Beating cancer twice: A survivor shares what got her through two bouts of the disease

ALLENTOWN, PA. — When Janice Schanck was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, her outlook was positive.

“I wasn't really scared because a breast is something that they can treat or remove and the outlook was good and my husband was alive,” Schanck, of Bethlehem, said.

But when she received another cancer diagnosis almost two decades later, her outlook was not quite as bright.

• Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute’s fourth annual Celebration of Champions was held by Lehigh Valley Health Network on Saturday night at the Renaissance Hotel in Allentown
• Along with the eight survivor stories shared, the evening paid tribute to nurse Stella Polit as a caregiver champion, cancer survivor Amy Eagle Thompson as a survivor champion and Paul Haldeman as a community impact champion
• The Celebration of Champions is an annual event raising money to support the more than 6,000 new cancer patients coming to the hospital each year

“The second time was much more difficult because my husband had passed away and it was scarier, it was everywhere in my body,” she said.

In 2022, Schanck was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma throughout her body and underwent six rounds of chemotherapy.

“I don’t think I complained through the whole thing again,” she said. “I turned 80 and just kept on going, thinking I'm gonna get out of this on the other side and keep doing."'

'It's a shot of adrenaline'

It was that positive attitude that was noticed by her oncologist, Dr. Savitri Skandan, who went on to nominate Schanck among the honorary survivors at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute’s fourth annual Celebration of Champions.

“She said I never had a bad day," Schanck said. "She never saw me in a bad mood and she never released me or discharged me because I always cheered her up when I came."

The gala was held by Lehigh Valley Health Network on Saturday night at the Renaissance Hotel in Allentown.

"They have such a hard road,” Dr. Suresh Nair, physician in chief of the Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, said about the cancer survivors. “There's so much mental anxieties, physical side effects.

"And they need this. It’s a shot of adrenaline for them to see the entire community coming together and caring about them. When I see the quotes from the survivors and their photos, you know, it just brings tears of happiness."

Along with the eight survivor stories shared, the evening paid tribute to nurse Stella Polit as a caregiver champion, cancer survivor Amy Eagle Thompson as a survivor champion and Paul Haldeman as a community impact champion.

During the celebration, Haldeman announced a $250,000 donation to the institute.

Nair recognized his team for their efforts in the fight against cancer.

“We want to continue to keep elevating the care so that we have more cures, less side effects, and bring all the treatments locally to the Lehigh Valley so patients don't have to travel,” Nair said.

'Plans to see my granddaughters get married'

It’s that level of care that made it possible for Schanck to celebrate with the other survivors over the weekend. She's now in remission and spends her days doing her part to give back to the community.

“I hand-make little quilts for every baby in the NICU at Cedar Crest, so that when they go home or when they're having a bad day or their mom and dad are having a bad day, the nurses can whip out a cute little baby quilt and it's theirs to keep,” she said.

She said paying it forward is what keeps her going in life.

“I have plans to see my granddaughters get married and be a great grandmother,” she said.

Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute’s Celebration of Champions is an annual event raising money to support the more than 6,000 new cancer patients coming to the hospital each year.

LehighValleyNews.com’s health reporter Brittany Sweeney was emcee for this year’s gala.