common Ground: Cancer survivorship and the stigma of masculinity

Two cancer survivors who have never met before sit down for a conversation about what life has looked like since cancer. 
2022-08-28
“It’s going to be different for everybody, but find what works for you and stick with it.”
- Dr. Melanie Goldfarb, MD, MSC, professor of surgery, endocrine surgeon, cancer survivorship advocate
  • Healthcare provider perspective
  • Well-being

Q&A with Dr. Goldfarb: Coping with anxiety

Dr. Melanie Goldfarb, an associate professor, endocrine surgeon and survivorship advocate, addresses cancer survivors’ frequently asked questions.
2021-09-20
“For me, living with cancer is about resiliency, loving yourself and acknowledging your fears.”
- Woody, osteosarcoma survivor and advocate
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Health equity

Woody: Being resilient and embracing new dreams

Cancer survivor Woody shares how, despite a diagnosis 60 years ago, cancer is still very much a part of his life today.
2021-09-20
“Being a former healthcare provider who’s also living with cancer has helped me on my survivorship journey.” 
- Victoria, multiple myeloma survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Healthcare provider perspective
  • Physical impact

At home with Victoria

Victoria, a retired healthcare provider, shares how she’s learning how to adapt while living with a chronic cancer.
2023-09-28
“I think for a lot of cancer survivors, you’re never going to be the same as you were before, but if you choose to, you can figure out ways to live your best life afterwards.” 
– Bin, prostate cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Physical impact

Bin: Reflecting on 10 years of cancer survivorship

Nearly 10 years after a prostate cancer diagnosis, Bin reflects on how cancer opened up a new world for him, despite many physical, mental and emotional challenges.
2021-02-06
"That journey of learning to accept and learning to allow others to help me has been a difficult journey to walk."
- AJ, lung cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Caregiver perspective
  • Well-being
  • Physical impact

AJ: Finding perspective after cancer

For AJ, living with cancer can be physically painful and mentally challenging, yet his diagnosis changed his outlook on life.
2022-11-16
“The joy that I receive now of this changed environment living with cancer is just experiencing life and seeing things grow.”
- Randy, lung cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Physical impact

Randy: Discovering catharsis through connectivity

Facing cancer made Randy reconsider his “treadmill” pace of life. He shifted his priorities to focus on joy, balance, and well-being and learned how to embrace his changed environment.
2022-08-28
“[Struggling emotionally] is a very common thing that patients and survivors face, so you are not alone.”
- Dr. Melanie Goldfarb, MD, MSC, professor of surgery, endocrine surgeon, cancer survivorship advocate
  • Healthcare provider perspective
  • Well-being

Q&A with Dr. Goldfarb: Finding emotional support

Dr. Melanie Goldfarb, an associate professor, endocrine surgeon, and survivorship advocate, addresses cancer survivors’ frequently asked questions.
2019-08-02
“Physically, I'm cancer-free, but mentally, I'll never be the same.”
- Justin, testicular cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Young adult

Justin’s perspective

Men’s health advocate and cancer survivor Justin discusses how he has overcome the feelings of depression, isolation and anxiety that began after his treatment.
2023-09-28
“All I knew about cancer was death, and I didn’t want to hear it.”
- AJ, lung cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being
  • Physical impact

AJ's perspective

When AJ found out he had stage 4 lung cancer and only a few years to live, he struggled to find comfort until he learned to find meaning in every moment.
2020-01-18
“I’ll always be grieving for the life that could have been if it weren’t for cancer.”
- Rebecca, two-time ovarian and thyroid cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being

Rebecca’s perspective

Rebecca discusses the importance of a strong support system to help her through the thick and thin.
2019-05-10
“Cancer has played a role in every decision I've made.”
- Jamie, breast cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being

Jamie’s perspective

Jamie was 14 weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Years later, the fear of reoccurrence still follows Jamie and plays a role in every decision she makes.

Related Resources

2020-01-17
“In some ways, Rebecca’s cancer has brought us closer together and, in some ways, it has driven us apart.”
- Robert, Rebecca’s partner
  • Caregiver perspective
  • Well-being

Robert's perspective

Robert discusses how cancer can impact relationships and his experience caring for his partner and two-time cancer survivor, Rebecca.
2019-08-03
“In order for me to be healthy, I knew I needed to share my story.”
- Amy, breast cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being

Amy's perspective

After breast cancer, Amy felt like there was no safe haven in the Asian American community to talk about her experience.
2019-11-30
“There’s no cure for multiple myeloma. I'll be living with cancer for the rest of my life.”
- Donna, living with multiple myeloma
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being

Donna's perspective

When Donna was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, she was given three years to live. Now, despite daily challenges, she manages the disease as a chronic condition.
2019-05-09
“Where I’m from, there’s still a lot of shame around cancer.”
- Bin, prostate cancer survivor
  • Patient perspective
  • Health equity
  • Well-being

Bin's perspective

Cancer is not often talked about in the African American community, so when Bin found out he had prostate cancer, he knew it was important to share his story.

Related Resources

2023-06-20
“I know I am worthy of love and capable of love. I just need some help breaking down the barrier between that.”
- Kate, living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Patient perspective
  • Well-being

Cancer Survivorship Q&A: Dating and relationships

Cancer survivors open up about the realities of dating and romance, and how they navigate challenging conversations with dates and long-term partners.  
 

Resources

 

Information and support if you or someone you know is living with cancer.







About Survivorship Today: What It's Like to Live with Cancer

 

An initiative by Bristol Myers Squibb, Survivorship Today aims to share stories of people across the country who have been affected by cancer and advance our collective understanding of what it’s like to live with the disease today. We’re working with those featured to call attention to their personal triumphs and challenges, because with greater understanding, we can inspire more action and better support.