My Cancer Journey
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
By: Jason Brown

Before I arrived here on this earth Cancer took my Great Grandpa Brown. Before I was born my Great Grandpa was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. He suffered through treatment after treatment only to succumb to the disease shortly after I was born...

My name is Jason Brown and I am 17 years old from Chatham-Kent, Ontario. My Cancer Journey began well before I was born. My family has a long history with Cancer. Before I arrived here on this earth Cancer took my Great Grandpa Brown. Before I was born my Great Grandpa was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. He suffered through treatment after treatment only to succumb to the disease shortly after I was born!
My life was Cancer Free for a few years. My brother came into this world on February 4, 1999. Shortly after my Pépé became ill. A little more than a month later doctors were still not certain what was wrong. For months a large part of our family was planning a mass family vacation for 2 weeks to Florida. My Pépé was supposed to come along. He was unable to come. He wanted us to go without him! The doctors reassured us everything would be okay. However, on March 27th, 1999 my family and I were driving to Daytona Beach, Florida and received a call that my Pépé had passed away. Immediately my family drove to the closest airport. My Mom, Aunt Robin, Uncle Tim and my 6-week old brother got on the earliest flight they could to Detroit, Michigan. I stayed in Florida and drove home with my Mémé, Dad, Aunt Diane and Uncle Randy. I was 5 years old at the time and did not fully understand what was transpiring.
I do not have any recollection of the events that went on when we arrived home. I know by the time I arrived home my Pépé had passed away fully. I was heart-broken, to say the least I lost it! I do not remember, but I have been told by family members.
Today, I sit here 12 years later writing my story. I have promised to fight until my dying day. Cancer has affected too many people, and it is my belief that it has fully picked a fight with the wrong species! Last year I made the commitment by forming and being team captain of a Relay for Life team. We fell short of our goal only by $50. I was very proud. This year, I decided to get involved with my high school. There we were Lancers Fighting Cancers. We held a All You Can Eat Rib Night on May 30th and raised over $500. I was very proud, but I kept pushing for more and more funds I wanted to raise the most we could. I am proud to say that because of my teams amazing efforts we came away with the youth fundraising award for Relay for Life 2011 in Chatham. Lancers, WE DID IT!! This was a huge personal milestone, I felt like I had finally made a difference in the lives of those with Cancer!

Someday Cancer Will be History, but for Now We Just Keep Marchin' On! Jason Brown.