Finding Support and Perspective Despite Cancer Diagnosis

When Lynn Anderson went in for her routine mammogram, she expected it to be quick and uneventful. Instead, it saved her life.

“I felt absolutely fine. I had no pain, no symptoms — nothing. The only reason I went in was because Sutter Health and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation kept sending me reminders that I was overdue,” Anderson said with a smile. “I finally went just to stop the notes from coming. That’s when they found the cancer. Thank God they did.”

For Anderson, who grew up in the Bay Area and built a career in both art museums and high-tech marketing, the diagnosis in 2024 was a shock. A lifelong traveler who splits her time between California and England, she suddenly had to put her passion on hold. “Cancer put a halt to everything,” Anderson recalled. “All the trips I had planned were canceled. My focus became survival.”

Her treatment plan was rigorous: chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. The chemotherapy, she reminiscences, was the hardest part.

“But I kept telling myself, ‘Suck it up, buttercup. You’ll get through this.’”

Through it all, Anderson leaned heavily on her husband, Wallace; her sister, Mary; and the compassionate care team at Sutter Health.

“The doctors, nurses and staff were incredible. Every time I walked into the infusion or radiation center, I was struck by the teamwork and dedication of everyone working to keep us alive. That kind of support pulled me through,” she said.

“We know that having cancer is a stressful life-changing event,” said Kim-Son Nguyen, M.D., a medical oncologist at the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group, part of Sutter Health. “We provide our patients like Ms. Anderson with the latest evidence-based treatments while also accompanying them throughout their entire journey with a multidisciplinary team from navigators, nurses and doctors to social workers and financial counselors. We want them to know that we are with them every step of the way.”

But Anderson is quick to point out that cancer affects caregivers too. Wallace, her husband, was her rock throughout treatment, though the emotional toll on him was heavy. “The one person who got overshadowed was my husband. Caregivers need support too. Looking back, I wish we had sought counseling for him earlier. He gave everything, and I’ll be forever grateful.”

Today, Anderson’s treatment is behind her. She has regained her energy, her sense of joy — and even her love of wine tasting, a passion she feared she might lose after chemotherapy dulled her senses. Most importantly, she’s back to traveling, exploring new places, and cherishing every moment with Wallace.

“It changes your perspective,” she said. “Every day feels more precious now. I’ve learned compassion, patience, and that sometimes you just have to take things one step at a time.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Anderson hopes her story inspires others to stay vigilant. “Get your mammogram — don’t ever skip it. I had no symptoms, and it still saved my life. I tell all my friends, ‘You get your little tush in there and do it!’”

At 70, Anderson continues to embrace life with gratitude and resilience. She is an inspiration not only to her family but to everyone who hears her story.

“I love life,” she said. “And now, every trip, every shared glass of wine, every day with my husband feels like a gift.”