IN Mars Area Winter 2019 | Page 6

Cancer can’t stop Skylar’s positive spirit Skylar Stube is living with colorectal cancer, and she is grateful for that. She can go hiking and fi shing with her young sons in Michigan — and tell everyone to get preventive testing. Skylar was only 35 when she developed rectal bleeding. She overcame her embarrassment and told her primary care doctor. “She had me get a colonoscopy. She saved my life,” said Skylar. The scope revealed a mass in her large bowel, colorectal cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. To shrink the tumors before surgery, she had chemo and radiation at the Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion. “I have an amazing team at AHN. My doctors always communicate with each other about my case,” said Skylar. “Everyone is on board and knows what’s going on with me at all times.” Matthew Voth, MD, performed her colon surgery and colostomy. “Having the colostomy wasn’t so bad, just a diff erent way to go,” said Skylar, who refuses to let her disease dampen her sunny disposition. Skylar’s medical oncologist, Casey Moff a, DO, was a lifeline, always available to answer questions, calm her anxiety, and talk about the realities Skylar is facing. Skylar also attends the Young Adult Cancer Support group at the Cancer Caring Center in Bloomfi eld. “Everyone shows concern and care for each other,” Skylar said. “It’s critical to spread awareness.” While she continues her chemo, and gets scans every six months, she is enjoying her life. “I can go out to eat, and to events with my sons. I’m making memories for my family,” she said. 3 MOST COMMON CANCER IS COLORECTAL CANCER* * cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html “You have to laugh and have a positive attitude.” SKYLAR STUBE, CANCER SURVIVOR Allegheny Health Network (AHN) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex in its health programs and services. In order to treat individuals in a nondiscriminatory manner, AHN provides free communication aids and language assistance services. ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. (412) 330-2400 ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al (412) 330-2400 注意:如果您使用繁體中文,您可以免費獲得語言援助 服務。請致電 (412) 330-2400