Cancer has carved its way into many areas of life for Kelly Englert Flak, MSN, RN, OCN. She is a cancer survivor, a grieving mother who lost her daughter to this disease and an employee at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center who has dedicated her nearly 20-year career to serving patients.

On a sunny winter day, Caitlin Pietz stood in front of a small metal bell as a stream of sunlight cascaded through the windows beside her. With her husband Mark at her side, she gripped the chain that hung from the bell and paused for a moment as her loved ones watched.

Emily Pacer knew cancer was a risk in her family: Her paternal grandmother had cancer four times and her aunt tested positive for carrying the BRCA mutation associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

In the spring of 2023, Cassandra Johnston and her husband Nolan Wolf were thrilled to welcome their newborn, Michael, to the world. He came about five weeks early, surprising everyone, but now Cassandra looks back and says her body must have known it was time.