Cancer Interviews

For Kevin Jerge, what began as a sore throat in 2013, led to the removal of his tonsils, and that led to a diagnosis of Stage IV head and neck cancer.  Kevin’s oncologist said Kevin didn’t have to undergo chemotherapy but did require radiation treatment to attack cancerous lymph nodes.  He said the regimen made his throat feel like sunburn, pain which lingered months after the conclusion of his treatment.  He also lost his ability to taste.  However, Kevin survived, can once again taste food and beverage and seeks to help others with his book, “Go To Your Happy Place.”

After Mandy Basson’s teenager passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma, she was inspired to establish a support group for a rare cancer that has at least 175 variations.  This is her story.

Anna Tower-Kovesdi went to an urgent care facility when she noticed bruises on her leg and felt unusually fatigued.  That led to a diagnosis of leukemia.  Thanks to a regimen of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, plus a positive attitude and tireless support from her husband, Anna achieved survivorship.  She goes on long walks and each week makes several trips to the gym.  This is her story.

Harriet Cabelly went to an emergency room because she felt dehydrated; but her visit led to a CT scan, which led to a biopsy, which led to a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.  Thanks to six rounds of chemotherapy and a positive attitude, Harriet achieved survivorship.  She has returned to a healthy lifestyle, which includes taking up ballroom dancing.

For Pete Hill, a colonoscopy led to a diagnosis of bowel cancer.  His treatment regimen included a temporary stoma bag and chemotherapy, but he achieved survivorship.  Having a stoma bag required some radical changes in his diet and its removal required still more changes, but says his health is “80 percent” of what it was before the diagnosis.  This is his story.

Rob Capuano woke up one night with a severe pain in his stomach.  He wanted to be seen at an urgent care, but due to COVID, the facility couldn’t admit him.  When he was seen, he had to insist on an MRI, which resulted in his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.  Between surgery and chemotherapy, Rob achieved survivorship.  He is also thankful that the hospital where he was treated was sensitive to issues tied to his being a married gay man, because, says Rob, not all health care facilities have staffers with those sensitivities.  Rob says his health is very close to its pre-diagnosis level, and works as an advocate for cancer patients.

For Cindy Clark, fatigue led to a doctor’s appointment, which led to a biopsy and a diagnosis of cervical cancer.  However, thanks to a regimen of radium and chemotherapy, Cindy achieved survivorship.  She has been cancer-free since 2006.  Cindy now works as an advocate for the Cancer Association of South Africa.

After years of sunburn as a kid, in his twenties, Steffan Tubbs noticed an unusual-looking mole on his chest.  After two failed attempts to surgically remove it, some thirty years later, he was diagnosed with melanoma.  A third procedure removed the cancer in its entirety.  When he goes outdoors, he takes a series of precautions to limit his exposure to the sun and tells everyone to make sure that with regularity they are seen by a dermatologist.

What began as an obstruction of Matthew Rosenblum’s bile duct became a diagnosis of Stage Four pancreatic cancer, of which he learned via his cellphone.  After two clashes with chemotherapy and two surgical procedures, Matthew leads a healthy lifestyle.  Going forward, he wants to be an advocate for others diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  This is his story.

When fifty-something Raphaela Ilgenfritz started feeling tired all the time, she thought her fatigue was tied to menopause.  That led to a serious of doctor visits, which led to a colonoscopy, which led to a diagnosis of rectal cancer, or, as it is more commonly in the United Kingdom, where she lives, bowel cancer.  She had to be outfitted with a colostomy bag, a challenge she immediately embraced.  Raphaela founded Stoma4life, a support group for those with below-the-belt cancers, which grew into a podcast, heard on UKHealthRadio.  This is her story.

When Cinde Dolphin survived lung cancer, she thought cancer was in her past; but then she went on to be diagnosed with three different types of breast cancer.  Cinde not only survived them but invented an improvement of a long-used fluid drainage device.  In addition to working to help others diagnosed with cancer, she has resumed her active lifestyle, which includes hiking, running and surfing.

When Chris White noticed a bump on his rectum, he thought it was nothing more than a pimple.  Not only did the bump turn into a diagnosis of a rare type of skin cancer, but the cancer metastasized to his brain.  In addition, to get the treatment he needed, Chris faced barriers from his insurance carrier and the windows for the much-need clinical trial, but he overcame everything in his path.  He has resumed snowboarding and skateboarding and travels the country as an inspirational speaker.

It was only when Claudia Tatum was being checked for a chronic cough that it was discovered she had a rare form of renal cell carcinoma.  Removal of a kidney required a radical hand assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy, a procedure that led to survivorship.  Claudia puts her journey and her experience as an oncology nurse together to help others through the Kidney Cancer Association.

When Tim Sohn spotted some unusual bruises on one of his legs, he sought medical attention.  This led to hospitalization and a subsequent diagnosis of a form of blood cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia.  With the aid of two types of oral chemotherapy, Tim survived.  His experience inspired him to help others diagnosed with cancer, in the form of a book and a live podcast.  This is his story.

When Elise Fourie went to get checked out for mouth ulcers, she soon found herself diagnosed with follicular thyroid cancer.  Two treatment rounds of radioactive iodine led to survivorship, but she faces occasional challenges that come without having a thyroid.  That doesn’t stop her from being a highly active volunteer with the Cancer Association of South Africa.

When Josh Tehan’s four-year-old son, Ethan, started feeling tired all the time while complaining of lower back pain, that led to a hospital visit.  Shortly thereafter, Josh was stunned with the news his son had been diagnosed with leukemia.  As Ethan underwent a regimen that included chemotherapy, Josh spearheaded in-home care for Ethan that included numerous family members.  Ethan survived leukemia, and now as a teenager, he is a straight-A student who plays basketball and hosts a podcast.  This is the story of the emotional and mental challenges Josh faced as his son’s caregiver.

Sayen Gates’ training as a medical assistant came in handy when her aunt was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer.  This is the story of how she combined her expertise and her compassion to address the challenges that came with leading her family’s care for her aunt.

A kickboxer and an ultramarathoner in his early forties, Dale De Steno was in excellent health.  That’s why he was stunned to be diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer.  Thanks to a targeted therapy regimen, he survived, but 18 months later, the cancer returned.  In the Autumn of 2023, Dale passed away, but his family and friends still want you to hear his story

Jeff Knapp twice survived a form of tongue cancer.  His journey was arduous and multi-faceted.  It included radiation, chemotherapy, his jaw being cut in half and the removal of part of his tongue, ending his career as an actor.  But Jeff’s life is as full as can be, including travel and marathon running with his wife, Robin.

When Andrew McPherson, in his late twenties, saw blood in his phlegm when he coughed, he thought it was no big deal; but a friend encouraged him to get his cough checked out by a doctor.  A series of tests revealed a Stage 2A cancerous nodule in his left lung.  Even though he was able to avoid chemotherapy, phases of his treatment regimen following a sleeve lobectomy were quite painful.  Nonetheless, thanks to early detection, Andrew survived, has returned to his job, has returned to the golf course and is a vigorous advocate for others diagnosed with lung cancer.