Personal cancer stories
PERSONAL
CANCER STORIES
See stories from people who have had cancer or are living with a cancer diagnosis. 1 in 2 people in the UK will get cancer during their life time. Every pound you give helps speed up life-saving cancer research, bringing treatments to people who need them, faster.
Nnamdi
Father-of-three Nnamdi, from Ilford, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 and sadly died in 2020 aged 69. His daughter Ifeoma, from Romford, spoke about his diagnosis and the family’s desire to help raise awareness.
Emily
At the age of 22, Emily passed away just 6 months after being diagnosed with a rare, incurable spinal cord tumour. After her diagnosis, she fundraised to support a research project at the Cancer Research UK's Children's Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence.
Marcia
Marcia, 46, from Birmingham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2022 and started months of treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Geeta
Geeta was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2020 and was told the cancer had spread to her lungs. After being told her cancer was incurable, Geeta joined a clinical trial.
Dylan-James
Alison and Warren lost their beloved son Dylan-James to cancer in 2018, just weeks before his 4th birthday.
Dame Deborah
Dame Deborah was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and was passionate about raising awareness about cancer and research. She died in June 2022.
Nish
Nish was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2020. His treatment has included Imatinib, which he will be taking for the next few years.
Andrea
A single mum to 2 children, Andrea was diagnosed with bowel cancer after have symptoms which she additionally put down to IBS. She had chemotherapy and was fitted with a stoma and then an ileostomy, which was removed in 2022. She is now recovering at home with her family.
Tom
In 2020, Tom was diagnosed with glioblastoma, while on holiday with his wife, Kelsey, and children, Aurelia and Bodhi. Tom has now sadly passed away.
CHARLIE
Charlie was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015. Years of treatment severely affected him and, after going into remission, a scan revealed more growths on his spine. Charlie very sadly died, aged 13.
ISLA
Isla’s parents, Nikki and Michael, were told she had neuroblastoma in March 2017. Isla sadly passed away in January 2022 aged just seven.
Cassie and Kye
When Cassie’s son Kye was three, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a full mastectomy but after 18 months another lump was found in her other breast. That’s when Kye got ill.
Tiffany
Tiffany, an optometrist from Croydon, was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma in September 2021. She has had chemotherapy, chemo-radiation and is awaiting surgery. Tiffany is keen to help raise awareness of cancer and the importance of research.
Maureen
Maureen was initially diagnosed with lymphatic cancer of the liver in 2011. Five years later, the cancer had spread. That’s when Maureen joined the MARIETTA clinical trial which we funded.
Anisha
As a GP, Anisha never expected to be diagnosed with cancer and become a patient herself aged 39. Anisha uses Instagram to share her experience and document the highs and lows of life post-treatment.
Emily
Emily was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2011, which later spread to her lymph nodes, lungs and brain. She openly shared her experience on YouTube and touched the lives of many. She passed away in June 2018, aged 24.
DANIEL
Daniel, known as PeeWeeToms, blogged his journey with Sarcomatoid Carcinoma to show people what he was going through. In September 2018, Daniel sadly passed away, just two weeks after marrying his girlfriend, Becca.
Hamish and Susan
No family should have to face a cancer diagnosis, let alone two. Hamish died from a brain tumour when he was just eight years old, and his mum, Susan, died from breast cancer in May 2020.
Liam
At 13 years old, Liam was diagnosed with bone cancer. Liam shared his cancer journey with thousands on his YouTube channel. He passed away in 2022, aged 15.
John
Two years before meeting his partner, Gemma, John was diagnosed with rectal cancer. It had a huge impact on his body and there’s not a day that goes by that he’s not in pain.
Chloe
In 2020, Chloe, mum-of-three, was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma brain tumour and her three daughters learned to help with her care during treatment. Chloe passed away in 2023.
KAREN
While training to be a fire fighter, Karen, discovered a lump in her breast and was later diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Sadly, Karen passed away on the 19th February 2019. She was 41 years old.
Isser
Isser had no idea she was at risk of developing skin cancer, so getting diagnosed twice was a massive shock. Now five years cancer free, she's on a mission to raise awareness and live life to the full.
STEVE
Steve was diagnosed with bowel cancer six years ago. Following recovery, he’s now getting payback on cancer by taking on climbing challenges and spreading the importance of early diagnosis.
JAMIE
When Jamie was just 24 he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour that ended his judo career. Jamie passed away in November 2017.
PAULINE
Pauline was diagnosed with terminal stomach and liver cancer and she was given 12 months to live. Pauline always thought she would grow old with her husband Tom but she sadly died in January 2015.
BRETT
Brett's tumour returned aggressively when his wife Nicola was pregnant with their third daughter, Ariya. He later found out that his tumour was inoperable. Nicola shares his story for Stand Up To Cancer.
Rebecca
Rebecca was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma when she was just eight years old. She has gone into remission twice and is now facing her third recurrence.
Amanda
30-year-old Amanda has vaginal cancer, a rare type of cancer that usually occurs in women over the age of 70. Though her prognosis is unclear, Amanda has plans to help others going through treatment.
FELICIA
20-year-old Felicia was first diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma when she was just 6 years old. She underwent treatment, but her cancer returned when she was 9, and then again at 18. Felicia sadly passed away in August 2020
Courtney and Cameron
While both being treated for leukaemia in hospital in 2019, Courtney and Cameron built a supportive friendship that helped make their cancer experience easier to face.
Georgie
Georgie was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and finished treatment in February, only to be told that her cancer has returned. Optimistic and upbeat, she channels her energy into raising awareness.
Sherry
After being diagnosed with breast cancer and having a mastectomy, Sherry chose to not have reconstruction surgery and to focus on embracing her scars. She hopes to inspire other women faced with a similar choice.
EVE
Eve was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, in 2015. Her doctors tried multiple treatments but they eventually stopped working. Very sadly in June 2017, Eve died aged just 11.
SUE
Following her diagnosis for an aggressive form of breast cancer back in 2008, Sue had a double mastectomy. To mark five years of remission, she got a tattoo over the scars to celebrate her victory over cancer.
STEPH
Steph was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in 2014, when her son was just two years old. In 2016 she learned the devastating news that her cancer was incurable. Steph passed away in October 2019, shortly after recording this video.
ANNALESHA
Annalesha was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2015. With two young kids and a loving husband, it was the last thing she ever imagined happening. Very sadly Annalesha passed away in July 2017.
Anita
Anita was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 when she was 24. Anita is still on preventative treatment but she and her husband Scott are now proud parents of Charlotte and Rupert.
ELLA
Ella was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in November 2011 and needed 12 months of chemotherapy as well as intensive radiotherapy. She has now been in remission since 2012 and works full time for the NHS as a physiotherapist.
SAL
Sal was first diagnosed with breast cancer and then later found out she had stage 4 bile duct cancer. Sal entered a hospice in August 2020 and she passed away on 18 September 2020.
Darren
At the age of 49, Darren was diagnosed with bladder cancer. A 9cm tumour was then discovered which transpired to be kidney cancer. Darren was later diagnosed with incurable metastatic cancer and sadly passed away in July 2022.
PHIL
Phil passed away in Oct 2022, aged just 33. He had only been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer a few months earlier. His wife Mica said it had been a huge shock.