Patient Stories > Living Beyond Diagnosis

Living Beyond Diagnosis

Angela's 30-Year Journey With Ependymoma Cancer

By Jules Annen

Share

Share this:

At just 19 years old, Angela Bristow's life took an unimaginable turn. A college student with her future ahead of her, she was thrust into a world of MRIs, surgeries and grueling treatments when diagnosed with ependymoma, a cancer that typically affects the brain and spine. In her case, however, the tumor was located near her coccyx — an exceptionally rare location for this type of cancer. 

"I'll never forget how difficult the recovery was after that first surgery to remove the tumor," Angela recalls. "I ended up with an infection while still recovering at home with my parents. I tried to go back to college afterward, but being away from my support system made everything so much harder." 

Looking back on those early days before receiving care at Mayo Clinic, she shares, "Doctors didn't know what we were dealing with. I wasn't angry — I just kept going because that's all I could do." 

The Turning Point  

Life regained some normalcy after her initial recovery. She met Chris — her future husband — and started planning a future. But less than a year into their marriage, the cancer returned, this time requiring surgery and 30 days of radiation. Two years later, the disease spread to her pelvic lymph nodes. 

This marked a turning point. Angela sought a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, where her care team removed 13 lymph nodes, sparing her from further therapies. "Mayo became my anchor," she says. "For the first time, I felt like I wasn't fighting this alone." 

Mayo became my anchor. For the first time, I felt like I wasn't fighting this alone.

— Angela Bristow

Over the next two decades, Angela’s life became a cycle of surgeries, treatments and recoveries, as tumors returned every two years. Yet she found strength in her "dream team" at Mayo Clinic, including her palliative care team, who are dedicated to easing suffering by managing symptoms associated with serious illness. Beyond medical care, they provide compassionate support to patients and their loved ones during life's most trying moments. 

"I have the distinct privilege of supporting Angela as she navigates the challenges of living with cancer," says Liz Sokolowski, M.D., Angela’s palliative care physician. "From our first meeting, I was deeply moved by her resilience and strength, and how she continues to maintain hope and her sense of humor. Patients like Angela are true heroes. They teach us daily about courage, and they remind us why we do this work." 

Fighting Forward

Advances in treatment provided new hope. What began with surgeries and radiation evolved into cryoablation, thermal ablation, and more recently, oral chemotherapy. Even when the cancer metastasized to her lungs a decade ago, Angela faced each recurrence with determination, balancing the fear of the unknown with acceptance.  

"Cancer doesn't own me," she affirms. "It's part of my story, but not the whole story. I'm still learning, still growing and still fighting. There's a reason I'm here." 

Angela's journey is one of resilience, self-advocacy and profound partnership — with her care team and her family. Chris has been her unwavering support, whether staying overnight in hospital chairs or managing wound care. Their daughter, now a teenager, has grown up witnessing her mother's courage. "She was just 3 months old when she stayed in my hospital room. She's my light, and Chris is my rock."

Now, Angela speaks with heartfelt wisdom. 

"I wish I could tell my 19-year-old self it will be OK. Cancer doesn't define life — it's just a part of it," Angela says. For those walking a similar path, she offers this advice: "Advocate for yourself, build a trusted care team and don’t let cancer take more than it has to. You are stronger than you think." 

Holding Hope 

Since first sharing her story, Angela’s journey has continued to evolve. She is now living with metastatic ependymoma and recently completed proton beam therapy at Mayo Clinic. While no additional treatment is scheduled at this time, her care continues through close monitoring and regular scans.  

Through it all, Angela remains grounded in the same quiet resilience she’s practiced for decades — focusing on daily life, protecting her sense of joy and holding hope in the moments that matter most. 

A version of this story was published on Mayo Clinic News Network.