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University of California San Francisco

Patient Stories

Inspiring Lives

Dipti Anderson’s Story

If you’re a new breast cancer patient at UCSF, Dipti Anderson is one of the first people you’re likely to meet. As a patient liaison, Anderson helps women navigate the often overwhelming new world of treatments, tests and appointments, alerting them to the many support services available at UCSF and answering their questions. Read More

Chris Carmichael’s Story

After beating cancer, taking time to smell the flowers has a whole new meaning for Chris Carmichael, an avid gardener who is the associate director of Collections and Horticulture at the University of California Botanical Garden in Berkeley. Read More

Jim Dennis’ Story

After beating prostate cancer, Jim Dennis, a well-known photographer, became a “one-man crusader” against the disease, which is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American males, claiming the lives of more than 27,000 men each year. Read More

Ron Goodrich’s Story

Ron was 60 years old in 2007 when he noticed some discomfort in his left ear on vacation in Hawaii. He thought this might be related to his water skiing, a lifelong avocation, but did have his PCP evaluate him when he returned home to Novato, CA. The initial finding was earwax build-up. Read More

Sandra deQuant’s Story

Sandra deQuant will never forget her 49th birthday: the following day, she was told she had anal cancer. “I was in a state of shock,” remembers deQuant. “I didn’t know what to expect and had never heard of anal cancer before. Read More