Stand Up To Cancer

Brian Nelson

Writing for the NYT Well Blog, Brian Nelson provides a window into an aspect of cancer many people are unaware of: changes in appearance. After being diagnosed and treated for head and neck cancer, he suffers from chronic facial swelling. He writes, "My neighbor's 3-year-old daughter treats me just like everyone else, someone to flirt with! So if you see a slightly hobbled, melon-headed man wearing a hat, walking toward you with a stick, just say, 'Hi, it's a great day, isn't it?' And I'll say, 'Yep, it's a great day,' and feel it too."
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/when-cancer-changes-your-appearance/?em

Marge Lees

Marge, who we featured in SUTV last winter, recently updated us on her struggle with cancer. "It will be a year [since diagnosis with colorectal cancer] in September," she said. "I'm still being closely monitored by my oncologist as she says it likes to come back. It's weird, but I don't feel like the same person I was. I feel like there has to be another purpose in life for me, but I just haven't figured it out. I want to do something, but I'm not sure what. I was so happy to see that one of the dream teams will be involved in pancreatic cancer. That is what my dad died from." To learn more about Marge's story, click here:
http://www.standup2cancer.org/sutv?sid=2&vid=3458

Sean Berry

After facing renal cell carcinoma, Houston Astros coach Sean Berry decided to change his life. Already accustomed to a rigorous workout routine, he now works out 30 to 45 minutes six times a week, does Pilates at home and has cut red meat out of his diet. "Recovery was the hardest part," he nores. "Being told I couldn't do things that are second nature: running, lifting weights and working out . . . I like being in the stadium. I'm not training to play. I'm training to be strong so I can do my job."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6578539.html

Faith Coleman

Faith Coleman describes her kidney cancer diagnosis as "one of the absolute greatest blessings" of her life. Coleman was diagnosed in 2003, when she was working as a nurse practitioner with no health insurance of her own. Now in remission, she's determined to help those without insurance get proper medical care through the free clinic she cofounded in Bunnell, Florida. "I have been given another chance, and I felt that it was important for me to make a difference and to help other people," she says.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/20/cnnheroes.faith.coleman/index.html

As always, we invite you to share your stories in the comments below.