DUKE STARS — Susan E. Schwab
 Name: Susan E. Schwab
Years of service: 30
Title: Clinical Trials Assistant II
Department: American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, Duke Clinical Research Institute
In 1996, Susan Schwab discovered a lump in her breast.
Cancer.
Within a week, she underwent surgery at Duke to remove the mass, followed by a second surgery one month later. She endured three months of chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments, lost her hair, a lot of her energy, but not her determination. Despite the draining effects of chemotherapy and to the amazement of her supervisor and co-workers, she only missed one day of work.
"I had a 6 year old son and 9 year old daughter at that time. I had to keep a normal routine for their sake," Schwab said. "My determination coupled with the support and encouragement from my co-workers is what kept me going. My supervisor at that time said it best — my ability to fight the cancer was
'90% attitude and 10% chemo.'"
Her co-workers were also there to support her and her husband when doctors at Duke discovered their son, who was 4 months old at the time, was born with a partial immune system and when her husband Jim, who worked for Duke Police for 26 years, lost two-thirds of one lung due to a usually fatal lung fungus.
"Some of my family members probably wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for the exceptional treatment and care we've received at Duke," Schwab said.
That care includes the support of her extended family of co-workers at Duke, she said. It was the same support that helped her face her fears and achieve one of her long-term dreams — finish college. At first, she said she was intimidated about returning to school at the age of 46, but the encouragement of her family and colleagues helped her succeed.
"I attended classes in the evenings for three years while working full-time and keeping the household running smoothly with two teenagers," Schwab said. "As if that wasn't enough, I dealt with a second diagnosis of cancer, this time bone cancer, which I am still undergoing regular treatments for at Duke. But I knew my health care was in the hands of Duke physicians, and my family and co-workers kept me going." Schwab said, who graduated with honors in May 2006, receiving an associate's degree in applied science from Durham Technical Community College.
Schwab, a Durham native who came to Duke in 1977, said she owes her life — both her professional life and physical life, to the place she now calls "home."
"I've been at Duke literally over half my life," Schwab said. "It's all I've ever known. This is home. I can't imagine working anywhere else."
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