Cancer Patient Stories

It was shock that prompted Dan Caney to get his colonoscopy. And the decision probably saved his life.

Ben Manzi may be just seven years old, but he's already worked up an entire lifetime of courage. Diagnosed with leukemia just six months ago, his family has already started a non-profit to help others as a way of repaying the love they've felt from both loved ones and strangers. 

Anita Yates is a perfect illustration that early detection saves lives when it comes to colon cancer. And March is a perfect time to talk about Yates’ diagnosis and recovery because March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

It’s often easy for people to take for granted the enjoyable routines of everyday life.  Not the Stark family of Hampden, though. Like most other families who go to battle with pediatric cancer, it’s the simple and “normal” days they began yearning for a long time ago.

As a busy mom juggling responsibilities, Cindi Moulden-Keyes of Springfield admits getting regular mammograms fell to the bottom of her to-do list. She says making the appointment at Baystate Medical Center was the best decision she ever made.

“The continuum of care from all the Baystate experts was great...Dr. Schalet came from Springfield to Greenfield the day of my mastectomy and readied me for my reconstruction...Now I can get back to work, and back to riding my horse, Bailey.”