On the road to financial health

Recovering from a serious illness can give you a new perspective - and a new set of financial challenges

Most mid-life crises are a breeze compared with the one Cheryl Roberts has dealt with over the past year. In August 2005, at 43, she learned she had an aggressive form of breast cancer that had spread to one lymph node.

"I had no idea what was going to happen," says the San Luis Obispo, Calif. real estate appraiser. "It was terrifying."