Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster Celebrates Cancer Survivors
6/15/2026
Cancer survivor Shemia Jackson, left, of Merrillville and her husband, Lloyd, play bingo at a Cancer Survivors Day event at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster.
MUNSTER, Indiana - Cancer survivors gathered at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster on Sunday to celebrate their victory over the disease.
Franciscan hosted survivors and their family members for a Cancer Survivors Day ice cream social to foster connections and share information about resources available to survivors.
Shemia Jackson of Merrillville was diagnosed with rectal cancer in August 2024 at age 37.
“It was devastating,” she said. “Those are words no one wants to hear but I was very fortunate to have the care I did at Franciscan. I met my oncology nurse the next day and started my treatment plan. Being able to come to one place for all of the support was extremely helpful.”
Franciscan Health Munster Cancer Center Licensed Clinical Social Worker Robyn Caban said Sunday’s event celebrating survivors was important for many reasons.
“People spend so much of their time focused on the healing part of their journey with numerous tests and appointments, which can be stressful,” Caban said. “Oftentimes, we don’t think about that time that comes after. Your family and friends love you, but the community going through this understands you better than anyone else.”
Mary Beth Naranjo of Crete, Ill. was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 6, 2025.
“It wasn’t easy, but my care team made it better,” Naranjo said.
Naranjo said it was “surreal” to be at the cancer center as a survivor. She said she wished more people knew that as challenging as the diagnosis and treatment can be, “survivorship isn’t always easy either.”
Franciscan’s Moving Beyond program is designed to help survivors navigate that portion of their cancer journey. The free eight-week virtual course, presented in partnership with Cancer Support Community Indiana, is designed to help cancer survivors thrive and live healthy lives after cancer.
The two-hour virtual courses feature weekly topics such as nutrition, emotional and spiritual well-being, managing side effects, relationships and more. Participants will receive weekly educational booklets, an exercise band, yoga mat, exercise booklet, cooling towel, water bottle and an insulated grocery tote.
The online classes take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Central each Tuesday.
Registration is available online at FranciscanHealth.org/MovingBeyond or by calling Katie Wesolowski at 317-721-1478 or emailing MovingBeyond@CancerSupportIndy.org.
Franciscan hosted survivors and their family members for a Cancer Survivors Day ice cream social to foster connections and share information about resources available to survivors.
Shemia Jackson of Merrillville was diagnosed with rectal cancer in August 2024 at age 37.
“It was devastating,” she said. “Those are words no one wants to hear but I was very fortunate to have the care I did at Franciscan. I met my oncology nurse the next day and started my treatment plan. Being able to come to one place for all of the support was extremely helpful.”
Franciscan Health Munster Cancer Center Licensed Clinical Social Worker Robyn Caban said Sunday’s event celebrating survivors was important for many reasons.
“People spend so much of their time focused on the healing part of their journey with numerous tests and appointments, which can be stressful,” Caban said. “Oftentimes, we don’t think about that time that comes after. Your family and friends love you, but the community going through this understands you better than anyone else.”
Mary Beth Naranjo of Crete, Ill. was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 6, 2025.
“It wasn’t easy, but my care team made it better,” Naranjo said.
Naranjo said it was “surreal” to be at the cancer center as a survivor. She said she wished more people knew that as challenging as the diagnosis and treatment can be, “survivorship isn’t always easy either.”
Franciscan’s Moving Beyond program is designed to help survivors navigate that portion of their cancer journey. The free eight-week virtual course, presented in partnership with Cancer Support Community Indiana, is designed to help cancer survivors thrive and live healthy lives after cancer.
The two-hour virtual courses feature weekly topics such as nutrition, emotional and spiritual well-being, managing side effects, relationships and more. Participants will receive weekly educational booklets, an exercise band, yoga mat, exercise booklet, cooling towel, water bottle and an insulated grocery tote.
The online classes take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Central each Tuesday.
Registration is available online at FranciscanHealth.org/MovingBeyond or by calling Katie Wesolowski at 317-721-1478 or emailing MovingBeyond@CancerSupportIndy.org.
Media Contact
Lauri Keagle
Manager of Media Relations & Corporate Communications, Northern Indiana Division
Phone: 219-662-6662
Email: Lauri.Keagle@FranciscanAlliance.org