Patient Testimonials

"I left a busy career as a nurse practitioner years ago to try something different. I didn’t expect to return to the world of health care as a cancer patient. When you have cancer you have so many concerns and you don’t want to burden your family. At Washington Cancer Institute there are many resources you can turn to. Because they are not personally involved, they are better equipped to help you sort through your issues. I’ve been cancer free for three years and still attend a support group every two weeks to help others like I was helped. And I’m working on getting my nursing license back so I can do even more.”

—JOAN MANGANI

“When I was first diagnosed with stage 4 cancer three years ago, I was ready to give up. But the people at Washington Cancer Institute truly saved my life. Since then, I’ve attended a support group there every two weeks. Now, it’s like family. It’s a place where someone who has been through cancer can go and share their experiences. Many of us bring our caretakers, and it helps them, too. I continue to go so I can help others, and I would recommend support groups to anyone going through cancer. My support group helped me realize that as bad as things might seem, there is still hope.”

—SHEILA SHARPE

"I was only 38 when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. When you are first diagnosed, you are confused. You want to know why this sickness is upon you and what it is going to do to you. That’s why the counseling provided at Washington Cancer Institute is so important. The staff really listened to me. They answered my questions and helped me deal with my emotional instability. I’ve been cancer free for seven years now. Today I visit other patients at the Cancer Institute to share my experience. I support the Cancer Institute because it gave so much to me.”

—FRENCHETTIA PAYNE

"The care I have received at Washington Cancer Institute has been wonderful. I went for second opinions before being referred to the Cancer Institute. There, my doctor told me about a clinical research study that might help me. My thinking was: Even if it doesn’t work for me, if it’s providing information that might help someone else, let’s do it. You can’t give up. You have to have a positive attitude. Research is important; it may not help my generation but it can help future generations in the fight against cancer.

—KATHLEEN BIGELOW