Survivor Spotlight: JOANNE D'ALTON : Breast Cancer Survivor
Summer, 2007

Survivor Spotlight: FRANK YINKO : Colon Cancer Survivor
April, 2007

Survivor Spotlight: NANCY LAARMAN : Ovarian Cancer Survivor
January, 2007

Survivor Spotlight on MIKE LEMAHIEU : Colon Cancer Survivor (with liver metastisis)
December, 2006

Survivor Spotlight on MARY LICHTERMAN : Breast Cancer Survivor
September, 2006

Survivor Spotlight: JIM HAMMERLING : Multiple Myeloma Survivor
July, 2006

Survivor Spotlight: LORI SCHULTZ : Breast Cancer Survivor
May, 2006

Survivor Spotlight Update: BOB SHAROT : Head & Neck Cancer Survivor
May, 2006

Survivor Spotlight on MATT RILEY : Medullablastoma Cancer Survivor
December, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on MARTY TEN PAS : Breast Cancer Survivor
September, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on RALPH LEMP : Prostate Cancer Survivor
September, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on SANDY AMWEG : Breast Cancer Survivor
June, 2005
Note from Tim: As I look back at the original “Survivor Spotlight” which featured Sandy Amweg in May of 2001, I realize how much has changed. At that time Sandy was almost eight years out since her diagnosis without a recurrence. Since then, the cancer has returned and spread. But the remarkable thing is that much has remained the same. Despite the challenges that here body has faced these past years, she still has the same cheerful, energetic, and optimistic disposition.

I was diagnosed in 93. I was in remission almost eight years before the cancer recurred in 2001. Then in the summer of 2003 the cancer came back in my bones and last year it showed up in my neck and spine. I would say my cancer is stable for now. But I know it’s there and I know it’s not going to go away. It’s not awful. Well… yes it is awful! Every once in a while I get an ache or a pain and then I start worrying. So I come in and Dr. Matthews will put me through a few tests to make sure things are okay.

I don’t like to say that I’m getting older… I like to say that I am maturing (laughter). But I am maturing and I don’t have the energy like I used to and I sometimes blame it on the cancer. But that isn’t always the case. I am just getting a little more mature (laughter again). My body isn’t as young as it used to be so I can’t expect it to be as healthy all of the time. If I fall on my face I wonder right away… “Okay, is the cancer affecting my balance now… or am I just clumsy!” (more laughter).

Keep on having faith… in yourself and in the people around you. And talk about it! I’ll admit that I sometimes have a hard time listening to my own advice. I don’t want the people around me to worry or feel helpless… because they do. So I tend to hide things from them and I end up getting crabby and very uptight. But once I tell someone what I’m gong through that usually makes me feel better because it isn’t a burden on me and I don’t feel so alone. Then I find I can be happy again… as happy as I can be under the circumstances.

I have good support at home. I have my husband, my children, and grandchildren. They keep me going. I’m not one to sit around. But I do sit around more than I used to, I have to admit that (laughter). I sleep more than I used to, too. Now I get about five hours of sleep a night! And if I keep busy, I’m okay with things. I probably do more than I should and maybe I should be resting more but it makes me happy when I am around people!

Even since my initial diagnosis it seems to me that there has been a lot of progress. People aren’t going through what I went through when I was diagnosed (1993). I was sick all of the time. They tried giving me things for the side effects but it was mostly trial and error. Now they give you things automatically that helps people tolerate the medicines better. It may not be a cure but it is progress! And people are being cured more often. The stage of my disease was very bad when I was first diagnosed and I know that I’m lucky to be here. When my grandmother was diagnosed many years ago there was no hope for her. If it wouldn’t be for the technology and the new treatments I wouldn’t be here. I appreciate that! But like everyone else, I want more. You never really appreciate life until something like this helps you realize how good you’ve had it!

Survivor Spotlight on STEVE PHILIPPS : Prostate Cancer Survivor
June, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on IONE HEINEN : Breast Cancer & Colo-Rectal Cancer Survivor
April, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update: DON FICKETT : As Told By Caregiving Champion: LINDA FICKETT
March, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on AUDREY SWITA : Breast Cancer Survivor
January, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on BOB SHAROT : Head & Neck Cancer Survivor
January, 2005

Survivor Spotlights on DIANA BRAY & MARY SCHMEISER : Diana - Lung Cancer, Mary - Breast Cancer
October, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on GENE TE WINKLE : Melanoma Survivor
October, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on MARY ANN HAMMES : Breast Cancer Survivor
August, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on ART WESENER (Colon Cancer) : with Caregiving Champion JOANNE WESENER
August, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on JUDY FRIEDERICHS : Breast Cancer Survivor
June, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on PAT JENKINS : Breast Cancer & Hodgkin's Disease Survivor
June, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on: DR. PHIL WALKER : Prostate Cancer Survivor
March, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on: Rollie Huibregtse : Leukemia Survivor
March, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on: PEGGY KERR : Colon Cancer Survivor
January, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on EUGENE TEWINKLE : Melonoma Survivor
November, 2003

Survivor Spotlight Update on LINDA BURKART : Thymoma Cancer Survivor
November, 2003