Cedar Lake resident Sylvia Huerta is still dancing despite being in the fight of her life against stage 3 lung cancer.
“I’ve had a long journey,” she says about her five year battle. “And I pray to God that I still have another five years. I’m still trying to enjoy life. Last year, I started going to church dances...Greek, Episcopal, Catholic…doesn’t matter which denomination. I am dancing the night away finding something new to help make me happy.”
After attending a couple of sessions at the Lung Cancer Support Group at the Cancer Resource Centre in Munster, Huerta found that “talking to people going through the same experience helps a lot, too. I’m here to talk with others to see how they are coping.”
Keeping active and having a positive attitude goes a long way, says Helen Kolodziej, MSW, LCSW, facilitator of the Lung Cancer Support Group.
“Making the choice to attend a support group is a proactive step to take in the cancer journey,” she says. “Receiving a diagnosis can be overwhelming and frightening. Our lung cancer support group provides a comfortable environment where one can discuss how lung cancer has affected them. Meaningful interactions with others are both empowering and uplifting and also good for the soul.”
Heurta says “I have a t-shirt that reads, ‘Cancer doesn’t just come in pink…GRAY matters’. I think that sometimes people forget that lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in women.”
It is so important to have support for all kinds of cancers, Kolodziej says.
The Cancer Resource Centre, located at 926 Ridge Road in Munster, complements the advanced cancer treatment options available through the three hospitals of Community Healthcare System. Visit cancerresourcecentre.com or call 219-836-3349 for more information.
