When you undergo a colonoscopy, it's generally for early detection of cancer in the colon area.

Nancy Herzog's colonoscopy revealed a cancer elsewhere in her body.The 73-year-old Towamensing Township woman was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma, which is non-Hodgkins, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It typically progresses more slowly than other types of leukemia and most commonly affects older adults, according to the Mayo Clinic.This weekend, Herzog is one of three individuals who will be honored with a "Courage Award" by the Carbon Tamaqua Unit of the American Cancer Society on the group's annual telethon. The telethon is Saturday and Sunday from noon to midnight and originates from Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe. The award will be presented between 7 and 8 p.m. Sunday.The telethon airs live on Blue Ridge Communications TV 13.Herzog and her husband, Joseph, reside on Peter Avenue. They have two children, a son, Joseph, of Lehighton, and a daughter, Sharon Hettler of Bowmanstown, and four grandchildren between the ages of 13 and 28. Both Nancy and Joseph are active in numerous local organizations.Nancy said that for two years in a row she had colonoscopies, and both years her white blood count came back high. Her physician recommended she see an oncologist.She procrastinated with the appointment.In 2006, on a Friday evening, she recalled sneezing and having a runny nose. The next morning, she woke with huge lumps behind her ears and under both arms. She visited her doctor, who referred her to the oncologist. This time she heeded the advice.The diagnosis was made, a port was installed for medication, and a lump was removed for analysis. For six months she underwent chemotherapy.The cancer has been in remission since then, but she has a CAT scan and blood work annually.When diagnosed, "I wasn't even believing it," she said. "When I went to the doctor, he said I might lose my hair."She's a member of the Red Hat Society, so her daughter utilized this to help cheer her up. Sharon pulled out a purple wig, dangled it in front of her, and teased, "You can always wear this."Nancy purchased a regular wig but she didn't lose her hair and never had to wear it.Herzog was born in Palmerton, but her father was in the military so when she was 3, she moved with her parents, Alex and Helen Szakacs, to Fort Monroe, Va. World War II broke out and she went to live with her grandparents in Alpha, N.J. While in the second grade, she moved back to Palmerton.She's a graduate of Palmerton High School and her first job was at the former W. T. Grant Store in Palmerton in 1954 when she was 15. She worked in various departments and eventually was asked to work in the office.After graduation, she found a job at Keystone Lamp Factory as a billing clerk, but eventually went back to Grant's. She worked there from 1970 until they closed in 1977. She's become a historian of Grant's and annually helps to organize a reunion of employees."I was always a positive person and always on the go," said Nancy. She is treasurer of the local historical society, an organization she has been associated with for 10 years; is an honorary member of the Bowmanstown-Parryville Lions Club for which she does paperwork; and is the historian for the annual Herzog Family Reunion.When she was first diagnosed with cancer, relatives thought she should resign as historical society treasurer, to which she responded, "I will not. What would I do, just sit here and sulk?"She was thankful for the support from fellow historical society member, Peter Kern, who would bring the group's mail to her home.She said despite involvement in so many groups, "I still do a lot of cooking and baking."Nancy said she feels her positive attitude helped her."I guess maybe I didn't even believe I had cancer," she said.She received a scare in November 2006. Five minutes after her final chemotherapy treatment, she was diagnosed with a staph infection and needed a blood transfusion.Another situation develped when after her fifth treatment, she developed an infection and her port had to be changed."That pulled me down," she admits.She has had great support from her husband, a retiree from Mack Trucks where he worked for 30 years.Nancy hasn't slowed down since her scare with cancer. She's as busy as ever helping organizations, cooking, baking, and enjoying life."I just wasn't going to let it get me down," she said.