When Susan was first diagnosed with breast cancer more than 30 years ago, she had no way of knowing how long the journey would be or how much life she would still go on to live.
What began as a routine mammogram led to more testing, a biopsy, and a diagnosis that changed everything. Susan underwent a modified radical mastectomy, learned that her lymph nodes were positive, and began chemotherapy. After treatment, she took tamoxifen for five years and later participated in a clinical trial, continuing to do everything possible to stay ahead of the disease.
The early outlook was serious. Susan recalls that her doctors knew her cancer carried a significant risk of returning. But even in that uncertainty, she did not let fear take over her life.
Choosing to Keep Living
For nearly three decades, Susan lived in remission. She stayed committed to follow-up visits, kept seeing her oncologist, and did not stop doing the things her care team told her were important.
But those years were about much more than doctor appointments.
Susan filled them with family, faith, and service. She traveled with loved ones, went skiing and whitewater rafting, and spent countless hours cheering on her children and grandchildren at ball games.
She worked in her yard, studied her Bible outdoors, and found peace in prayer. She served in church ministry, helped host South Korean children through a summer program, and went on mission trips to South Korea, Haiti, and South America.
I’ve tried not to ever let things interrupt my life,
Susan said.
When the Cancer Returned
After decades in remission, Susan began experiencing intense pain after what seemed like a shoulder injury. At first, it did not appear to be anything obvious. But more testing revealed something unexpected: her shoulder blade had broken, something doctors told her was highly unusual without major trauma.
Further scans revealed the reason. The breast cancer Susan had faced years earlier had metastasized to her bones.
A PET scan showed lesions in multiple areas, including her pelvis, hips, ribs, spine, sternum, shoulder, and neck. A bone biopsy confirmed that it was not a new cancer, but her original breast cancer returning more than 30 years later.
It was devastating news. Susan was told there was no cure.
A New Kind of Hope
Even in that moment, Susan did what so many patients do: she asked the question that mattered most.
When she looked at the scan with her oncologist, she asked if there was anything they could do.
The doctor’s answer has stayed with her ever since: You betcha, there is.
Susan began treatment with hormone therapy and medication designed to keep the cancer from growing. Nearly three years later, that treatment is still helping stabilize the disease. The cancer has not disappeared, but the treatment helps manage it, and it gives Susan more time to stay present with the people and activities she loves.
Faith in the Middle of Uncertainty
Susan speaks honestly about what it means to live with metastatic cancer. She understands the seriousness of the diagnosis. She knows the treatment may not work forever. But she also speaks with remarkable peace.
Her faith is at the center of how she sees her future.
If God chooses for me to live, I plan to live every day to the fullest,
Susan said.
That perspective has helped her hold onto joy, even in uncertainty. Rather than letting cancer define every moment, Susan continues to focus on the blessings still in front of her.
I get to stay here with my family and keep going to ball games,
she said.
That is one of the most powerful takeaways from Susan’s journey. Even in the face of a diagnosis she cannot cure, she continues to focus on life.
Compassionate Care at CHRISTUS Health
Just as meaningful to Susan as her treatment has been the way she has been treated.
She describes the care she has received through CHRISTUS Health in Alexandria as compassionate from the moment she walks in the door. From the receptionist to the lab team, physicians, nurses, and infusion staff, Susan says she has consistently been surrounded by people who are both professional and kind.
It is just excellent care,
Susan said. They are professional, but very compassionate.
Even on routine visits, she says the staff does not rush her. They ask how she is doing. They check whether anything has changed. They explain what they are doing and make sure she feels comfortable.
When she walks into the infusion room, she says people greet her by name and take time to help her feel at ease.
They make me feel comfortable,
Susan said.
That kind of care matters. In cancer treatment, compassion is not a small thing. It helps patients feel seen, heard, and supported through an experience that can otherwise feel overwhelming.
The Importance of Care Close to Home
Susan also wants people to know something important: they may not have to leave their community to receive excellent cancer care.
For many people, a cancer diagnosis comes with the assumption that they need to travel far from home for treatment. But Susan’s experience has shown her that high-quality, compassionate cancer care can be found right here in Alexandria.
For her, staying local has meant more than convenience. It has meant remaining near family, church, and the routines that bring comfort and strength.
I do want people to know that you can stay here for your cancer care,
Susan said.
