Pamela Feidelson's cancer journey began at a routine check-up with her gynecologist. At 38, three words changed her life: You have cancer. After three months of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, reconstruction and several hairstyles, she is cancer-free. It's been almost 10 years since her diagnosis, and she says she no longer thinks about cancer every day. Knowing how precious life is, though, she fills hers with love, wisdom and gratitude. Read more.

Liberty Barnes got her first tattoos at the age of 41: three tiny blue dots on her chest and either side of her rib cage. Why? To help OHSU technologists align her body for radiation therapy to treat her breast cancer. After her diagnosis, Barnes had appointments all over town. Then she sought a second opinion at the Knight Cancer Institute's breast cancer clinic. She saw the specialists she needed in one day and ended up receiving her care here. Read about her experience and what she thinks of those tattoos now.

After Angie Laroche was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at age 40, she decided to share her story to encourage others to seek treatment sooner. Laroche had noticed changes but was embarrassed to talk to her doctor. By the time she went in for a colonoscopy, she had colon cancer that had spread to her liver. She found a care team she trusts at the Knight Cancer Institute but knows how important early detection can be. Read more about Angie's story.

Michelle Barnes of Medford was 29 and just shy of 20 weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her doctors referred her to OHSU, where teams of specialists arranged surgery to remove her tumor and protect her pregnancy. Read more about Michelle's story.

Richard Brack and his wife were building a retirement home on the Oregon coast in 2013 when he was diagnosed with cancer at the base of his tongue. His doctor at the Knight Cancer Institute recommended trans-oral robotic surgery through his mouth, sparing him from needing a large neck incision and split jawbone. Read more about Richard's story.

Brianna Barrett had an unusual reaction when her doctor called to tell her she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The 24-year-old picked up her camera and started filming a documentary series, “Cancerland.” Read more about Brianna's story and how she turned having cancer into a way to find “nuggets of beauty” and how she found comfort in OHSU’s support group for young adults with cancer. 

See her documentary series on YouTube

Being diagnosed with nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 23 - with no health insurance - made Stephanie Anderson feel like she was on a roller coaster. Her care team at the Knight Cancer Institute and community cancer clinic in Gresham helped her feel strong and encouraged. Knight social workers helped her arrange financial aid. Read more about Stephanie's story.

Matt McCallum was training for a  half marathon when he was hit with exhaustion, headaches and body pains. He was  diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2014 and underwent a bone marrow  transplant at OHSU. Gabi, his fiancee, organized a Facebook group called Matt’s  Army to surround McCallum with support. Read more about Matt’s treatment at the Knight Cancer Institute,  how he found a marrow match, and what he and Gabi are up to now.

LaDonna Lopossa was in hospice care and preparing to die back in 1999 when her husband went to the store to pick up a newspaper. The paper contained a small article about an OHSU clinical trial for a medication now called Gleevec. Lopossa, who has CML, took her first dose in February 2000. Within a month, she felt like she was recovering. Read more about LaDonna's story and how she has thrived with Gleevec.

Ed McLaughlin was a marathon runner with plans to compete in an Ironman triathlon when cancer broke his stride. He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2008. He started taking Gleevec, the groundbreaking medication developed by Dr. Brian Druker at OHSU. Even so, Druker wasn’t sure McLaughlin would ever gain the stamina to run another marathon, let alone compete in the Ironman. McLaughlin had other ideas. Read more.

As a teenager, Katie Wilkes was so self-conscious about her pale skin that she begged her mom to let her go to a tanning salon. Before long, she was going two or three times a week. Then at age 23, she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Read more about Katie's story, and how an OHSU community relations program manager, channeled her illness and recovery into activism.

Shon Ramey paid little attention to skin protection growing up north of Seattle and later living in the Middle East and Texas. Then he was diagnosed with melanoma in 2007. That began a series of skin cancer diagnoses and surgeries. Read more about Shon's story and how he decided to share his story to help others.

Alan McGuire-Dale survived a pancreatic tumor caused by non-Hodgkins lymphoma with surgery and chemotherapy at the Knight Cancer Institute. With help from a program to help cancer patients get back into fitness activities, McGuire-Dale returned to biking even before he was done with chemo. Read more about Alan's story.

When Bob Chamberlain was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1982, he didn’t think he would live long enough to see grandchildren. He recovered and was diagnosed again in 2007. Now he credits Dr. Thomasz Beer, the deputy director at the Knight Cancer Institute, and his other care providers with helping him return to a happy life. One with both grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Read more about Bob's story.

Randy Boles came to the Knight Cancer Institute for treatment of his prostate cancer after unsuccessful treatment elsewhere. The Knight doctors gave him confidence in his treatment direction and helped him feel like he was never fighting cancer alone. Learn more about Randy's story.