Held annually on the first Sunday of June, National Cancer Survivors Day is a celebration of survivors of cancer – more than 16.9 million in America – and an occasion to draw attention to the resources and research for improving cancer survivorship. In this year’s observance, we’ve gathered four inspiring stories of cancer survivors treated at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Meet Edward, Maryann, Johan and Jennifer.
Edward, Multiple Myeloma Survivor
One day, Edward woke up unable to get out of bed and with tremendous pain in his back. Thinking his back was sore from playing basketball, he later learned it was because of multiple myeloma. He was successfully treated by Winship’s world-renowned team of multiple myeloma experts, who also organized a 70th birthday party for him. Years later, he’s continuing to do well.
“Dr. Kaufman has got to be the greatest oncologist in the world as far as I’m concerned. And the program they have here is just incredible,” says Edward. “I wouldn’t go to any other hospital.”
It took Jennifer 10 years of biopsies and visits with her dentist and ENT specialists before she came to Emory Healthcare and finally received a correct diagnosis of tongue cancer. She is grateful for the compassionate people at Winship who cared for her during and after her treatment. Today, Jennifer thinks of her Winship medical team when she teaches science to her kindergarten classes.
