Read inspiring stories of strength, perseverance, and hope from those we’ve had the privilege of caring for at the Helen G. Nassif Community Cancer Center.
If you were to picture the “typical” colon cancer patient, you probably wouldn’t picture someone like Phil Decker. Under 50, in excellent physical shape, and a multiple-time marathon runner, Decker seemed the picture of health. Yet in January 2022, he
Early detection, coordinated care and comprehensive support made all the difference for Barb during her breast cancer journey. When Barb Schemmel, of Cedar Rapids, went in for her appointment last October, she expected it to be routine. The next day,
“I thought it was 50,” Mark Kluesner said to his wife, Amy, when they were discussing the age to get a colonoscopy. Amy responded by telling Mark the recommendation for colonoscopy changed to 45 – his current age at the time. During his
A routine mammogram led to a breast cancer diagnosis—and a genetic discovery that may have saved her life. In March 2024, Leslie Coffin received a call from her former doctor’s office in Des Moines about the results of her recent
Bill Brayton, 69, of Lisbon, smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for more than 40 years. He picked up the habit at 19 and finally quit around age 60, in 2016. After he stopped smoking, his primary care provider
The Family Care Program is a program of the Nassif Community Cancer Center and is funded by a grant from Aiming for a Cure Foundation. Ellie Droesch of Cedar Rapids was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2023 at the
Renee Bryant, of Cedar Rapids, has always been good about receiving her annual screening mammogram to check for breast cancer. In late 2024, when it was time for her yearly appointment at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Breast and Bone
In early January 2025, Grinnell resident Marcia Puls felt something odd in her breast and called her family doctor. After an examination, her provider referred her for a mammogram at UnityPoint Health – Grinnell Regional Medical Center. The mammogram came
Vanessa Vega of Cedar Rapids is a former NCAA Division I basketball player, a current high school coach and an avid runner. She’s always been a healthy and active person, so when the then-40-year-old Vega went in for her first
Life changes when a patient receives a cancer diagnosis and becomes a survivor. During active treatment, there are appointments, lab tests, surgery, chemo, radiation and more. When a patient completes treatment, a new set of challenges arise as a patient
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