Download RFL January Newsletter 122010.doc

This year, more than 17,200 people will be diagnosed
with cancer in Iowa – that’s 47 people every day…
More than 24,000 Iowans participate in one of nearly 90 American Cancer Society
Relay For Life® events around the state. Relay For Life is the world’s largest
movement to end cancer –it unites 3.5 million people each year to celebrate the lives
of those who have battled cancer, to remember loved ones lost to the disease, and to
fight back against cancer.
Join Relay
SIGN UP At…http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/findevent/teams
January 2011
The UI Relay for Life will be held on Friday, April 15 at 7:00pm - April 16 at 7:00am at the
University of Iowa Recreation Center.
A Profile of CancerSurvivor, Marilyn
Ellicott
Marilyn Ellicott was forty-four years
old in June 1999 when she had her
first colonoscopy to seek the cause of
bleeding during bowel movements.
When she awoke from the anesthetic,
the mother of two and her husband,
Gus, were informed that a tumor had
been found – it was colon cancer.
“My cancer was stage 3C and the
survival rate was not great. However,
my doctors were great. I don’t think I
ever really believed I would die.
Maybe it was denial, but they do say
attitude is a big part of recovery.”
(Continue Story on Page 3)
Colon cancer survivor, Marilyn
Ellicott, and her husband, Gus
Join Colleges
Against Cancer
Colleges Against Cancer
offers students the
opportunity to get involved
in the fight against cancer.
Committees and leadership
positions are available and
all of fun and hard work
leads up to the big event:
Relay for Life.
Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. in the
IMU Lucas/Dodge Room
Volunteer
Colleges Against Cancer members braved the chilly November
weather in order to spread knowledge and awareness on the
nationally recognized ‘Great American Smoke Out’: an event
dedicated to urging smokers to quit and combat lung cancer.
Check out the Daily Iowan’s article for more details…
http://www.dailyiowan.com/2010/11/19/Metro/20176.html
Over thirteen percent of
women will be diagnosed with
breast or ovarian cancer in
their lifetime…
Early detection of cancer coincides directly with the
patient’s survival. In fact, the early diagnosis of breast
cancer raises a woman’s chance of survival to as high as 98
percent. This is why the discovery of the ‘cancer gene’ was
of such importance. Scientists have discovered that the
mutation of the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer
susceptibility gene 1 and 2) are directly linked to the
development of breast and ovarian cancer. These genes are
found in human cells that are known as tumor suppressors.
In normal cells, BRCA1 and BRCA2 help to stabilize the
growth of DNA, yet when mutated, the genes greatly
increase the odds of early onset breast and ovarian cancer.
(Continued on page 3)
(A Profile of a Cancer survivor…)
(Early Detection and Survival…)
…Marilyn began treatments right away – only 20
days after that first colonoscopy. “I think I was
more scared of the treatments. I hate needles! Oh,
and the thought of surgery scared me to death!”
…Various elements increase ones risk of having
this mutated gene. For example, it is most often
found in Ashkenazi Jewish women. In fact, Jewish
women are as much as five times more likely to
contain this mutated gene than women of other
ethnic groups. It has been found that a woman
with this inherited mutation is significantly more
likely to develop breast cancer than a woman who
does not have the mutation.
The treatment involved a week of chemo and
radiation, three weeks of just radiation, and then
another week of chemo and radiation.
Early detection of cancer has been confirmed to be
one of the most important factors to influence
cancer survival. This is why women with a family
history of breast or ovarian cancer should take a
simple blood test to see if they are carriers of
these mutated genes. If a woman is found to be a
carrier of these genes she is at increased risk of
developing breast/ovarian cancer.
(UI Relay for Life 2010)
After the first five weeks of treatment, Marilyn was
supposed to have another week of only radiation
but instead was hospitalized due to dehydration.
Two months later, she went into surgery to remove
the tumor which involved removing 12 inches of her
lower colon. Luckily, her doctors found no sign of
the tumor.
The discovery of the link between the BRCA1 and
BRCA2 genes and breast/ovarian cancer enables
women to be better prepared for the possibility of
developing the cancers and acting to reduce the
likelihood of succumbing to them.
Members of the insPiRe
Colleges Against Cancer
Account Team
“The radiation and chemo had done the job.”
Surgery was followed by a month of rest and then
five months of chemo. Marilyn’s last chemotherapy
was on March 30, 2000. The beloved mother, wife,
daughter, sister and aunt is still cancer free and
passed her 10 year mark on March 30, 2010.
“As the years have passed, having my tests and
getting the results becomes less and less emotional.
Now, when I go for a procedure or for blood work, I
think I get a little, very little, case of the nerves until
I get the results. I feel very lucky. But, I really don't
think about the cancer much until it's time for that
next blood test… and I still hate needles.”
insPiRe is a public relations
club at the University of Iowa
that works with non-profit
clients to provide effective
public relations services for
organizations
(To Join email
[email protected])