It was a routine check up for Susan Hutto. She entered the doctor’s office as she had so many times before. Without a care in the world, she mulled over the never ending “to do” lists running through her thoughts.

Her mammogram results showed calcifications but nothing that concerned the radiology tech and, like so many others were told, “let’s watch and wait six months.”

Her doctor thought otherwise and made a call that forever changed Susan’s life.

September 2014, Susan was diagnosed with Stage 2 triple-positive Invasive Ductile Carcinoma — breast cancer.

“At first, I was shocked because you think something like this won’t ever happen to you,” Susan said. “Then, I was scared. I had so much support though that it buoyed me and made it hard for me to be down.”

The support she received came in abundance of meals, posters, offers to be driven to chemotherapy and lots of prayers. As for how her family handled her diagnosis, Susan says we just go with the flow.

“We’re a family who rolls with the punches — we just roll with it,” Susan said. “For me, there wasn’t an option. Conquering cancer was something I had to do, so I just hit it straight on.”

Holding on tight through the emotional roller coaster ride she’s had over the past 12 months, Susan said she was touched by how kind and loving everyone has been.

One of the most emotional moments for Susan was towards the end of school last year when her coworkers and students at Leeds Middle School (LMS), where she serves as the librarian, rallied around her by holding a school-wide parade where she was ushered in a chair down the hallways as students shared their homemade signs of support and teacher friends wore “Team Hutto” shirts.

“I couldn’t believe they orchestrated all this for me,” she said.

Long-time friend and eighth-grade social studies teacher at LMS Angie Baldwin was inspired by her friend’s strength.

“Susan tackled her cancer with fierce determination. She approached her diagnosis as a chapter in her life rather than her whole story,” Angie said. “I admire her strength and bravery she maintained through her 10-month treatment, as well as her positive attitude and relentless spirit.”

For those also determined to conquer cancer, Susan says her best advice is to educate yourself about treatment.

“Know your options,” she said. “Take all the help you can get if it’s offered, talk to people who have been through it and get lots of rest.”

She also encourages those currently going through cancer treatment to drink plenty of fluids to replenish electrolytes and walk frequently to clear your minds.

 “I had a nurse tell me that I should treat my chemo like a pregnancy. Meaning when I had the appetite to eat what I wanted. My taste buds changed. I wanted sweets and carbs.”

Susan’s chemo treatments had her energy levels down, but she remained focused. Once she lost her hair she relied on wigs and scarves to serve as what she refers to as her “crown.”

As of October 2015, Susan Hutto is on the cancer-free maintenance program, which consists of taking a daily dosage of the drug Femora. Statistically this increases Susan’s chance for a high survival rate.

Feeling fortunate to have the support and encouragement of her family, friends, coworkers, school system and community, Susan says she’s looking forwarding to getting her strength back so that she can play one of her favorite sports, tennis, and is looking forward to once again wearing the shiny, bouncing crown she calls hair atop her head.