By Kristy Fowler and Sara McCloskey

Keeping your chin up can be difficult after hearing the words “you have cancer” from a doctor. Lynn Cisar, of Bracey, knew she had to stay positive. Decked out head to toe in pink to signify the fight she was facing, Cisar walked into her first chemo treatment.

“Things are what they are and will not change in a good way from fear, anxiety or negativity, but they are changed by positive momentum,” Cisar said.

After a lesion was detected in her annual mammogram, Cisar was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in November 2022. She had surgery at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital, and went on to get infusions and radiation therapy at CMH Cancer and Specialty Care in both the Hendrick Cancer and Rehab Center and Solari Radiation Therapy Center.

With a strong support system of family and friends encouraging and praying for her, Cisar was fueled with positivity. Featuring funky wigs and colorful get-ups, wearing costumes each week to her treatment quickly became a tradition. When a holiday rolled around, Cisar would dress up for that too.

At first, Cisar says the other patients in the waiting room didn't know what to think of her.

“It took a while for people to start acknowledging me, because it's odd,” Cisar said. “Maybe it was the fourth time, they started talking to me in the waiting room. One lady wanted my picture, and so they were starting to warm up. The staff was over the moon with it. They couldn't wait to see the next thing.”

The positivity of her outfits was infectious. Cisar's fun personality makes the energy in the room change, bringing smiles during a time that can be scary and very serious for some.

"Ms. Cisar brought a happiness into the treatment room that can be extremely difficult to accomplish,” said Emily Lucy, clinical coordinator for medical oncology at CMH. “The other patients enjoyed the moment of lightheartedness and were excited to see her each week. While keeping herself upbeat and positive she was also giving that gift to our other patients experiencing similar situations."

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