Patient Stories

At Virginia Cancer Specialists, we are honored to share the stories of the patients who inspire us every day. Our Patient Stories page features real-life experiences of those who have faced cancer with strength, resilience, and hope. These stories highlight the challenges, triumphs, and journeys of individuals who have walked through our doors, each one unique yet united by the spirit of perseverance. We invite you to read their stories and gain insight into their experiences, as well as the support they received from our dedicated care team. We hope that through these personal narratives, you find inspiration and encouragement, knowing that no matter where you are in your journey, you are not alone.

These patient stories are based on the individual patient’s unique experiences and do not represent all patient outcomes.

Jillian S.

I was 30 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Up until that moment, my life was pretty normal. I live in Ashburn with my husband and our dog, close to my family. At the time, I was working full time and enjoying different hobbies like sewing and dancing. I’ve always been a…

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Craig C.

At 32, I’m a hard-working entrepreneur and a managing director of a successful holiday light company, where I focus on building the brand and providing holiday magic to the area. I’m also an advocate for my own health, which is how I was diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma. Searching for a Diagnosis Before my diagnosis,…

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Joe U.

In less than one week from today, I’ll be running a marathon. A challenge for most, but especially for me after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma over 10 years ago. For the past six months, I’ve been training for the 50th anniversary of the Marine Corps Marathon with the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) to…

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Steven H.

I decided to see Dr. Sarma at Virginia Cancer Specialists, who I had met and liked very much during my wife’s treatment. Dr. Sarma took immediate action. Step one: He ordered a full body scan. Unfortunately, it came back with bad news. Two of my daughters were with me that day when Dr. Sarma informed…

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Jessica

My reflections on personal growth, family, and future goals My name is Jessica, and I’m a mom to two amazing girls—a college freshman and a high school sophomore. Between being a mother and running a law practice with my fiancé that supports an estate planning department at a wealth management firm here in Virginia, my…

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April Y.

I’ve always been a person on the move. A sports fanatic, philanthropist, and community leader—I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the best football players to ever play the game. I’m a former student athlete who started a strategic firm, and I was living my best life. I exercised daily, I didn’t smoke,…

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Knikki

Time to Talk Openly, Honestly, and Candidly about Cancer I was far from home when I learned that I had cancer. Nothing can prepare you for a breast cancer diagnosis, but my journey was further complicated by geography, language barriers, and COVID lockdowns. I’m proud to share my inspiring story. It was 2020, and while…

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Courtney

When it comes to cancer treatment and aftercare, one of the biggest lessons I learned was to take life day by day. At first, this was difficult for me. I’m a planner – I think ahead. And of course, cancer wasn’t part of my plan. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 ER/PR+ HER-invasive ductal carcinoma…

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Reed M.

In sixth grade, I was an active kid who played sports and went skiing with my family. In fact, it was when I was skiing that I really took notice of my first symptom – a persistent pain in my knee. After about a month, the pain was still there and my parents decided I…

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Tom N.

My name is Tom N.. I am a healthy 64-year-old male who was diagnosed with cancer on December 21, 2022. The liver cancer I have is called neuroendocrine or NET. This cancer usually starts somewhere in your body before finding a nice resting place to grow. My body chose the liver. The doctors believe my…

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Catherine W.

I have always enjoyed staying busy. At our retirement home on the Eastern Shore, I would spend time with my grandchildren, tend to my garden, do bike rides along the coast, hike with my daughter, and sail with my husband. I was active. But then, a seemingly routine mammogram began the toughest year of my…

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David Walther

Finding the Right Kind of Care I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April of 2004, and I immediately started looking for all the possible ways to avoid morbidities. At my urologist’s recommendation, I began a type of radiation therapy called high intensity focused ultrasound. I went through two rounds of that, and while it…

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