Exciting News! Our Gainesville Office has moved to Bristow9450 Innovation Drive, Manassas, VA 20110.  Same great providers and care team, same exceptional care, new, larger space to better serve our patients.

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.

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…

Learn More

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…

Learn More

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…

Learn More

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…

Learn More

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…

Learn More

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…

Learn More

Trisha Schreiber

Receiving a Leukemia Diagnosis as a New Mother I gave birth to my second daughter in September 2019. My older daughter was two at the time, so when I noticed I felt tired all the time, I assumed it was from having two young kids. But my belly wouldn’t go down, and when I went…

Learn More

Sonja Sulcer

Facing the Fear of Cancer Treatment I was diagnosed with HER-2 positive breast cancer in November 2021. I had my regular mammogram, which led to a biopsy. I was initially diagnosed at stage 0, but after surgery, I was diagnosed at stage 1. My mother died from uterine cancer in 2014, and my aunt also…

Learn More

Anita Klein

Facing Choices After Diagnosis My journey with breast cancer started with a lump I found during a routine self-check. I went to my gynecologist who sent me for a mammogram and a biopsy which confirmed it was cancer. My gynecologist recommended breast surgeons, and that’s how I found Dr. Vargas.  When I was initially diagnosed,…

Learn More

Jeffrey Sapp

Finding a Diagnosis I am a former Navy All-American football player and have worked as a consultant and motivational speaker for students, adults, and business professionals. I was living and working in Saudi Arabia when I began to feel extremely fatigued. On a normal day, I would usually go to meetings, return to my office,…

Learn More

Rinad Bsharat

Diagnosed as a Young Adult I had already put down my deposit for law school when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I was only 23, and at the time, others assured me that since I had one of the most curable forms of cancer, I should expect six months of treatment before I could…

Learn More

Betsy Kulick

The Surprising Diagnosis I didn’t fit the risk categories. Twenty-seven years ago, I went in for a mammogram and learned that I had breast cancer. It was a stunning diagnosis. I had no family history, stayed fit, and had healthy eating habits which included lots of fruit and vegetables. And still, I had breast cancer.…

Learn More

Award Winning Physicians

Our Physicians work for you, ensuring the highest standard of care.

Learn More