Lung Cancer Survivor Feels Connected to Hoag
“I was impressed with his expertise with robotic surgery,” she said. “I thought, ‘This is good. I can stay right here and be treated at Hoag.’”
Read Mary's StoryA Diabetes Success Story 75 Years in the Making
“It’s never too late to make a life change.”
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Hoag patient receives newly FDA-approved cancer treatment
Shahin Shelechi, 72, is incredibly optimistic–so much so that it’s difficult to comprehend the magnitude of what she has endured throughout her 30-year cancer journey. “You have to have hope,” she said. “And whatever I can do to help even one person, I will do it.” First diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, the disease … Read More
Male breast cancer patient revitalizes life on the road thanks to care at Hoag
For Larry Arvin, a routine physical in 2013 ended with a unique and troubling diagnosis: He had breast cancer. “Initially, I was pretty shocked,” he said. “The fact that nobody really knows what’s going on with men’s breast cancer, that’s the challenge. The serious aspect is the effects of breast cancer when it metastasizes into … Read More
Hoag’s #1 Priority Is You: Tricia Takasugi’s Breast Cancer Journey
When Tricia Takasugi first discovered a lump in her breast, she knew she had to act quickly. A close friend, a breast cancer survivor who was treated at Hoag, urged her to seek care without delay. “She said, ‘You cannot wait two months or three months to see a doctor.’” Following that advice, Tricia called … Read More
One Woman’s Positivity Finds a Home in Hoag’s Comprehensive, Compassionate and Innovative Care
We have a choice about how to react to the heartaches of life. We can wallow in the dark places. Or we can, as Christine Lucas has, place the hummingbird feeder in the sunniest part of the garden, find a comfortable chair and enjoy the gift of being human. After losing two partners to cancer, … Read More
Finding Strength and Resilience: Jennifer’s Journey Through Breast Cancer at Hoag
Fall 2023, Jennifer Drinkwater scheduled an appointment with the Hoag Breast Center to get a second opinion on her small, non-invasive breast cancer diagnosis. Upon further screening, board certified fellowship-trained breast surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Kraft, discovered Jennifer had been misdiagnosed. Jennifer was diagnosed with HER2-positive invasive breast cancer, which had spread to her lymph node. … Read More
Quality of Life Is a Running Theme for Hoag Spine Patient
Steven Katz has spent nearly every morning of the last 35 years running on the beach near his home in Oahu. For the 74-year-old, eight-time marathon competitor, running on the beach is more than a hobby. Running is Katz’s form of meditation, his “therapy.” But for the better part of a year, pain had robbed … Read More
Crohn’s Patient – and New Mom – Puts Her Trust in Hoag
Teddi Lamons' inspiring journey to motherhood amidst her battle with severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease highlights the exceptional, patient-centered care at Hoag’s Digestive Health Institute. Guided by Dr. Hwang and Dr. Raskin, Teddi navigated her complex health challenges to safely welcome her daughter, Florence 'Flossie' Lamons, into the world. This heartfelt story underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing high-risk pregnancies and chronic conditions.
Idaho Brain Tumor Patient Finds Home She Needed at Hoag
Pictured: Paul and Tricia Dietzler take a selfie together the morning before her second surgery at Hoag. What was an Idaho woman with a brain tumor doing driving almost 1,000 miles across two state lines to get to Orange County, California? Tricia Dietzler was in too much pain to contemplate that question as her husband, … Read More
First-Time Mom is Thankful for the Support She Received from the Hoag at Home Postpartum+ Program
As a first-time mom, Melissa had questions and worries about postpartum. Starting with the prenatal consultation in her third trimester through postpartum, those were put at ease knowing how involved the personalized care would be that she received from Erica Golden, the Hoag at Home Postpartum+ family nurse practitioner. During Melissa’s pregnancy, Erica was accessible … Read More
For Stroke Patient, Day at the Beach Becomes Most Important Day of Her Life
Pictured: Lisa (far right) with her two friends, Jaclyn and Julie, who helped save her life with their quick action. It was July 10, 2023, and already blazing hot in Rancho Cucamonga when Lisa Peterson and her daughter, Haylee, left their home for Newport Beach to enjoy some respite in the waves with friends. They … Read More