The Big Picture
June is National Cancer Survivor’s Month, a time to recognize the strength of cancer survivors and the people who walk with them through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and hope. At Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley Cancer Center, that work is rooted in both advanced science and deeply human care.
For the caregivers who support patients every day, oncology is not only about treatment plans or technology. It is about the people they meet, the relationships they build and the moments of courage they witness along the way.
What’s Happening
At Jordan Valley Cancer Center, team members bring different skills and perspectives to the same mission: helping patients face cancer with expertise, compassion and individualized care.
Julie Steadman, manager at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley Cancer Center, says people often ask how she can smile so much while working in oncology. Her answer is simple: it is because of the people.
“It’s the people that we meet. It’s the people that we fight with,” she said. “And the outcomes, unfortunately, don’t always come the way we always hope. But my life is so much better knowing them.”
For medical physicist Thomas Walsh, the work combines a love of science with the opportunity to serve patients in a direct and meaningful way. His role involves radioactive materials for treatment, external beam therapy and the careful problem-solving required to tailor care to each person.
“Each patient is unique and each plan is tailored to that patient and their circumstances,” Walsh said.
Dr. Charles Rogers, a radiation oncologist at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley Cancer Center, brings both professional expertise and personal experience to his work. Years ago, he was treated for an aggressive lymphoma and remembers the impact of having an oncologist who cared for him as an individual, not just as a patient.
Why It Matters
Cancer care is complex, and every patient’s experience is different. The work happening at Jordan Valley Cancer Center reflects the importance of combining clinical skill with empathy, patience and personal connection.
For survivors and patients currently in treatment, that kind of care can make a lasting difference. It can mean having a team that not only understands the science of cancer treatment, but also recognizes the emotional weight patients and families carry.
Dr. Rogers said one of the most rewarding parts of the job is seeing people cured, especially those whose outcomes may not have seemed possible years ago. His own experience as a patient continues to shape the way he cares for others.
“Kindness is an important part of caring for anyone and even an important part of cure,” he said.
The Bottom Line
National Cancer Survivor’s Month is a reminder that cancer stories are not only about illness. They are also about resilience, expertise, compassion and the people who make healing possible.
At Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley Cancer Center, caregivers are helping patients navigate some of life’s hardest moments with individualized treatment and genuine human connection. Their “why” is found in the patients they serve, the problems they solve and the hope they help create.