Survivor Spotlight: Dr. Julie MacPherson
June is National Cancer Survivors Month, and we’re sharing stories and insights from survivors in our CARES community. Dr. Julie MacPherson grew up figure skating, has represented the US internationally, and continues to skate as an adult. She was diagnosed with a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) in 2019.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing your story to inspire hope and raise awareness about the importance of continued investment in cancer research.
Julie after surgery
What were your biggest challenges during your treatment?
My biggest challenges during treatment thus far have been managing work and family obligations while trying to recover. My treatment up until now has consisted of two major surgeries, including removal of about half of my stomach. These surgeries came with a lot of pain and very long recovery times, and they significantly changed how I was able to eat. When I returned to work, the fatigue and brain fog were pretty debilitating.
Did any treatments or trials in your care come from cancer research?
At this point, I have not started any trials as of yet. However, I am getting another scan next week, and will start either chemotherapy or a clinical trial shortly after I get those results. I was scheduled to start last fall, but our surprise pregnancy delayed things a bit! Current clinical trials will likely impact what my treatment plan will be.
But I can say that clinical trials in the past have changed what my care has looked like up until now. Because of trials, they’ve identified a different genetic subtype of GIST and learned that the standard treatments didn't work. I have that more rare genetic subtype (SDH-deficient), and so because of that, I did not start chemotherapy immediately after my first surgery because we knew that it wouldn't be beneficial. I am incredibly grateful that scientists and researchers learned that information, because it saved me from doing more than 5 years of chemotherapy that would not have been helpful.
Julie skating with Allegro! Adult Synchronized Skating Team
Has surviving cancer changed your outlook on life?
Yes, definitely. Surviving up until now and continuing to fight cancer has changed everything about my life. It has reminded me to focus on what's important, including family and spending time with loved ones. It has also reminded me to prioritize how I'm feeling because I can't show up to take care of others unless I am taking care of myself. Learning to ask for help when I need it has been a big challenge for me, but I'm working on it!
What message would you share with someone diagnosed with cancer?
The message I would share with somebody who's been diagnosed is that your thoughts and feelings are real and valid. You are the expert on your body. If you feel like something is wrong or off, you are most likely right. Continue to advocate for yourself to get the tests done to figure out what is going on. Don't be afraid to get a second or third opinion, because it might majorly impact your treatment. Even if it doesn't change your treatment, it is always reassuring to hear more than one specialist say that you have the best plan in place.
What would you say to someone considering supporting cancer research but unsure if their contribution makes a difference?
Cancer research is the reason many of us are still here. It is the reason treatments evolve, survival rates improve, and diagnoses that once felt devastating now come with more hope than ever before. I am one of the people who have benefited from those advancements, and I carry a profound gratitude for the science, the researchers, and the donors who made that care possible.
What often feels like a small contribution on one side becomes part of something much larger on the other — time, hope, and life for someone like me.
I feel hopeful when I think about the future, not just for myself, but for everyone who will face this disease after me. Continued support of cancer research is not abstract; it is real people, real families, and more chances at life.