Blood Cancer Awareness

Friday, December 4, 2009 / Blog, Chronic Illness

*EVERY 5 MINUTES SOMEONE IS DIAGNOSED WITH A BLOOD CANCER.
*EVERY 10 MINUTES SOMEONE DIES OF A BLOOD CANCER.
*THE RATE OF HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA IS HIGHEST IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS.

I have a long standing commitment and passion for the challenge faced by anyone given the diagnosis of a blood cancer either as a patient or a family member. As a young nurse I worked in pediatric oncology so I worked primarily with children having leukemia. Even at the age of 20 without any children of my own, I couldn’t imagine the stress on a family or a child of coping with a diagnosis such as that. The long, difficult and uncertain treatments they had to bear taxed every ounce of energy that they had. I also volunteered for a long time at Canuck Place, a hospice for children, and witnessed again the profound and overwhelming loss experienced by families losing a child.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is an amazing organization that offers a wide range of types of support for patients and their families. One of their most successful programs is their TEAM IN TRAINING. “Athletes” of all sizes, shapes, fitness levels and ages train, fundraise, and participate in a wide range of endurance events. Whether it is a marathon, a triathlon, or a bike race, the energy of being a participant in this program is unbelieveable. In October, 2007, I participated with two friends who are Hodgkin’s Disease survivors in the San Francisco half marathon. It was an experience of a lifetime. We raised over $30,000 between us and crossed the finish line victorious in more ways than we could have imagined when we began. My friends found much healing in their old cancer stories and I found a recommitment to the power of fitness in my own challenging health story.

My reason for posting on this topic today is because I just received the newsletter for the Leukemia and Lymphomia Society of B.C. this morning. I have attached the link below in case you or someone you love is struggling with one of these most difficult diseases. This organization has so much to offer everyone who is touched by this disease whether as a family member, friend, parent, child, or patient. I encouage you to click on the link and see what they are offering. The link to their website is http://www.LLS.org/wes

If you are looking for a way to support yourself to increase your level of fitness or if you want to simply participate in an endurance event with an amazing group of people, I encourage you to consider joining the TEAM IN TRAINING program. They offer the training expertise, the motivation and the support for both the race and the fundraising. The money you raise makes a real difference in the lives of real patients and their families. The link to find out more is
http://www.teamintraining.org