"I was surrounded by people who were very supportive and wonderful. But there were also a few people who said cruel things because my cancer was linked to a sexually transmitted virus," she recalls. "That was painful, and those people either ended up being cut out of my life or their place in my life was minimal."
Tamika had to have her cervix and uterus removed, and had chemotherapy and radiation to kill all the cancer cells. To this day, the most difficult part of the experience was realizing she'd never be able to give birth to a child. But financial strain was also an issue, due to all the medical expenses. Before cancer, she had been making a name for herself in the broadcasting industry, but after her diagnosis she was unable to pay her bills. With her career on hold, issues with money, and her social outlets affected, Tamika gave up on life.
"It's so easy to give up," she says. "I remember kissing my mom and my best friend goodbye in the hospital days after my surgery. The pain was unbearable and I just wanted it to be over with. But they wouldn't let me give up. They provided the strength I needed to continue fighting. And eventually, I realized cancer didn't have to be a death sentence."
Tamika made the decision to face the disease head on, and she fought for her life as hard as she could. If she lost her life, she decided, it wouldn't be because she gave up. Today, 10 years after her surgery and treatment, Tamika is once again working in broadcasting, as a television reporter and producer in Washington, D.C.
"I had an amazing support network and knew that I was in good hands with my health care," she says. "So my coping strategies became research and understanding for my disease. The more I learned, the more I was determined to beat it."
- Tameka Fielder "Survivor of Cervical Cancer"
"I was only 29, and a lot of people my age don't get scoped," he says. "The fact that I got sent for a colonoscopy saved my life."
Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. After undergoing radiation all summer and then chemotherapy, Ben had surgery to remove his rectum, leaving him with a colostomy. Eight more rounds of chemotherapy left him exhausted and feeling toxic.
"It was pretty hard emotionally to deal with that kind of a change to my body, especially in my late 20s," he says.
It was difficult for him to deal with the colostomy at first, but Ben researched the procedure and realized he could irrigate daily, having far greater control. He started rock climbing again just weeks after surgery, eager to get outdoors and test his new limits.
"The thing that helped me the most was focusing on one day at a time and not looking too far ahead," he says. "I never let a feeling of defeat creep in; I tried my best to stay positive. Seeing the brave smiles of those who were much older and physically weaker than me in the infusion room was a huge boost."
Ben was lucky to have wonderful friends and family who gave him ongoing support. They encouraged him to keep up his active lifestyle, helped with meals, sent cards and notes, and even held a silent auction to raise money for his medical bills. "They wouldn't let me lie around and feel sorry for myself," he says.
- Ben Moon "Survivor Of Colorectal Cancer"
In July of 2001, Kelly began 4 months of aggressive chemotherapy. She had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery the following January, then radiation therapy 6 months later.
The entire time, Kelly's close friends gave her a tremendous amount of emotional support and helped her through medical appointments and treatments. Her coworkers and church family collected money, and also organized a motorcycle ride and a hockey game to raise funds that could help with her expenses. Kelly coped with the uncertainty of it all with the help of her loved ones, with prayer, and with spiritual music and talks.
, an organization that provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families. Even though she's helping others through the project, the project is helping her, too, by giving her hope and strength. As she puts it, "I love to be a blessing to others! I enjoy making someone else's life better—even if it's just for a moment in time."
Today, Kelly is cancer free. The Chain Fund has grown to address various emotional and physical needs for cancer patients and families, while continuing its financial focus. Kelly describes herself as shy, but she tirelessly solicits donations and grants for The Chain Fund, holds events and fundraisers, and always thinks of ways she can help others.
Kelly believes cancer changed her as a person. Although she would never want to go through the traumatic and difficult time again, she sees the positive result from it. "I don't think I went through that whole cancer experience to not do anything," she says. "I believe I went through it so I could do what I'm doing now."
Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. After undergoing radiation all summer and then chemotherapy, Ben had surgery to remove his rectum, leaving him with a colostomy. Eight more rounds of chemotherapy left him exhausted and feeling toxic.
"It was pretty hard emotionally to deal with that kind of a change to my body, especially in my late 20s," he says.
It was difficult for him to deal with the colostomy at first, but Ben researched the procedure and realized he could irrigate daily, having far greater control. He started rock climbing again just weeks after surgery, eager to get outdoors and test his new limits.
"The thing that helped me the most was focusing on one day at a time and not looking too far ahead," he says. "I never let a feeling of defeat creep in; I tried my best to stay positive. Seeing the brave smiles of those who were much older and physically weaker than me in the infusion room was a huge boost."
Ben was lucky to have wonderful friends and family who gave him ongoing support. They encouraged him to keep up his active lifestyle, helped with meals, sent cards and notes, and even held a silent auction to raise money for his medical bills. "They wouldn't let me lie around and feel sorry for myself," he says.
- Ben Moon "Survivor Of Colorectal Cancer"
In July of 2001, Kelly began 4 months of aggressive chemotherapy. She had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery the following January, then radiation therapy 6 months later.
The entire time, Kelly's close friends gave her a tremendous amount of emotional support and helped her through medical appointments and treatments. Her coworkers and church family collected money, and also organized a motorcycle ride and a hockey game to raise funds that could help with her expenses. Kelly coped with the uncertainty of it all with the help of her loved ones, with prayer, and with spiritual music and talks.
I went through cancer
so I could do what
I’m doing now.
On January 1, 2003, after missing 18 months of work, Kelly returned to the police force. Encouraged by the outpouring of emotional and financial support she had received from her friends and coworkers, Kelly decided to help other people the way she had been helped: she formed The Chain Fund so I could do what
I’m doing now.
, an organization that provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families. Even though she's helping others through the project, the project is helping her, too, by giving her hope and strength. As she puts it, "I love to be a blessing to others! I enjoy making someone else's life better—even if it's just for a moment in time."Today, Kelly is cancer free. The Chain Fund has grown to address various emotional and physical needs for cancer patients and families, while continuing its financial focus. Kelly describes herself as shy, but she tirelessly solicits donations and grants for The Chain Fund, holds events and fundraisers, and always thinks of ways she can help others.
Kelly believes cancer changed her as a person. Although she would never want to go through the traumatic and difficult time again, she sees the positive result from it. "I don't think I went through that whole cancer experience to not do anything," she says. "I believe I went through it so I could do what I'm doing now."
- Kelly Turner "Survivor of Breast Cancer"
Shortly before his second birthday, Caden’s parents Tracy and Thane noticed a deviation in Caden’s right eye. They brought him in to see an ophthalmologist, but the standard method of treatment just seemed to make the deviation worse. Caden was quickly pushed up the list to receive an MRI at the University of Minnesota. What the MRI revealed came as a shock to everyone.
The MRI revealed a brain tumor located behind Caden’s eyes, along his optic nerves, known as a bilateral optic glioma. Due to the location of the tumor, removing it surgically was not an option, and following his second birthday Caden started chemotherapy treatment.
Throughout the course of his treatment, different forms of chemotherapy and medications have been tried to reduce the tumor growth. However, Caden’s brain tumor has proven to be a special case.
In his spare time, Caden participates in activities that a child receiving chemotherapy treatment typically does not. Caden has been playing piano for several years and just started taking guitar lessons. With both instruments he is learning to play using the Suzuki method, where Caden learns each song aurally through imitation.
One of his favorite songs to play on the piano is called “Goodbye to Winter” which he playfully refers to as, “Hi To Winter” since he loves jumping around in the snow.
- Caden(7 years old) "Surviving a Brain Tumor"
Rosie’s parents, Albert and Koliju knew something was wrong with their young daughter in 2004. “Her abdomen was getting large and very firm on the right side,” recalls Albert. “and she complained of increasing pain.”
At that time, the family lived in the West African country of Liberia. “Our country was in civil unrest and medical services were not available,” says Albert. “We were just living with it until we had the opportunity to come to America.”
Luckily, through an immigration lottery, the family came to America in June, 2004 and moved to Minnesota. After having Rosie examined at a local medical center, the Jones family was referred to University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. On June 30, 2004, when Rosie was just under 2 years-old, the family received the frightening news: Rosie had cancer.
“When we heard the diagnosis,” recalls Albert, “we were very depressed and out of words.”
An advanced case gets aggressive treatment
Rosie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Wilms tumor on her right kidney, having spread to her lungs, liver and blood vessels around the kidney. Only 10 percent of patients with Wilms tumor are diagnosed at stage 4, so an aggressive treatment plan was necessary. Under the care of Brenda Weigel, M.D., Rose received her treatment over the next 16 months, which included chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to remove the tumor.
Two things that helped comfort Rosie while being separated from family members during this time were her Dora the Explorer blanket and her Care Partner, Karen Rodning, who typically works with international patients. Care Partners is a quality-of-life program funded by Children’s Cancer Research Fund that provides non-medical services to pediatric cancer patients and their families at Amplatz Children’s Hospital. “Karen is just wonderful,” says Albert. “She was more like family than a Care Partner to us.”
Rosie finished treatment in October, 2005. Regardless of the challenges she faced during her 16-month battle, her family remained strong and hopeful. “There is always hope, even when there seems to be none,” says Albert. “We never knew we were going to come to the USA, but we had hoped that a cure was possible.”
Today Rosie is a healthy, happy 8-year-old who excels in school and charms everyone she meets. Albert and Koliju are very proud of her progress.
Albert credits Rosie’s recovery to everyone involved in her care — from Dr Weigel and the entire medical staff to the social workers, occupational and physical therapists and lab technicians. “The treatments were just blessings,” he says. “All of those that cared for Rosie were great.”
- Rosie(2 Years Old) "Surviving Wilms Tumor"
Commentary:
I am devistated with Tameka's story because people these days could be so cruel and heartbreaking. People actually made fun of her because her cancer was caused by a sexually transmitted disease. Ben's Story fascinates me because there are people in my family with bloody stools and this has me concerned if they should go and get themselves further checked. Kelly, being a former poilce officer fascinated me. Throughout all the hard work she encountered, she finds out she has breast cancer. Which causes her to lower her self esteem, kinda relates to people I know. Caden and Rosie, children of Cancer Tumors devistate me because I have younger brothers and a younger sister and if they were to ever encounter cancer, I would loose everything in me but I wouldnt give up and I would still love them until my last breath. The way these two children are surviving are even more fascinating to me because blessings do happen. This taught me that there are actually people who care about you and your life even if they dont know you at all.
