Patient Stories

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,…

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…

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.…

Reginé Bumper

Finding My Voice My voice has become my most powerful tool, and for that, I’m appreciative that my diagnosis led me to where I am today. Cancer is life-changing, but in the journey, I learned more about myself and my health. Prior to my cancer diagnosis, I thought I was living well by exercising and…

Sharon Reynolds

Using Creativity to Cope with Cancer Facing a cancer diagnosis during a pandemic can be especially lonely. Through the ups and downs of treatment, I found my energy waning as fatigue came and went. But then a relative suggested I try art again, something I hadn’t done since college. And that’s how after a 50-year…

Amy Nave

In January 2010, I was diagnosed with melanoma and found myself scared and uncertain about the future. After several surgeries, I was referred to Dr. Patel-Donnelly at Virginia Cancer Specialists. It was the beginning of a journey that would inspire and change my life. The moment I met Dr. Patel-Donnelly, I was immediately comforted. She…

Kate Zickel

I was diagnosed with stage three invasive ductal carcinoma on September 21, 2017. The good news: It’s the most common and treatable type of breast cancer. The other good news is that I’m one of the fortunate ones who has a huge group of wonderful people backing me up. My husband will tell you that…

Paul Santori

In February 2017, at the age of 57, I was diagnosed with CLL/SLL trisomy 13. The month before, I was experiencing severe abdominal pain that landed me in the ER. A scan showed that I had a bowel obstruction and a mass on my liver, with additional spotting on a lung and swollen lymph nodes…

Temitayo Sadare

Patrick Russo

Virginia Cancer Specialists was recommended to me by a colleague who happens to be a highly acclaimed medical professional in the DC area. I was diagnosed on May 6th 2014 at the age of 25. My cancer was initially detected when I was getting ready for work at my new job one morning and I…