‘Empathy, encouragement, hope, love, thankfulness, compassion'

Theresa Staab of Grandview, Missouri, is in partial remission from stage II chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

“The day I was diagnosed, my husband and I prayed and cried in the car. I resolved that would be the last time I cried over this disease. I may when it gets painful, but I have a life to live right now.

“This disease has made me realize how imperative it is to get things done in my life that I have neglected. I am thankful that I have some time to plan since my type of cancer is slower than most. It has not impacted me much emotionally, just helped me to get my priorities straight.

“I started work at 64 years old, just after chemo. I am working with troubled teen girls, which is a very rewarding job. This is my motivation: to not waste what time I have left.”

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Theresa’s six words to describe her cancer experience are “Empathy, encouragement, hope, love, thankfulness, compassion.” Share your six words here.

Theresa’s words, which were shared digitally through Tell KC, have been lightly edited for clarity.

As part of a local reporting project around the upcoming Ken Burns documentary series, Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, KCPT presents Cancer in KC.

We want to learn more about how cancer affects our community. How has cancer impacted your life? Share your story.