Jeanne Greenfield

From introvert to motivational speaker and author. From taking life a little bit for granted to embracing it fully every day. When cancer threatened to end Jeanne Greenfield's life, she embraced humor, optimism and willingness to try a new treatment approach to get her through the tough times.

In 1990, Greenfield, of Rockford, Ill., was shocked when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her past Pap smears had been normal. When her physician recommended she seek care at a cancer center, Greenfield opted for Mayo Clinic because of its strong reputation.

Mayo Clinic doctors found the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes near her aorta and also those in her neck. The outlook was scary. The expected survival rate for the type and stage of cancer Greenfield had was zero.

"I just wanted to see my 16-year-old graduate from high school," says Greenfield. Lynn Hartmann, M.D., Mayo Clinic oncologist, told Greenfield about a clinical trial evaluating a new approach to advanced cervical cancer. Greenfield wanted to try.

The treatment included an experimental regimen of chemotherapy. She would also be given high-dosage radiation implants placed next to the tumor in the cervix. Because the radiation is aimed right at the tumor, it limits the damage to nearby tissue. Greenfield also underwent 30 radiation treatments to her pelvis and involved lymph nodes.

For Greenfield, the combination worked. The tumors disappeared. Greenfield has had several serious health complications since then, most due to the aggressive treatment she received, but no cancer. Researchers later determined that the chemotherapy regimen she used had too many side effects to help most patients.

"But every time I needed something, I'd call Dr. Hartmann," says Greenfield. "She'd send me to the right person. I have huge positive feelings for Mayo Clinic."

Greenfield has seen all three of her sons graduate, danced at one son's wedding and is a grandma — twice. "God gave me back my life because I believe He wanted me to do something more with it," she says. And she has.

The once-shy Greenfield works with the music and theater ministries in her church, acts in community theater and has written "What I Learned from Having Cancer," a lighthearted collection of anecdotes about her experiences. She speaks to cancer survivor groups, her message loaded with one-liners about hair loss, nausea and fear of death that can best be appreciated by others who have lived with cancer.

"I'm not trying to leave a legacy," says Greenfield. "I'm just trying to light up people's lives while I'm here."