Cancer fears me!
Monday, May 4, 2009
By: Erin Brown

I am a survivor of 24 years! I had childhood cancer and am here to tell the story.

I relay because I was one month old when I was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer known as Retinoblastoma. This is a childhood cancer that I developed at conception. I fought a very long and very hard battle for three years.

At one month, a large tumor was found in my right eye, and I had surgery to remove the tumor and my eye. I have a prosthetic eye. Over the next few years, two other separate tumors developed in my left eye. The first tumor in my left eye was successfully removed using different types of therapies. But the second tumor in my left eye didn't react as well to therapies.

By all counts, I shouldn't be here today. By the third tumour, the doctors told my family to 'get things in order'. My family never gave up hope. My tumour, by some miracle, died. It choked itself off from it's own blood supply. I defied science.

This is why I say 'Cancer Fears Me'!

Having one seeing eye has never held me back from anything. In fact I think it pushes me further to do better. If I can get through cancer as a baby, I can get through anything!

I also relay for my great grandma Eileen, who lost her battle to cancer. I relay for my mom's cousin, Sheldon, who lost his battle to cancer. I relay for my grandpa Ivan, who is a survivor. I relay for anyone who has been touched by cancer in some way, shape, or form.

I relay because I HATE the word CANCER, and the pain it creates. It is a sickening word, that makes me so mad at the sound of it. I hope by relaying, no one will ever have to hear the word cancer again.

*HOPE*