Published: May 21, 2008 07:22 pm            

Cancer survivors share stories

With Relay for Life just around the corner, cancer survivors share their encounters in their own words about the diesease and how it changed thier lives. Relay for Life is a program that raises money for American Cancer Society. The event will begin at 7 p.m. May 30 and last until 7 a.m. May 31.





Suzan Smith.

I have been blessed with many things in my life ...

In May 2005, I was fresh out of high school and ready to start college. I didn’t have a care in the world. I was ready for anything; however, I knew nothing about what I would face in the near future.

Only two months later I was having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from my back and two months after that I was receiving chemo.

The chemo lasted six months and was followed by a month and a half of radiation.

This did the trick for a little over a year. However, in April 2007, the pain returned, only this time, in my neck. An MRI exposed two spots of cancer and the radiation started.

The problem was, by the time I had finished radiation on one spot, a new one had popped up. After radiation to my neck, lower back and head, the chemotherapy began at once.

Both times, that I found out I had cancer, I was completely devastated. In all reality, I was so blessed. I did not and have not once been sick from chemotherapy and I continue to live normally by going to school and working.

The first time around, I was a different person. I was ashamed of how I looked and blamed God for my misfortune. After treatments were completed, I had not been changed one bit by the experience. I was not closer to God and I still wanted to know why I had to go through such and experience. I believe this is why the cancer returned. I just had not gotten the message.

When I was faced with cancer the second time, things were and have been very different. I am a very different person. I am closer to God and that makes me a better person. For about six months, I have had completely clear scans. I am cancer free and I know God will keep me that way.

I know within my heart and through my faith that I am cured of this disease. That is why God chose me.

It may have taken me a little time to see that, but now I know why, and I cannot wait to share and be an example of God’s miracles, strength and love.

It has taken me three years, about 15 chemotherapy treatments (and counting), and about 80 or so radiation treatments to realize that I am not a victim. I am not being punished. I have been chosen, chosen by God, and I am very thankful.

I would like to tell my family and friends how grateful I am to have you in my life. I couldn’t ask for a better family or more caring friends. You all have made me the person I am and I wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you.

In loving memory of Brian Manuel and Sammie Smith.



Leigh Yeargan.

My husband Jerry and I had been married about six months when we decided to try to have a child. I was 30, so I thought it would be best if I went to the doctor for a check up since I was “officially” a high risk. I hadn’t been to the doctor for a check up since my youngest daughter was born five years ago. I know now what a huge mistake that was.

So, here I go, all happy, to the office for my checkup. The doctor takes one look and says they need to run a few more tests. I don’t worry too much at this point, thinking that it is because of my age and they want to be careful.

Two days later, the office calls me in and wants to schedule a biopsy. It appears that I have abnormal cervical cells. We had the biopsy done. Two more days pass and the doctor calls me to the office to tell me that I need a cone biopsy done because the first biopsy showed that I had pre-cancerous cells.

Time to panic.

The second biopsy is done at the hospital. Three days later, the doctor again calls me in and tells me that I have cervical cancer at least eight millimeters deep and they are sending to me specialist in Oklahoma City — recommending a radical hysterectomy.

That is when my life came to a screeching halt. Cancer and my name in the same sentence. No way.

We called all the family members and tried to come with a way to tell my daughters, age 5 and 9 at the time, that Mommy had cancer.

Six weeks later we find ourselves at OU Medical Center about to do the most frightening thing ever: major surgery with the possibility chemotherapy and radiation were going to follow.

I was one of the lucky, or blessed depending on how you want to look at it.

The surgeons at OU were able to get all of the cancer. I have been cancer free for seven years now without even a hint of reoccurrence.

I still worry every time I go for a check up. I guess I always will.

I tell my daughters that an angel saved me ... and the angel was the child I wanted to have.



Linda Stone

I just thought I would share something very dear to me with all of you that have been working so hard for Relay For Life.

This past month, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. The first time was 6 years ago. We really thought we had it beat this time.

Now the cancer came back even worse than it did before. It is in her breast, her neck, her lungs, and her lymphnoids. Not what we were expecting to hear.

But working with the Relay for Life I knew right where to turn for some help.

My sister has been very busy with surgery, medical procedures and so on. She hasn’t had time to think about loosing her hair. And I remember that was the hardest thing for her, was loosing her hair.

So, this past weekend, I went to the American Cancer Society home office in the city, and I can’t even begin to tell you how great they were. My sister wasn’t with me, but they opened a room up that had tons of wigs to choose from, hair bonnets, you name it, they had it. They said you just get what ever you think she needs.

I just want all of you to know, that I saw our money at work. All the money you have been raising goes to help people like my sister, who just need a wig, or a gas card, or just someone to talk to about their diagnosis.

It doesn’t matter what your financial status is, it doesn’t matter if you can prove your need, they are just there to help relieve the burden in some way. What ever that may be. The staff there were amazing, and it is an honor to know that we, the people in ADA, OK have helped to make this service available to everyone who needs it.

God Bless All Of You for everything you do for Relay for Life.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My sister thanks you as well.

        

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