Share Your Story: Paul Stavros

<p>Paul Stavros is a multi-time cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with cancer for the first time at the age of 14. Thirty-five years later, he was again diagnosed. Today, Paul is using his experience as a patient to help people learn how to stay meaningfully engaged and helpful to someone with cancer.</p> <ul><li>01:57: I wanted to see my new muscles and there was a substantial lump under my left arm.  </li><li>04:01: I feel like I missed a big part of my childhood.  </li><li>06:20: What was your brother's reaction? </li><li>08:46: I had radiation as a child, and I had chemotherapy as an adult.  </li><li>10:18: How long were you out of school? </li><li>14:12: There was a whole group of kids that would run with me around the playground.  </li><li>16:50: I spent a lot of years trying to pretend like it never happened. </li><li>18:43: What symptoms did you have?  </li><li>20:14: Doctors only call when it's bad.  </li><li>22:39: Was there any discussion of clinical trials? </li><li>24:57: His suggestion was to never have surgery again.  </li><li>26:47: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of each cancer journey? </li><li>30:50: I lost both my parents to cancer.  </li><li>31:31: What was your worst moment? </li><li>32:56: I opened the closet door, and my wife was curled up on the floor sobbing.  </li><li>35:15: I always thought I would get cancer again.  </li><li>36:10: What was your best moment? </li><li>38:37: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why? </li><li>40:58: I am grateful for my wife because she's a bulldog. </li><li>41:48: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions</li><li>45:37: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers? </li></ul> <p>Resources</p>