Why I Relay...

In the late 1980's my Grandma Mary received her first cancer diagnosis- breast cancer. She would beat the cancer and become a breast cancer survivor, however that wouldn't be the last time she would have to face cancer. Over the next 20 years she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. She spent years without having to battle cancer but it would always creep up and make her sick again. Around early 2007, she was diagnosed with cancer again, this time it wasn't just one specific type. She spent the rest of the year going through rounds of chemotherapy, just as before, but this time it made her really weak. The next 2 years would bring endless months of chemo and radiation treatment with some hope when the doctors thought they saw the tumors shrinking. However when there didn't seem to be any real improvement we got the family received devastating news, my Grandma Mary would spend the rest of her life living with cancer. By summer 2009 the cancer has spread through out her body and she was quickly fading. In August, 2009 she became very sick and the family thought the cancer had finally won, she however refused to give up despite suffering from seizures and a possible stroke. November, 2009 was completely different though. I remember standing in my apartment at school on the phone with my mother when she said "the doctors don't think Grandma will make it to Thanksgiving", that was November 11, 2009. The next morning I woke up with the feeling that something wasn't right. When I had finished my morning classes I called my mom, and that's when my whole world changed. On November, 12, 2009 my Grandma Mary lost her 20 year on and off battle with cancer. She was a strong women who I miss dearly and wish cancer had never touched. My goal in life is to make a difference, in her memory. I volunteer for various cancer charities and I know that one day I will see a cure for cancer.



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Until We Find a Cure