MORRIS COUNTY — At just 42 years old, Joan Van Soest’s life changed with three words no one ever wants to hear: You have cancer. As a result, she underwent an eight-hour surgery followed by six long months of chemotherapy. Joan still remembers the exhaustion, the painful mouth sores, and the muscle aches that she experienced and seemed to linger endlessly. Today, she proudly celebrates being a breast cancer survivor for 25 years. Surviving cancer gave her more than just her health back but also gave her a mission.