Susan Strong was first diagnosed with cancer shortly after graduating high school when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 17. Like many childhood cancer survivors she was unaware of the health complications she would face many years later, including heart-valve replacement surgery and a breast cancer diagnosis, as a result of her treatment for her Lymphoma.
During our conversation she shared:
The emotional struggle she faced as a childhood cancer patient.
How she coped with both a heart-valve replacement and breast cancer diagnosis within a short time period.
Why she decided to walk away from her career as a classroom teacher and pursue her passion.
The advocacy and support work she's doing for cancer patients and survivors and her long-term goals.
How post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manifested itself and how she managed its effects.