Fighting cancer
At least once a week I’ll glance at the obituaries and see a face that is too young looking back at me. I’m not talking about someone who is 80 and decided to use a high school photo so we’d see them as they used to be. No, I’m talking about someone simply too young to die. When I see that face of a 20, 30 or 40 year old I assume it is one of three things that put them in the newspaper that day: a car accident, a drug overdose or cancer. I could talk about the randomness of car crashes or write 10 columns about how heroin is devastating so many families, but today I want to talk about cancer.
That, above all other causes of death, is the one we most worry about. Once you are on the wrong side of 40 you start to see more and more people you know, some you love, picked off by that awful disease. There are so many types of cancer to worry about, too many to fend off it seems. Worse, you can do everything right, watch your weight, eat healthy and exercise, avoid smoking, etc., and still find yourself sitting in a doctor’s office with your backside hanging out of a flimsy gown getting horrible news from a stranger. Years ago it was a death sentence almost every time you received that dire diagnosis but today, thanks to research, we are beating cancer back more and more or at least slowing it down enough where someone can still live what feels like a complete life. I keep hoping there will come a day when people will stand around at a cocktail party and talk about cancer the same way we now speak of polio or smallpox. They’ll astonish each other when they discuss how many people cancer used to take from this world before doctors broke the code and found the cure. My how I’d like to be at that party having that discussion someday. I hope I live to see it.
Since we don’t have a cure yet for all cancers we have wonderful, dedicated people who press on and do the heavy lifting to get us to that day; people like those at the American Cancer Society. Once a year I get together with them at the Gala of Hope fundraising dinner in Saratoga Springs and help them raise the money that pushes us toward that glorious day when cancer itself will die. This year the event is happening on Saturday, April 29. I reached out to them to ask how important fundraisers like this are? Elizabeth Hunter with the Cancer Society in Latham told me, “Events like the gala are extremely important because they serve as an opportunity to bring our community together to celebrate the progress that we have made in the fight against cancer.” She went on to tell me the thousands of dollars they raise each year at this single event goes to wonderful programs like those offered by HopeClub. Adding, “The money raised directly impacts those facing cancer by offering services. Things like free wigs, rides to treatment with our road to recovery program, free lodging at our Hope Lodge facilities and emotional support.” I’ve driven by HopeClub on Penny Lane in Latham many times, but never realized how many people in need stop there. Elizabeth explains, “In 2016 almost 4,000 local Capital Region individuals, family members, friends and cancer patients, turned to us for information about diagnosis, treatment and support services.” That one HopeClub alone helps 1,800 people.
One of the nicest things they do is for children as well. They offer programs specifically designed to help a young child who just learned a parent or sibling is battling cancer. It must be a very scary time for a child but these kind people are there with helpful programs, free of charge.
When someone gets cancer they get hit with two big C’s — the cancer and the costs. Medical bills stack up fast and if you are too sick to work you lose the ability to pay even routine bills. So programs like this one help fill those gaps as best they can.
They even have experts to help you navigate the impossible terrain of dealing with insurance companies. Lord knows you can’t win that battle alone. If you or someone you love is facing cancer and needs help call 1-800-227-2345. You will find nothing but understanding and kindness on the other end of that phone line. And if you are looking for something fun to do and feel like getting all “dolled” up and doing a little dancing, think about stopping out for the Gala of Hope on April 29 in Saratoga Springs. I promise you’ll meet the nicest people and help a cause that touches all of our lives and hearts. Stopping cancer in our lifetime. Wouldn’t that be something.