Survivorship

Andrea Passmore learned she had a brain tumor four days before her 51st birthday. Yet she has ultimately come to see the diagnosis as a kind of gift, an opportunity to share the outpouring of support that she has received during her cancer journey.

Sixteen months ago, Kathy Bellmore was diagnosed with high-grade glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain tumor with few good treatment options. Her tumor couldn't be operated on, so her doctors didn't think she would live beyond 6 months. She came to the U-M Rogel Cancer Center for a second opinion and is now beating the odds and continuing to make memories.

Logan Moore discovered a lump while nursing her 7-month-old son. It was a devastating shock to her and her family. Throughout her treatment, Moore and her husband, Brandon, focus on making her cancer and its treatment a part of their lives while keeping their family at the center.

Rendal Wall, known as Kalamazoo's 'Guitar Guru', Wall, was worried side effects from his bladder cancer treatment would silence the strings around which his life and career have revolved. Today he's back to playing his music and living a cancer-free life.

Nearly two years after being treated at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Gerald Dixon has an active life that includes selling houses, jogging and plying the local rivers and lakes in his 27-foot cabin cruiser.

When it comes to diagnosing cervical cancer, other gynecological exams cannot replace a HPV test — in which a small sample of cells are collected from the cervix to be examined for abnormalities.

Harry Robins, now 71, got the shock of his life in July 2014 when he learned about the surgery he needed to treat the squamous cell tongue cancer that showed signs of spreading. The surgery was way more invasive than he expected, involved removing a third of his tongue and required months of intensive rehabilitation to recover. He and his wife believe they made it through this trying time only with the help of the care team.

Marty Schultz, 65, spent two years dealing with fatigue and sinus drainage before a local otolaryngologist took a biopsy. The Pinconning resident was diagnosed with low grade olfactory neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the sinuses. He was referred to Erin McKean, M.D., MBA, the division chief of rhinology and skull base surgery at Michigan Medicine. Schultz was not amused but, as someone who relies on humor, found himself making jokes with his brother, Joe, who accompanied him to his initial visit. McKean didn’t miss a beat and joked right back.

William McCallum is living with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer. This diagnosis is not easy to live with. Most days McCallum feels well enough that he doesn't think much about having cancer. After deciding to put his faith in his doctors, he aims not to worry. Acting in films for Rebel Pictures -- with his son, Michael -- has been both a welcome distraction and a creative outlet.

Kelly Luck discovered the importance of setting goals. Her goal: to climb Mout Kilimanjaro, gave her the motivation to get through her breast cancer treatment and emerge stronger than ever.