Every Thursday, 75-year-old Mary Ann Connors is tap dancing her way through life as a member of the Southtowns Sassy Seniors. But she and her doctors have been dancing with cancer for years. In 1991, her dentist identified pre-cancerous lesions in her mouth. She sought treatment at Roswell Park and was closely monitored for seven years.

When the lesions became cancer, physicians recommended radiation therapy as an alternative to major surgery. For six weeks, five days a week, Mary Ann was treated with radiation to kill the cancer cells located on her soft palate in her mouth. The treatments kept the cancer at bay for a year. However, by 1999, physicians decided Mary Ann's best option for a cure was surgery to remove the malignancy. A team of surgeons worked for 12 hours to remove part of her soft plate and replace it with skin and tissue from her left arm and thigh.

"I was walking around just two days after the operation and went home 11 days later. I am very lucky that my doctors found the cancer in time to save my life," remarked Mary Ann.

Mary Ann is not shy. She unconditionally says, "I love my physician, Dr. Thom Loree and all the wonderful nurses at Roswell Park." Now in addition to tap dancing, she volunteers one day every two weeks at the Roswell Park gift shop.

"It gives me a chance to give a little bit back. All the proceeds from the gift shop go to back Roswell Park so I feel like I am helping other cancer patients," she proclaims.

Mary Ann's message of hope for the holidays: "A positive attitude can make a big difference in how you face cancer. Keeping your spirits high is important as you live life as a patient and as a survivor. You must keep hope close to your heart and enjoy life to the fullest."