What is Relay for Life? It’s an event that benefits the American Cancer Society. You celebrate, remember and fight back. According to the website,
“At Relay For Life events, communities across the globe come together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much. The funds you raise truly make a difference in the fight against cancer – just ask one of the nearly 14 million cancer survivors who will celebrate another birthday this year! Relay For Life teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or path at a local high school, park, or fairground. Events are up to 24 hours long, and because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. ”
Cool concept, right? I was asked to speak on behalf of cancer survivors on Saturday night at Pittston Area High School’s Relay for Life. The high school students really did a great job and it seemed like they were having a lot of fun, too. We weren’t able to stay for the Luminaria Ceremony but I’ve been told that it’s a really moving and lovely event.
I got to thinking. Each one of us should try to attend as many community events/fundraisers as possible regardless of whether or not our hearts are really into them. That’s just my opinion, though. You don’t need to monetarily support the events – just give a couple of bucks and go have some fun. So much time and energy goes into the planning and I’m quite certain that it means so much to the people organizing them when you actually show support.
As far as funding, I’m super careful about what organizations I donate whole heartedly to anymore. Pennies in Action is my place right now because the organization works hand-in-hand with one doctor and a team of researchers who are working on something very specific. Plus, I personally benefitted from this organization. I received some good news on Friday evening from Dr. Czerniecki, himself. The vaccine is working! 6 peptides are checked for an immune response. The most important peptide, CD4, where my level started off at zero – literally, I had no antibodies – has skyrocketed! My body will no longer serve as a petri dish for cancer!
Below is my talk from Saturday night. I’m realizing that I’m running out of ways to get creative with telling this story! If I made an impact on one student to continue giving back or one person newly diagnosed to not be afraid then it was worth it. Thanks again Bob, Lizzie, Madeline and Mrs. Bauman. Nice seeing you, Becca!
Thank you for the introduction, Lizzie. I’d also like to thank Madeline Moss for inviting me to be here tonight. It is an honor and privilege for me to be back at my alma mater. I have to admit – while I was a student at Pittston Area Senior High School, I used to dream about coming back as a commencement speaker. Never in a million years did I think that I’d be standing before you, instead, as a 35 year old breast cancer survivor!
Before I share my story, I’d like to thank the faculty, staff and students of Pittston Area High School for doing your part to aid in the war on cancer. Often times I find myself wondering if one person can truly make a difference. I hope that each one of you, especially the students, can see that one person can make a difference. I’ve been told that this particular Relay for Life – here at Pittston Area – started as one person’s idea and look at where you are today. You should be so proud of yourselves for all that you’ve accomplished through hard work and dedication. Pittston Area’s Relay for Life Group has been nationally recognized and that falls nothing short of amazing.
As Lizzie stated, my name is Barb Sciandra. I am a 35 year old wife and mother, most importantly. I am a sister, daughter, niece, friend and neighbor. Looking at me today, thankfully, you would have no idea what the last 2 years of my life have been like – that I started chemotherapy treatments one day after my eighth wedding anniversary, during the same week that my oldest child started kindergarten and my middle child started preschool.
I felt a lump in my left breast at the beginning of my last pregnancy but it was not seen via ultrasound and therefore, went undiagnosed throughout my pregnancy. I had a difficult time breastfeeding Cameron, my youngest of three children, and I knew that something was not right. After being very persistent and undergoing many ultrasounds, biopsies, mammograms and MRIs, I heard the 3 words that no one wants to hear. YOU HAVE CANCER. A light was finally shed on the issue that had presented itself nine months earlier. I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer on August 17, 2012 at the age of 34 just 3 months after the birth of our third baby and two weeks before I was scheduled to return to work as a retail pharmacist after my maternity leave.
My left breast was diagnosed as Stage III locally advanced cancer and my right breast was diagnosed as Stage II cancer. I was as aggressive as possible when it came to treatment because I want to live a full life. I have too much to live for. I had a port surgically placed less than a week after my diagnosis and started chemotherapy treatments to shrink the cancer on my left side. After 5 months of chemo, I underwent a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I had an oophorectmy a month later, not because I am BRCA+ – I am actually negative – but another type of genetic blood test indicated that my body might not be able to metabolize the drug, Tamoxifen, which is the standard of care after chemo for the type of cancer that I had, to its active form. Next, I underwent radiation treatment for 6 weeks as well as a year’s worth of Herceptin. Herceptin is an infused drug that is used to treat HER2+ breast cancer – part of which my cancer was. I currently take an oral medication called Femara because I am considered post menopausal.
I was fortunate to qualify for a vaccine clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania which will conclude in January 2015. This vaccine trial is run by Dr. Brian Czerniecki and his team of researchers and is sponsored by the Pennies in Action Fund at Penn. Dr. Czerniecki’s vaccine results have been extremely promising in preventing breast cancer recurrence so it is imperative that his clinical research efforts are kept moving forward. I feel as though this vaccine is giving me a second chance at life. I perceive this clinical trial to be something that will, hopefully, aid in affording me many, many more years spent with my husband of ten years, Sal, and my three children – a seven year old daughter named Jameson, a six year old son named Chase and a two year old daughter named Cameron.
We live in a wonderful community here, in the Greater Pittston Area. I felt the outpouring of love and support from my family, my friends and strangers who have since become friends since the time of my diagnosis almost 2 years ago. It is because of the overwhelming kindness of those in this community that have made my journey tolerable. My husband, my three children, my family, both immediate and extended, and my group of friends who are like family will never know just how much I love and appreciate them. If it takes a village to raise a child then it takes an army to beat cancer. I appreciate, so much, the many, many people who are a part of my army.
I need to thank 4 of my caregivers, in particular, who I am blessed to have with me here tonight. My husband, Sal, came to every single appointment with me, allowed me to cry when I needed to and still made me feel pretty in my darkest of hours. He took his marriage vows of “in sickness and in health” very seriously and I honestly don’t know how he’s done all that he has. Sal is my hero and my best friend.
You might be wondering how 3 little children can serve as caregivers – especially because they were 5, 4 and 3 months old at the time of my diagnosis. Jameson, Chase and Cameron are my reason for living, fighting and believing every single day of my life. They were my motivation to get up and get moving every morning. I never, ever felt sorry for myself because I knew that I was fighting to live for these 3 kids and that’s a lot bigger than me. I hope that someday all 3 of my children will be fortunate enough to experience the abundance of love that parents carry for their kids and the joy that children bring to their parents lives.
For some reason, part of my life’s mission has become sharing my story with others. I’ve blogged about my journey from the very beginning which I hope will someday serve as a useful tool for my children. Because of what I know today, I highly encourage each and every one of you to know your bodies – go for routine check-ups and take charge of your health. Be your own advocate! Women, please schedule your mammograms and be diligent in doing monthly self checks. Encourage other women in your life to do the same. If you feel as though something doesn’t feel quite right, be persistent. Keep using your voice until someone will listen to you.
I stress to physicians and those involved in patient care to please take the time to really listen to what your patients have to say. Allow your patients to explain themselves. Be attentive. Take your time when performing an examination or a procedure; follow-up with your patients. Do not dismiss any patient based upon age or pregnancy status or whatever the case may be. Your patients are entrusting their lives to you. It has been said that with great power comes great responsibility. Take this motto seriously every day as you practice your profession, whatever that may be.
To the students who are here tonight, one by one, you are making a difference. Please continue to do so. To the recently diagnosed, pay no attention to statistics. Statistics are just numbers and you are not a number. Never, ever give up hope or your will to live. To the survivors, keep up the fight and be proud of what you’ve overcome. Don’t forget the journey that you, yourself, have been on and look to help those around you who are suffering. Remember that you, too, once filled those shoes.
In closing, I would like to encourage you to donate generously to cancer research. It is through funding that we continuously inch our way towards a cure for this terrible disease. Thank you for your time and allowing me to speak to you tonight. Have a wonderful evening.
LIVESTRONG and God Bless!
