Nobody told Donna Avery that esophageal cancer is often fatal when diagnosed at a late stage. Now 7 years after her diagnosis, she chronicles her experience with radiation and dealing with this rare cancer, which accounts for only 1% of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States.

Donna Avery describes her stage III esophageal cancer diagnosis and the path that led her to regain her ability to do something that brings her joy: whistling.