Cancer Revisited

A few years ago when I started this blog, many articles were geared toward the fight against cancer and advocating for colon cancer screening.  I have been cancer free for about 8 years now and some of my individual issues have been on the back burner.

Well the "beast" has returned to my family once again.  My first cousin, Lynn, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the summer of 2008.  Since that time she has been the recipient of multiple chemo treatments, hospitalizations and surgery.   We have reconnected since my father's death in 2001 her mother's in 2003 and both of our cancer diagnoses.

Although I finished my treatment in 2003 and have been cancer-free and Lynn continues her fight to this hour, I still consider both of us to be survivors.  How have I come to this conclusion?  You have the point you feel a pain of have something going on physically that you never experienced before.  You go to your doctor.  They run tests.  You may see a specialist or have a biopsy....more test.  Then the day comes when your sitting in an office somewhere and a doctor tells you the words you know that are coming, "you have cancer."

Being a survivor has nothing to do on whether you live or ever become disease free. Being a survivor is about not letting the disease rule you life and to continue to live your life on your terms.

Cancer really does hit women harder than men especially in ovarian and breast cancer.  The treatments can be brutal.  Weight gain, weight loss and hair loss are part of the norm.  The "loss" of  physical appearance can be emotionally draining for some if not most.  The silver lining to this is you could can focus on the heart and soul which now shines brighter than ever.

While laying in my hospital bed in '02, it was time for the "Jimmy V Classic" on ESPN.  They replayed his speech at the ESPY's that night and for some strange reason I knew I would be ok.

Here is the last part of that great speech:

Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.  

For anyone taking part in Relay for Life this season, think of those words above.

Stand Up 2 Cancer

By: Rachel Sklar

Big morning TV event, as you know from yesterday's newsblast: Three anchors, three networks, one trio of fierce competitors moving semi-awkwardly around the city together — all in the name of standing up to cancer. Or should I say they'll "Stand Up 2 Cancer" — the name of the ambitious campaign launched by the three networks as one to raise money to fund research to fight the disease, leading up to an hour fundraiser on September 5th, 2008, to be broadcast simultaneously on all three networks.

It's going to be a big event, as signaled by its debut ad featuring all manner of stars literally standing up to cancer — Susan Sarandon and Tobey Maguire and Morgan Freeman and Sidney Poitier and of course Lance Armstrong as Eddie Vedder's "Rise" plays in the background — and donations can be as low as a dollar, to buy a star to honor a loved one with cancer. That translates into a lot of money, considering how prevalent the disease is worldwide. Each of the anchors sitting there had watched a close family member fight the disease: Couric, who lost her husband, Jay Monahan, to colon cancer; Brian Williams, who lost his sister, Mary Jane Esser, to breast cancer, and Charlie Gibson, whose said on the show that he'd lost both his parents to the disease and whose wife, Arlene, had had breast cancer. I can't imagine that viewers could have watched that segment without thinking of loved ones lost to the disease (I know I didn't).

In the meantime, though, for media watchers it was hard not to notice that this big occasion occasioned another event: the return of Katie Couric to "Today," almost two years to the day after she departed her longtime morning-show home for the, er, challenges of helming the "CBS Evening News." Watch it below:

Jon Lester and Ted Kennedy

A lot has happened in the last two days on the cancer front. The Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester pitching a no-hitter two years removed from a cancer diagnosis and Senator Edward Kennedy being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Although the two cancers and the one I experienced are very different, all three of us have and will experience the same things.

Unlike television, there isn't any beating around the bush. When they know or feel confident, the doctor comes out and simply say, "You have cancer." Depending on the person, you can go from why me to how are we going to beat this thing.

Receiving anykind of treatment can be a lonely thing with or without a support system. Early in my treatment in the dead of winter, I would look out my window IV in my chest and wonder if I will be around next year? Will I be the same? I'm sure that moment will come, it does for all of us.

For Jon Lester like Lance Armstrong made it back to the top of his professional sport and you could only cheer for both. Not many people will ever know if Kennedy had his "why me" moment and quickly move on. At age 76, the odds are against him. Keep in mind survival statistics only tell what happened in a certain defined past. They cannot predict the individual or future.

I hope people could refrain from the "Kennedy Curse" syndrome. Ted is 76. He has been able to lead his extended family for 40 years. If Kennedy makes it back to the Senate Floor for one more vote or one more debate he will have Jon Lester or Lance Armstrong moment. There wiil be no assasin's bullet, plane crash, or skiing accident. Kennedy has a chance to embrace all the compassion people have to offer. It is almost a gift.

Senator Kennedy has fought many battles and championed many causes. Godspeed in your greatest role yet to come, cancer survivor.

NOTE: A friend passed away recently, three weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. He was buried in full Red Sox memorabilia. A week after his funeral, a cancer survivor pitches a no-hitter. I'm a avid Phillies fan, but don't bet against the Red Sox.

10/2 - Eleven years for Lance Armstrong

Just on a slow Tuesday with baseball taking a break between a fantastic finish and the start of the postseason, it has been 11 years since cyclist Lance Armstrong has been diagnosed with cancer. Armstrong went on to win the Tour de France seven times in a row.

After retiring from the sport at the conclusion of the 2005, Armstrong has made cancer survivorship his number one priority through his foundation. Armstrong's foundation has raised over 181 million dollars toward survivorship and research since its inception.

This past August, Armstrong had the star power to draw the presidential candidates to debate how they would handle cancer as a national priority in the future if elected.

Read the story of Randy Pausch from Carnegie-Mellon University delivering his last lecture to 400 people taken from Lance's blog.

As a championship cyclist and the world's most recognizable cancer survivor, Armstrong's story continues to inspire all those people including myself when you hear the words, "You got cancer."

Selinsgrove awaits report of cancer probe

Follow the link to read the whole story. I have followed the story since it broke in the spring. Talking to some residents that live nearby and my cancer coalition, there are just too many various types of cancer to tie it to onc source. Let's wait and see what the PA Department of Health finds.


As Susquehanna University prepares to welcome the largest incoming freshman class in its history, school alumni await results of a state Department of Health investigation into whether cancer is unusually prevalent in their ranks. Those who have battled cancer are especially interested.



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Relay for Life

Catch the coalregionvoice this weekend at Relay for Life in Shamokin, PA, June 8th and 9th. I will be working with the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network.

See ya there.

LIVESTRONG DAY

Today is Livestrong Day throughout the country. If you haven't already, wear yellow. Help raise awareness in you area. Call on Congress for funding for research. Just do it!!!!!!!!! Lance won the most grueling sporting event 7X after being diagnosed. What can you do?

Shortage of cancer doctors in coming years

The study predicted a shortfall of 2,550 to 4,080 oncologists by 2020. The overall U.S. population and, most significantly, the proportion of older people are growing, along with the number of people who have survived a bout with cancer, the researchers noted.



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