What to know
Cancer survivors share their inspiring stories in videos, blog posts, and podcasts.
Videos
Stories of Life After Cancer
Mark, Xenia, Wenora, and Ana Maria share heartfelt advice for other cancer survivors in this video.
Wenora
"Continue looking forward to the future, because none of us know what that will bring," says Wenora, who has survived several cancers.
Mark
"Give yourself leniency. You have to give yourself that room to grow into the new you," says Mark, who survived Hodgkin lymphoma.
Xenia
"I wish for everyone to have those people that they can call on," says Xenia, who survived endometrial and uterine cancers.
Jackie
"You may not have symptoms," says Jackie, a lung cancer survivor who never smoked. "So test your house for radon."
Ana
"I had one question, but I was too afraid to ask it: 'Am I gonna die?'" recalls cervical cancer survivor Ana in this animated video.
Linda
"We've been given one body, and we must take care of it," says ovarian cancer survivor Linda in this animated video.
Stories by type of cancer
Breast cancer in young women
Sisters Emily and Caroline have a BRCA gene mutation. They took different paths.
Cervical cancer
"We need to adopt a mindset that ensures that we are making ourselves a priority," says Patti.
Colorectal cancer
"The surgery was successful. But I never would have found it early if I hadn't been screened," says Robert.
More colorectal cancer stories
Ovarian cancer
"If my doctor hadn't acted quickly, the outcome would have been much different," says Janet.
Uterine cancer
"Listen to your body. It does tell you things. It's about knowing yourself. Once you know, you can fight it,'" says Lynn.
Vaginal and vulvar cancers
"Do not let fear, embarrassment, or shame prevent you from finding the help you need," says Sarah.
Improving mental health care for people with cancer
Four cancer survivors share their stories about talking to their doctors about mental health issues during and after their cancer treatment.
- Amelia, survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Watch her video or read her story
- James, survivor of colon cancer: Watch his video or read his story
- Mari, survivor of breast cancer: Watch her video or read her story
- Brock, survivor of multiple myeloma: Watch his video or read his story
The Provider Education for Mental Health Care of Cancer Survivors Training was created to support health care providers, improve knowledge about cancer patients' mental health care, and promote recommended distress screening.
Let’s Talk About Breast Cancer Risk
Watch these stories from women and men affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Learn about their conversations with family members about their family history of cancer and hear the perspective of two health care providers.
Blog posts
Healthy Lungs to Speak Out about Radon
How did Jackie, who never smoked, develop lung cancer? She is grateful that she found an answer.
Knowing Her Family History Saved Her Life
"Only you know your body," said breast cancer survivor Celeste. "Listen to your inner voice, whatever you may call it."
Talk to Your Doctor About Prostate Cancer
"I was a bit surprised, but not shocked," Lorenzo said when a routine checkup showed his PSA level was high.
Pediatric Cancer Can't Stop This STAR Athlete
"Look for the light at the end of the tunnel, because it is there whether you notice it at first or not," says Tyler.
Staying Healthy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
"The only person I have hugged since the pandemic has been [my wife] Denise," says David, a colon cancer survivor.
World Cancer Day: Let's Talk Openly About Cancer
"It is always okay to ask questions. Navigating this process can be hard," says Andrea, a breast cancer survivor.
The Sun Is My Vice
"I fell in love with the sun-assisted caramel color that my Afro Puerto Rican roots blessed me with every summer," says melanoma survivor Robin.
Perspective
"Keeping my mind focused and my attitude positive made all the difference in the world," says breast cancer survivor Ronda.
Reflections on My Childhood Cancer Experience
"The impact of cancer doesn't stop as soon as treatment is finished," says Jordyn.
Throat Cancer Changed His World
"When you hear the word 'cancer,' your world changes in an instant," says Lewis.
I Have Liver Cancer, but You Don't Have To
"The doctor asked, 'How long have you had hepatitis C?' And I said, 'I didn't even know I had it!'" recalls Gary.
My Personal Prescription for Surviving Cancer
George had already survived cancer twice when his doctor told him he had prostate cancer.
Podcasts
My Motivated Moment podcast series
When was the last time you felt motivated to take action? The moment everything changed? My Motivated Moment is a podcast series featuring compelling stories from brave people answering these questions about their experiences with breast cancer and sharing how they took charge of their health.
Jackie
"Now I know there's no obstacle that I can't handle. Survivorship means taking charge, understanding what you have to do to take care of yourself, and working with your doctors as a team," says Jackie, who survived lung cancer. Podcast | Transcript