Cancer Survivor Turns Heart Failure Into Hope for Women

Sherry Mengel thought she was done fighting for her life after surviving two different cancers between 1999 and 2002. Then in 2021, she suddenly found herself gasping for air in her Palmer Township home.

The harsh treatments that saved her from cancer had damaged her heart. At 49 years old, Mengel was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, a side effect that can emerge decades after chemotherapy and radiation.

"I was like, am I going to die?" Mengel remembers asking her doctor. His response was measured but determined: they would do their best to manage it.

That's when Dr. Deborah Sundlof, Director of the Women's Heart and Vascular program at LVHN-Jefferson, entered Mengel's life. The two women formed an immediate partnership built on constant communication and mutual trust.

Managing congestive heart failure isn't straightforward. Mengel describes it as walking a tightrope, carefully balancing diet, medications, and lifestyle while staying alert to any changes in her body.

"I failed miserably at it sometimes," Mengel admits honestly. She's been hospitalized several times and completed cardiac rehab, learning through trial and error what her body needs.

But Dr. Sundlof became her safety net. "Calm, calm, calm, no matter what the storm has thrown," Mengel says of their relationship. "It's been open, it's been honest."

Why This Inspires

The bond between Mengel and Dr. Sundlof represents something bigger than one patient's journey. Their story highlights why listening to women's health concerns matters so much.

"When women say, I know there's something wrong, we always want to listen," Dr. Sundlof emphasizes. Simple symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath can signal serious heart problems, especially in women whose warning signs often differ from men's.

For Dr. Sundlof, patients like Mengel are exactly why she chose cardiology. "It's so rewarding to see her flourish," she says.

Mengel now shares her story during American Heart Month and beyond, helping other women understand that something feeling "off" deserves immediate attention. What she initially thought might be bronchitis turned out to be life-threatening heart failure.

Her message is simple but powerful: get checked out quickly. Because with the right treatment and a strong partnership with your doctor, even a diagnosis like congestive heart failure can be managed.

Twenty years after her first cancer diagnosis, Sherry Mengel is living proof that serious health conditions don't have to write your ending.