A Quiet Hero

By Ashley Boles

Sharon Rosenberger knows she doesn’t look or act like she has Stage IV Colon Cancer. 

Her story began in 2017, when she and her boyfriend Keith moved to Little River, South Carolina, from the Valley Forge area of Pennsylvania. 

With a background in estate planning as a self-employed paralegal, Sharon continued working for another year as a professional guardian. Upon retirement, she spent her days kayaking, crocheting, reading and finding new medical providers for Keith and herself.

“You can’t help but notice McLeod Health Seacoast. It’s massive and still growing. Plus, we live within walking distance of it,” said Sharon. 

In January 2021, Sharon recalls taking Keith out for dinner and bluntly stating she wanted to get married. She said he responded with, “I think it’s about time.” 

The couple planned a Thanksgiving wedding that same year. They rented a house for their family and friends in Garden City and would become husband and wife on “Black Friday.”

Six weeks before the ceremony in October 2021, Sharon received her diagnosis of cancer. Dr. Donny Huynh, Sharon’s oncologist with McLeod Centers for Cancer Treatment and Research, explained that her cancer was advanced – Stage IV. “Sharon presented with a large tumor with perforations that penetrated her colonic wall. She also had liver lesions. She underwent a right colectomy to remove the tumor, and we quickly started her on chemotherapy,” said Dr. Huynh.

Sharon recalls all sorts of thoughts going through her mind when she first heard the news. But she also remembers how much trust she had in Dr. Huynh. 

“I have this young doctor, but he was so on top of everything, and he listened to me. I felt I was in the right place at the right time,” said Sharon.

She initially went through 12 cycles of treatment, which took roughly six months, and felt elated when her scans came back clear. She was still uncertain what would come next. 

“I said, ‘Okay God, you’re keeping me here, what do you want me to do?’ And that’s when I felt the pull to volunteer,” said Sharon. 

Thanks to an oral chemotherapy treatment for maintenance, Sharon was able to start her journey as a McLeod Health Volunteer at McLeod Seacoast. 

She worked with Volunteer Coordinator Peggy Skudera to find the best role since her treatment limited her ability to stand on her feet for long periods of time.

“I met Sharon in early 2023, and I learned quickly that she is a quiet hero,” recalls Peggy.

Sharon managed volunteering and staying on an oral chemotherapy treatment until late fall 2023. 

When a follow-up appointment revealed some new lung nodules, Dr. Huynh decided to put Sharon back on active chemotherapy. 

“After that treatment, she went into remission in spring 2024. Then, a new CT scan showed she had some residual lesions, so a lower right lung surgery was performed. 

“Sharon did very well, and she went back on low dose chemotherapy for maintenance until fall 2024,” explained Dr. Huynh. 

In December 2024, Dr. Huynh utilized a newer technology on Sharon – Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA). This analysis can be used to monitor treatment response and detect recurrence early. 

The results of the first scan prompted an additional PET/CT scan, which showed a few small lesions deep inside her stomach. Based on these results, Dr. Huynh placed Sharon back on active chemotherapy in the spring of 2025. 

“It’s a rollercoaster, or a marathon – and it’s a balance between treatments. But I like to give my patients a shared decision-making ability. We want to make sure they have as much normalcy in their lives as possible, and that’s exactly what Sharon has,” said Dr. Huynh. 

Sharon enjoys staying as active as she can. 

Each time she dons her teal volunteer vest, her three-year-old Border Collie and registered pet therapy dog Lily by her side, Sharon feels blessed to help fellow cancer patients.

“I have been very pleased with everything at McLeod. I remember how scared I was when I first began treatment, so when I see people going through their first infusion, I spend extra time with them,” said Sharon.

The new McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research, housed on the campus of McLeod Health Seacoast, was designed with patients like Sharon in mind.

“Cancer impacts every aspect of an individual’s life and requires comprehensive care, which is exactly what our new cancer center offers patients in Horry County,” said Dr. Huynh.