“Overall, my life changed the most when I found out that I was a lot stronger than what I thought I was,” said Sue Ebeltoft.
Sue Ebeltoft was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin's Disease, otherwise known as Lymph Node Cancer, in 1999 at the age of 24.
Before her diagnosis of Hodgkin’s, Sue had been diagnosed with eczema, an itchy inflammation to the skin, and was told to “live with it”. After a year has passed since her eczema diagnosis, she soon discovered a lump under her arm that led to the diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Disease. Doctors performed multiple tests regarding the lump which led to the diagnosis on March 3, 1999- the same year Sue was planning her wedding for the upcoming April. She journeyed through 6 months of chemotherapy once every other week, followed by 20 days of...
At just 29 years old and with no family history of breast cancer, Rachel Boose was shocked when doctors found a tumor visible on her mammogram. She was sent for a second mammogram which confirmed her worst fears.
In times of fear and uncertainty, our true self comes out to guide us. For Sandy McDade, a 15-year breast cancer survivor, she found strength within herself that she never knew she had, providing insight into the person she is today.
“I was planning my life, where to go to college or where to go on spring break. When I was diagnosed with cancer, it was nothing I would ever expect.”
When diagnosed with cancer, reaching out to other survivors is one of the best ways to foster the strength to overcome the disease. Fortunately, local women that face breast cancer can find refuge at the Pink Ribbon Society, founded by Ann Peters, a 41 year breast cancer survivor.
The most harrowing challenges can lead to the most unexpectedly rewarding pursuits. Heather Banks can attest to that.
“I have everything that anyone could ever need.”
The above statement is not one you would expect from a two-time cancer survivor. Nevertheless, this is the positive outlook Sandra Schaffer maintains after having overcome both breast and thyroid cancer. With the support of family and friends, including Jenny Craig-Brown here at Ideas in Motion Media, Schaffer was able to not only beat cancer, but is living a fulfilling and meaningful life in Valparaiso.
Everyone knows someone who is struggling or has struggled with cancer. Whether a friend, family member, or co-worker, cancer always hits close to home. Margaret Vanna, 69, is not only a survivor of kidney cancer, but also the grandma of one of our Lifers, Justin Luna.
It was in April of 2006 when Crown Point resident Barbara Phelps started her day feeling under the weather and soon got a headache like one she had never felt before. After calling twin daughters Kathleen and Elizabeth Brown and asking that they return home from their dad’s a few blocks away to feed the dogs, Barb quickly started showing uncharacteristic behavior that raised concern in the sisters.
When people throw out the word cancer, you can often hear a pin drop in the room. When Highland resident Deanna Schmidt heard the word cancer in her doctor’s office a few years back, she thought, “Worst case scenario – it’s skin cancer.”
