Against All Expectations: A Road to Remission

Anita's Story

I owe the Cancer Outreach program so much. I don’t know how I could have possibly afforded my treatment without it. There are no words to express my gratitude.

-Anita Grattan

Anita Grattan, 70, has lived in Mammoth for over 20 years. She was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 by Dr. Yuri Parisky, and subsequently spent six weeks undergoing radiation and chemotherapy at Tahoe Forest Cancer Clinic.

The Cancer Outreach program allowed Anita to rent a house in Truckee for the entire duration of her treatment.

“I owe the Cancer Outreach program so much. I don’t know how I could have possibly afforded my treatment without it. There are no words to express my gratitude.”

Unfortunately, Anita’s cancer had spread to her lungs. “My father died of lung cancer, and I was a smoker. I thought this was going to be it. My lungs looked like a Christmas tree, light bulbs all over them. I told my oncologist, ‘This is my time now.’ My choices were very grim. I decided that quality of life was more important to me than quantity, and left for two months to visit my family in Europe.”

After tearful goodbyes, Anita returned home to meet with her oncologist. “She presented me with two choices, either mother nature takes its course, or I try an oral chemotherapy. I chose the latter. In 2019, my cancer started to shrink and in October 2022, on a routine visit to Truckee, I was told I was cancer free.”

Anita was able to meet her first grandchild, Simone, in May 2024.  

“I never thought that I would live to hear those words—cancer free.”