You have heard of soccer moms? Well, meet a soccer grandmother and all-around cancer survivor, Patricia Sweet. Patricia never misses the soccer games of her granddaughters, Jacquelyn and Taylor, and travels to important matches as far away as North Carolina and Indiana.

She is equally dedicated to coming to Roswell Park for her three-month checkups with Dr. John Gibbs, who, she says, saved her life. Patricia came to Roswell Park as a last resort after her doctors had told her there was nothing more that would help her medically.

Her cancer journey began with a colon cancer diagnosis in 1999. The Angola, NY, resident was treated with surgery and chemotherapy. However, in 2001, CAT scans indicated the cancer had metastasized to her liver. That’s when Patricia insisted on seeing the doctors at Roswell Park.

“Liver surgery was tough, and the recovery was long,” Patricia recalls. “But my daughter, Tammy, was with me the whole time, from surgery through recovery. Even now, she comes with me to most of my appointments with Dr. Gibbs. She has been my life support throughout this process. And the care at Roswell Park has been tremendous.”

Patricia has had her ups and downs since her liver surgery. There have been a few times when she feared the cancer had returned. In 2003, doctors found more spots on her liver and in 2004 a spot was detected on her lung. Both were found to be non-cancerous.

“The cancer journey is not easy. You always have in the back of your mind that the cancer will return one day, but you don’t dwell on it,” Patricia adds. “And I know that if the cancer does return, my Roswell Park doctors will take care of it right away.”

Patricia’s message of hope for the holidays: “Doctors are always coming up with new treatments to help you fight your cancer. Never lose hope, never look back, and live life to the fullest for as along as you can.”