Stories of Survival and Resilience
“I was diagnosed just before my 41st birthday. I felt the lump when I was leaning up against my desk at work. My husband had been through non-Hodgkin lymphoma — he was five or six years clear when I was diagnosed so he could relate to what I was feeling. At the time, my daughter was 12 and my son 15 and I told them right away. I included them in everything; we made sure it wasn’t a secret. That allowed them to talk about it openly. They needed me, so failure was not an option. I’m glad I got it when I did. Stage 2B breast cancer is more treatable. I’m not cured, but I am in remission after eight rounds of chemo, 30 days of radiation and a double mastectomy.
I learned you should not take life for granted.
I had people surrounding me … a friend sending a text to say hi, my mother-in-law coming with me to chemo, bosses shaving their heads. It’s those little things that make you feel you are not alone.”
— Stephanie Maxwell
“Every time I get bad news, I know there’s someone greater than myself responsible. If I go home, that’s good. If I stay, I will serve God and humanity. That’s been my whole attitude. I was diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer in September 2015 and the doctor told me I had probably had it for five years before I was diagnosed. The irony is now I am going to have an experimental treatment that wasn’t available nine years ago. When I was young and felt I’d ruined my life, I asked God to show me he was real. I woke up and went for a walk. I saw flowers, the leaf on a tree with veins just like my hand, and a brook trout the sun hit just right. Nature declares His handiwork.
Oh my God, you are real and you’re showing me. This life isn’t all there is; the biggest thing is preferring others to yourself. … A very powerful and individual relationship with God through Christ. That’s what keeps me going.“
— William Moffatt
“In 2010, I was looking forward to a nice, easy retirement; then I got breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy and radiation. In 2014, I got uterine cancer. I had a hysterectomy, chemo and radiation. In 2018, I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma in the bone marrow. That seems to be in remission at the moment. My cancer has been a real learning experience. I love my family: my husband of 40 years, my daughters, grandchildren and four great grands! I am a person of faith, so when this came along I restarted a cancer ministry for our church and the community. Our annual Cancer Awareness Breakfast at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel lets people know we are alive and well; we have a life and we’re living it!
I love the water, so I’ll go down to the riverfront and sit there for hours, reading, writing or just people-watching.
I am not amazing, I have a mission I love and I’m grateful I know what my purpose is.”
— Geraldine “Gerry” McKenzie
“I was diagnosed at 38 and I am now 44. My cancer began in the liver in 2014. In 2017, it spread to the lungs. Then I had a fever one day and the doctors at Vassar Brothers Medical Center found a brain tumor … What crazy luck! When I was diagnosed, I embraced it. It changes your perspective. I’ve had surgery, chemo, radiation. At one point, three oncologists said there was nothing more to do; then a fourth oncologist found something new. A few months ago, I had a set of scans and they said, “Wow. You’ve stabilized.” I’ve had a terminal diagnosis for five years. … I guess I’ve been pushed to the front of the line. I’m here until I’m not. Until then, I’m going to be productive. Don’t lose hope, no matter what the scenario.
What’s a good day now? I have a lot of them.
A good day is that my husband, also a cancer survivor, is here, and the kids are home. Let’s do something as a family, and we can just relax, laugh, escape and pretend.”
— Shawn Marie Wheeler
“I try not to really think about the cancer. I had 20 years at IBM, then 20 years of my own audio-visual business. I found out because I was in pain and so I had a biopsy; then we got the diagnosis: adenocarcinoma. That was a year ago. I’m still learning from it. One day I’m in pain and the next I feel like I can clean the house. I do have limitations in movement from chemo, neuropathy in my hands and feet. I have two dogs and five cats. … They keep me going every day. My wife is my support system; she’s a sweetie, she comes with me to treatment. I’m 67, but I feel a bit younger. I was born on Leap Year Day, so I am younger!
I’ve lived a pretty good life.
I believe worrying and anxiety is non-productive. At treatment, I look for common ground. It helps to have a sense of humor and it helps to put people at ease. We just take it day by day.”
— Steve Vegeto
“I have stage 4 colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver. I’ve had 27 chemo treatments with three more to go. This has helped me reevaluate how short and precious life is. For six months, I kept it a secret from my extended family. Then I found out my older sister was diagnosed with the same cancer, so I let everybody know. Some of them have set up appointments for testing. When I was diagnosed, it didn’t knock me down. I did have a big cry for about five minutes with my daughter. … Then I just said this is what I’ve got, and this is how we’re going to take care of it, so I just accepted it.
I lost 50-something pounds. To put weight back on, I ate small meals, whatever I liked, and I made sure I had at least four pints of ice cream in the refrigerator, and not cheap ice cream, either!
Have faith, don’t ever lose hope. You have to fight it.”
— William Hurley
“I was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer in September 2017. It’s a rare cancer and I had no symptoms. I had surgery and in the recovery room I learned it was cancer. I asked, “What do we do now?” The doctor said, “Start chemo.” I said, “Let’s go!” I feel really fortunate they found it, even with a bald head! I am a substitute in the local school system working with the special education kids. I think of their difficulties, I can’t complain. … I feel they are my heart. I still go to work sometimes; with my compromised immune system they put me somewhere that has a lot of air, like the library.
I love to quilt, especially on rainy days. I put on my classical music and play with fabric or I crochet hats and put them in the basket at the infusion center. My husband is my caregiver and my best friend and is with me every step of the way.
To fight cancer, I think you have to push. Don’t give up; never give up. That is absolutely it!”
— Elizabeth DeSiano
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I already had a lot of experience with cancer. I lost my wife to breast cancer in 2014 when she was 54. It was stage four and very aggressive. We got four more years. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I did my due diligence, including a full body bone scan. It hadn’t spread. I chose external image-guided beam radiation: 45 treatments for nine weeks, Monday through Friday. I meet a lot of guys who have more serious stuff, but there’s a lot of camaraderie. This was stressful for my daughters; they are more worried than I am. The illness doesn’t define me. It’s highly curable and I’m doing hormone therapy, too, to increase the chance of a cure. Every person here is a survivor. I feel like I’m a work in progress.
Honestly, it really hasn’t limited me. I’m a simple pleasure person. I like to hike the Walkway and keep going to the gym; that releases endorphins.
A really good day is a normal day, living my normal life. I get a lot of pleasure from that.”
— Mitchell Maresco