It was only a few months ago when I got a call from a friend that really scared me. By listening to the tone of her voice, I knew something was wrong.
Our conversations usually start and end with a lot of laughter. This conversation was different.
She told me that she had found a lump in her breast and that her doctor wanted to remove it. The speed at which it was to be removed scared both of us.
She went into the hospital for outpatient surgery a few days after she had gone to have the lump checked. Luckily, when they removed the lump, they found that it was non-cancerous.
She was filled with an indescribable amount of relief. I was too.
I've always thought it was cliché when I've heard that certain words can strike fear into a person's heart. But, clichés seem to hold a potent kernel of truth.
When I heard my friend say, "the doctors wanted to make sure that I didn't have cancer," it was as if my mind shut down and I could only feel fear.
Yet I can only imagine what it must be like to be the patient who hears the words "you have cancer."
While the thought of cancer causes fear, there is some good news. Cancer doesn't kill everyone who is diagnosed with it and thanks to research and early detection, a lot of people who have had cancer live to tell their stories.
ASU is giving cancer survivors a place to celebrate their story. It is also giving people an opportunity to celebrate with the survivors of cancer while raising money to continue research, education and advocacy.
The event where all this is going to happen is called Relay For Life. ASU will be hosting the 15-hour marathon event on April 6, 2002.
I e-mailed Lindsay Richardson and Joni Koehn, both organizers of the event, for a better understanding of how people can get involved and the challenges that accompany hosting an monumental event such as this.
Koehn wants to get the word out to cancer survivors.
"Cancer survivors are our honored guests at Relay — they walk the first lap and we host a reception for them. If you're a cancer survivor, no matter how long ago you had cancer, you're our guest," she said.
Richardson echoed Koehn's call to survivors and family members of survivors.
"The biggest challenges so far have been fundraising and finding survivors. It has been difficult to find survivors because if someone is a survivor of cancer, you can't tell by looking at them so we have to wait for them to contact us,"
Given the scare that my friend went through, I was excited to learn about Relay For Life and what I could do to be involved but I didn't quite understand why the event is 15 hours.
Richardson said, "One of the ideas of Relay is 'Cancer never sleeps so neither will we for a night.' Relay started a long time ago when one man, a survivor of cancer, ran around a track for 24 hours to show his dedication to the fight against cancer."
When asked what Koehn wants people to know about Relay For Life, she said, "Relay For Life is a terrific way to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and have a great time doing it. The event offers many avenues for participation — students, staff, faculty and community members can work with a Relay for Life committee. They can also start or join a team, collect donations for the Relay, and come out to Sun Angel Stadium on Relay day and join the excitement."
ASU's Relay For Life celebration will include live entertainment, tent-decorating contests, and pajama parades. The event focuses on team participation.
If you or someone you know would like more information about Relay For Life hosted by ASU, visit the Web site at www.asu.edu/clubs/relay. It is important that we support Relay For Life, because after all, you never know: Someday, it may be you or a friend battling this terrible disease.
Anyone want to be on a team with me?
Rosie McSweeney is a social work graduate student. Reach her at rosie.m@asu.edu
