Life after cancer: students, faculty share how they cope with loss of loved one and living with the disease
Jenna Anderson, left, displays a portrait of her sister. Right, Will Scola, Mrs. Barbara Stanley and Ian Schaeffer share their reactions to cancer.
May 18, 2010 • Federika Cariati
Filed under Features
Every year, half a million Americans die of cancer. It is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, second only to heart disease, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Their stories are inspiring and demonstrate the importance of cancer research.
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It was a warm day at the Arizona State University campus when Anderson and the rest of her family assisted during the Students Support Brain Tumor Research Walk. It was a tradition they had started in remembrance of their loved one Ashley Anderson, Jenna’s big sister who died of brain cancer when Jenna was in eighth grade.
Anderson said, “Finding a cure is the most important thing, but even finding a way to ease the pain can make it easier for a person who is dealing with the illness.”
Promotion for the Students Support Brain Tumor Research Walk is primarily done by students. Attendants of the walk paid a $15 fee that would go toward funding for brain tumor research. But to the Andersons, it’s not necessarily about the money, it’s about remembering.
“Ashley was about 15 when they found a brain tumor and diagnosed her with cancer,” Anderson said.
Merely months after Ashley’s diagnosis, she participated in the SSBTR walk herself.
According to the National Cancer Institute, 12,920 people die each year in the United States of brain and nervous system cancers, with about 22,000 new cases each year.
Jenna’s story
Ashley was a normal, healthy girl before her diagnosis. She did well in school at Desert Mountain High School, was involved in Student Government and played volleyball. In fact, it was drills at practice that prompted a visit to the doctor.
“Ashley kept missing the ball during a set drill, and her coach told her she should get her eyes checked,” Anderson said.
Doctors found that Ashley had lost her peripheral vision, an alarming finding that led them to order an MRI. It was the results of the MRI that revealed a brain tumor. All agree that Ashley’s life ended years too soon at only 16.
Anderson shared what was hardest for her and what she has done in order to find peace with losing her sister to cancer.
“It happened at a really hard time in my life. I was making the transition from middle school to high school, and I had to leave all of my friends. But I went to a counselor and depended on my family a lot, so they really helped me through it.”
Of the half million Americans who have died of cancer, the top three most common cancers are prostate, breast and lung, according to the Cancer Cure Foundation.
Will’s story
Many know of sophomore Will Scola’s tragic loss last year. His mother, Dawn Scola, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, but it was complications from stomach cancer that ultimately lead to her death.
Scola recalls that his mother received chemotherapy and radiation and also underwent a double mastectomy to battle the cancer.
As far as what Mrs. Scola was going through during her battle, Scola said, “On her side, at first it was fine, but she had symptoms from the chemo and such. But when the cancer came back, things got worse to the point where she was in the hospital for extensive periods of time, and we had hospice care. Overall, I think she just wanted to be the best mother she could, so she hid most of the problems from us.”
Scola shared some of the things he struggled with.
“On my side, it was difficult to see her have to go through everything that she did. There were also times where I just didn’t know what to do or what to think, that I just had to let time do what it has to,” he said.
For coping with such a tragedy, Scola said he leaned on family and friends for support.
“I was able to deal with the loss of my mom through talking about it with my dad, friends, and in a group called New Song where people with similar stories get together and share. As a whole family, I think that it helped the most, just to have each other’s support,” he said.
Scola said he believes cancer research should be a top priority.
“So many people know someone who has been affected by cancer, and this will continue to be the case until there is a cure for all types and forms. Any form of cancer research can be beneficial and eventually save lives. Hopefully, this research will help prevent cases like mine and the loss of a loved one.”
Ian’s story
In August 2006, Ian Schaeffer, a junior, lost his grandmother, Joy Cochue, to ovarian cancer.
“In 2004, doctors found a tumor in her stomach,” Schaeffer said, “and almost immediately after, she started chemotherapy.”
For about a year and a half, she was in and out of the hospital and on many different medications.
Schaeffer said that even in the presence of death, his grandmother had a positive attitude.
“I remember she said that she had lived her life and had a good one and that she was just gonna ride it out,” he said.
After her death, Schaeffer remembered some ways that helped him cope with his loss.
“It was hard for me when she really did pass away because I didn’t really get the chance to say goodbye. Initially, I didn’t really want to think about it, but after a while I realized I needed to. I started reading the Bible and spoke to my neighbor who is a pastor. That all kind of helped me figure things out.”
Schaeffer said his grandmother went to Saint Jude’s, where cancer research is conducted. “It’s extremely important.”
Going through a tough experience such as this, Schaeffer said he has come out a bit more prepared to handle a tragedy. His advice to others who are struggling due to the loss of a loved one:
“Accept the difference they’ve had in your life and appreciate them for it. My grandmother was always the kind of person who said, ‘Don’t look at what you’ve lost. Look at what you have.’”
Mrs. Stanley’s story
Barbara Stanley, Theology Department chair, came face to face with cancer when she was diagnosed with leukemia right around her 51st birthday.
After taking routine medical tests, her doctor found that her blood cell count was high. She was immediately rushed to the hospital and was later diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, the most treatable kind of leukemia. After nine months of being on a drug called Gleevec, a medication that worked similarly to chemotherapy, Mrs. Stanley reached her remission goal.
According to Mrs. Stanley, this is what has occurred since she has gone into remission:
“There is no cure for leukemia, but just a drug protocol to keep it ‘inactive.’” I am showing an undetectable status, but all that means is the testing shows that the drugs are working. I will continue to take medications for the rest of my life to keep my remission.
“I have testing every 12 weeks (blood and genetic testing) to check that I am still in remission. There are several for whom the drug stops working at some point for no reason, and so they monitor me that closely. So far, I am really grateful to my God for this.”
Mrs. Stanley is a living example of how the effects of successful cancer research can lead to saving lives.
She said, “Cancer research is important. Without it, I would not be here. The research to find the drugs I take took place with adult stem cells. This research has opened the way for knowledge of how all cancer starts and how it can be treated. So, I believe it is really important.”
Since going into remission, Mrs. Stanley says she has a different outlook on life and believes that her life has changed.
“I am much more intentional about what I do each day, how much I show love and appreciation to those who matter and much more dependent on God for my direction each and every day.”
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