Survival Stories - Northwest Cancer Centers

Donna Michalowki - Stage 4 Small Cell Lung Cancer

Admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 20:45:44 GMT

To tell you the truth, I’m not really sure when my journey with this demon known as cancer began. He hid in my body for quite some time. I had been a smoker for decades but had quit for a few years. When I saw my PCP, Saundra Clark, NP-C in 2020, she recommended I get my lungs screened because of my past history as a smoker. The results of this test showed a small suspicious nodule that NP Clark decided we should keep an eye on. For the next 4 years, I came to all my regular annual checkups and NP Clark would urge me to get a follow up scan of my lungs to make sure this nodule hadn’t progressed. But I felt fine, so I didn’t follow her advice. Then in my August 2024 annual appointment, NP Clark’s urging and insistence increased, so as an afterthought I agreed to have the scan scheduled.

Daniel Litwicki -Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma (8 Year Update)

Admin — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:52:29 GMT

On June 1, 2025, Daniel Litwicki was the keynote speaker at the National Cancer Survivor's Day Event hosted by Power's Health in Crown Point, IN. Daniel shared his story with a crowd of survivors, family members, medical professionals and community organizations who gathered in support of survivors. Here is Daniel's story in his own words:

Erin Livingston - Colon Cancer (Stage 4)

Erin Livingston — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:52:15 GMT

I was 44 when I received my stage IV cancer diagnosis. I had recently lost 40lbs via diet and exercise and felt better than I’d felt in my entire life! Out of nowhere, one day I unexpectedly woke to an excruciating pain in my abdomen. After being admitted to Community Hospital for 3 days of testing I was told I had stage IV colon cancer that had spread to my liver.

Shawn Thomas - Colon Cancer

Mike Ziegler — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:19:14 GMT

Everyone’s life has been impacted by cancer. Some are survivors who have personally faced and/or continue to battle cancer. The rest of us are family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors of those whose lives were changed forever, because of it. Shawn Thomas is no exception. For the past 15 years, she has lived through both of these unwelcome scenarios.

Dr. Peggy Pritchett - Breast Cancer & Multiple Myeloma

Admin — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:48:30 GMT

Dr. Peggy Pritchett was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 while living in St. Louis. 11 years later, she was residing in NW Indiana and was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. She was referred to Dr. Peter Tothy of Northwest Cancer Centers.

Jennifer Frazier: Breast Cancer

Jennifer Frazier — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:29:56 GMT

“I don’t want to, but I get to. Because some folks don’t get to.”, This is a quote from my pal, Jes.

Loris Vander Velde - Lung Cancer

Admin — Thu, 16 May 2024 17:02:09 GMT

Loris Vandervelde was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2006 and has lived as a survivor ever since. Soon after her diagnosis, she had surgery to remove the tumor, followed that with radiation, and months of chemo. For the next decade, she thrived as a real estate professional, a sales rep, her first grand child was born, Loris and her husband became “empty nesters” and made plans for enjoying retirement.

Marge Brauer: Leiomyosarcoma

Admin — Fri, 10 May 2024 19:26:38 GMT

At 68 years young Marge Brauer is a retired teacher and business owner “enjoying life”. Spending time at home in Indiana or vacationing at her “happy place” in Florida, you may find her riding her bike, playing shuffleboard, or socializing at a community gathering. But keeping up this lifestyle isn’t as simple as it may look to the unknowing observer. Because for the last 5 years Marge Brauer has been living with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Adeline Zerkel: Breast Cancer

Admin — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 17:29:13 GMT

In September 2022, Adeline and Arnie exchanged vows, promising each other a lifetime of love and companionship. Little did the newlyweds know, their journey through life together would soon take an unexpected turn.

Patricia Drennan: Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

Admin — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:56:21 GMT

Patricia Drennan says, “I’ve always been a strong person. As the oldest girl in a family of 7 children, from a young age, I was looked to care for my brothers and sisters”.