Cancerversary- April Stephens-Celebrating 17 Years!
On December 7th, I will celebrate my 17th cancerversary. I was just 22 years old and newly married when I was diagnosed with GIST following surgery.
On December 7th, I will celebrate my 17th cancerversary. I was just 22 years old and newly married when I was diagnosed with GIST following surgery.
About Bella At just seven years old, Bella Rocco was undergoing surgery after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer—pediatric GIST. While GIST is considered a rare cancer, pediatric cases are even [...]
Life with cancer is like tossing all your dreams, goals and achievements into a bag, shaking it up and dumping it onto the floor to be stomped upon. Some say I was lucky to get my diagnosis at age 16, before I had a career or a family to support.
My husband Brian, and I have been married 33 years and have worked together in an 8 x 10 room. Brian has literally been by my side since marriage. When I was diagnosed with Wildtype GIST, we knew this was a journey we’d be taking on together.
What is your name? Bella Rocco How long have you been living with GIST? Since I was seven years old. I am twelve now.
Liz Skree at the NIH Pediatric & Wild-type GIST Clinic
Josalin Dunn at the NIH Pediatric & Wild-type GIST Clinic
April was always comfortable with her decision to start a family but she understood the gravity of her actions and what that might mean to other patients. “I think stopping Gleevec to start a family is something that each patient would have to consider closely with their doctor. I was fortunate enough to be “No Evidence of Disease” since my surgery in 2000, so my family, doctor and I were comfortable stopping it.