Lemont Mom Battles Cancer, Finds Support in Relay for Life

When resident Sue Susz was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver and colorectal cancer in January 2010, she thought she had only months to live.

Susz, then 49, had been working as a nurse for nearly 30 years, so she recognized the look on her doctor's face when he delivered the news.

"Working in post-surgical recovery, you see it all," Susz said. "So from working with my own patients, I knew my cancer was really bad. The doctor even cried when he told me."

With the cancer already in an advanced stage, Susz immediately began chemotherapy.

"There's no cure or remission for my types of cancer, just different treatments to make the cancer stable and manageable," she said. "I'll have chemo the rest of my life."

As she began her treatment, she quickly began to feel its side effects—including the loss of 60 percent of her hair. The illness began to take its toll on both her body and mind.

"You wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and basically see a blank canvas," said Susz, who lost half the hair on her head, her eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair.

"I didn't even recognize myself, which was really difficult to come to terms with," she said.

That's when the American Cancer Society stepped in.

Following Susz's diagnosis, many of her friends suggested that she reach out to the organization for information on support groups and services.

"The American Cancer Society has been amazing," Susz said. "I never knew how many programs they offer, but it's truly remarkable."

Through the organization's wellness programs, Susz was able to learn which foods she should eat and how she should prepare them, which led to her living a much healthier lifestyle.

She also took advantage of the "Look Good..Feel Better Program," a free service that teaches hands-on cosmetic techniques to help them cope with appearance-related side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

"I can't say enough about that program," Susz said. "They teach you little things, like how to pencil in your eyebrows, but it was really great. It helped me feel a little more like myself."

In July 2010, Susz, her husband Glenn, and daughters Danielle and Christine joined hundreds of volunteers from the Lemont-Homer Glen area for the towns' annual Relay for Life, a fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society.

During Relay for Life, participants walk for 12 hours to raise awareness and funding for cancer research.

Susz served as the guest speaker, a moment she describes as both "terrifying and inspiring."

"I was so nervous, but to look out at the crowd and see all those people volunteering for Relay—all I could think was, 'Wow,'" she said.

Susz has continued to participate in Relay for Life since her diagnosis. This year's event will be held Friday, July 13, at the Lemont High School Sports Complex, 131st Street and Bell Road.

"Relay for Life lets me turn my situation into something positive, if just for those 12 hours," she said.

Although Susz still has a long road ahead of her, the last scan showed only minor growth of her cancer cells. She remains hopeful and grateful for her family's support.

"My doctor says I'm a poster child because not many people have responded to treatments the way I have," she said. "I feel so grateful for each day I have. I know that all I can do is take this one step at a time and hope for the best. I'm just fortunate to have an incredible family to see me through it."

For more on Relay for Life of Lemont-Homer Glen, visit relayforlife.org/lemontil.

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