"I noticed some lumps on my neck and went in to have them checked out. At first my doctor thought I had cold symptoms and swelling from the flu. A month later, I went back because the lumps had gotten bigger. The next thing I know, I'm being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in my neck and chest.

A week after I found out I had cancer, I found out my wife was pregnant. Now I'm cured and my life is going great."
-- Kerry

"I was diagnosed during a regular mammogram soon after I turned 40. It was very scary. I was concerned about ever having a normal life, about being there for my husband and children. After an eight-month regimen of chemotherapy and radiation at St. John's Mercy, I'm doing just fine. Now every day is a day of celebration."
-- Deanne

"I was part of a 7-year drug study at St. John's Mercy. At the end of the study, a biopsy showed I had the beginning of prostate cancer. Had I not been in the cancer study at St. John's Mercy, I probably wouldn't have found out until later on, because this test caught my cancer in the very early stage.

After doing a lot of research, I decided prostate seed implants was the best thing for me. It took me some time to recuperate, but now I've been cancer-free for five years and my PSA is below normal."
-- Ed

"I went to my doctor who referred me immediately to my oncologist. He did some treatment and put me right in the hospital. I started my chemo and radiation for cervical cancer the following Tuesday.

I'm doing very well. I have some side effects from the treatments but I go on with my life. I exercise and eat organic food now… I've just really tried to change my whole lifestyle.

Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. When you get down you just have to talk to yourself and say you can't let this take a hold of you. You've got to get up and do what you have to do … I'm grateful to be alive and to be with my family."
-- Susan