Patient Stories

Patient Stories

Search by Category
Cancer

Robotic Hysterectomy Treats Uterine Cancer

For about a year, Huntington Beach resident Janis Kirkpatrick, was experiencing irregular bleeding, so she decide to speak with a physician about it. She was referred to Jonathan Wheeler, M.D., a Hoag-affiliated Obstetrician/Gynecologist who discovered that Janis had been through menopause, and that the spotting she was experiencing was post-menopausal. “I didn’t even realize I … Read More

Cancer

Fighting against endometrial (uterine) cancer

Robotic surgery is also utilized in the fight against cancer – as was the case for Gloria Medlin, a devoted mother, grandmother and energetic Irvine resident. During her annual well-woman check-up, Gloria discussed with her physician that she had been having post-menopausal spotting. She was referred to a gynecologist who performed a biopsy, which determined … Read More

Cancer

When cancer strikes "below the belt"

​When cancer strikes “below the belt,” the results can be devastating to a couple. In addition to standard fears that accompany a diagnosis of the “Big C,” reproductive cancers carry the potential for sexual dysfunction and loss of intimacy. The Pinterpes of Huntington Beach faced those fears. Twice. Sam Pinterpe, 69, was diagnosed with prostate … Read More

Cancer

Families Trust Mom, and Mom Trusts Hoag

​​In 2011, Jennifer Yee went from being a happily married woman expecting her first child to an ovarian cancer patient overnight. The elation she felt after years of trying to conceive was suddenly at risk as her world turned upside down. The questions, confusion and fear could have been overwhelming for someone facing two significant, … Read More

Cancer

Rare Cancer Requires Specialized, Caring Team

Jillian Rossello wanted everyone to forget that she had been an ER nurse at Hoag. “Act like I don’t know anything,” she’d tell her doctors and nurses. Because, in the case of her rare form of sarcoma, she really didn’t. At the age of 28, Rossello was diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a tumor that … Read More

Melanoma Survivor Thankful for Hoag’s New Melanoma & Skin Cancer Program

"World-class health care and very personalized approach, to have that locally at Hoag, it blew me away."

Neuroscience

Steven Fink Hadn’t Slept Well in 30 Years

Before he retired, Steven, 65, had been a high-powered salesman and the single father of three boys. When his head hit the pillow at night, instead of drifting off to sleep, he found his mind racing – going over conversations he had had at work, thinking about his kids, planning, reviewing, contemplating. He didn’t feel … Read More

Neuroscience

Brain Tumor Survivor is Celebrating Six Years and Counting Thanks To Hoag

For Lindsay Susskind, life is good. Wearing a bright sundress and a sunny smile, Lindsay’s excitement towards life shows as she talks about her recent engagement.

Cancer

A life-saving service: The Hereditary Cancer Program at Hoag

​Many people worry about hereditary cancer, especially if they have a close family member who has had cancer. Although most cancers are not hereditary, in some families a predisposition to cancer is passed down from one generation to the next, with about one in 10 cancer patients having hereditary cancer. It is also important to … Read More

Neuroscience

Assessing Your Brain Health: It’s a Family Affair

When you first meet Laguna Beach resident, David Johnson (DJ), his upbeat personality and positive attitude is immediately apparent. Equally transparent is his fondness toward his father, Ken. “He is my best friend and a much better tennis player than I will ever be,” says DJ. Ken is an active 83-year old Corona del Mar … Read More