Colorado Hospital Helps Cancer Survivors Thrive After Treatment

Beating cancer is only the beginning of the journey, and now a Colorado hospital is making sure survivors don't face what comes next alone.

St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction launched a cancer survivorship program in January to help patients navigate life after treatment ends. The program addresses a gap that doctors recognized decades ago: patients receive incredible support during treatment but often feel abandoned once it's over.

"People who are very well supported during cancer treatment feel a little bit abandoned when they're done," said Dr. Vicky Mathwig, who leads the survivorship program at St. Mary's.

The program creates personalized care plans for each survivor. Some patients need help managing side effects from chemotherapy or radiation. Others want support quitting smoking to reduce their risk of future cancers. Many need counseling or connection to support groups as they process their experience.

For colon cancer survivor Vickie, the hardest part wasn't the physical recovery. She struggled with guilt after surviving when her sister didn't make it.

"I carry a lot of guilt because I've survived and my sister didn't," Vickie shared. The survivorship program gave her a safe place to work through those complex emotions that don't show up on medical charts.

Why This Inspires

Vickie's transformation shows why this kind of care matters so deeply. The program didn't just address her medical needs. It helped her reclaim joy.

"I feel supported. I feel cared for. I feel like I'm not alone in this journey," Vickie explained. "The guilt is starting to subside. I'm excited about life again."

As cancer treatments improve and more Americans live longer after their diagnoses, programs like this shift the focus from simply surviving to truly living. St. Mary's joins cancer centers nationwide recognizing that quality of life matters just as much as the number of years.

Vickie put it best: "Survivorship is wonderful. It really is. It's the beginning of the rest of your life."