Cancer Crusader

With support, researchers can discover new treatment methods and cures for currently incurable cancers. Spread the message and support cancer awareness with a magnet perfect for all metal surfaces!





Smooth and simple...this design tells it how it is. Cancer Sucks. Help raise cancer awareness and support the fight against cancer.






Support cancer awareness without breaking the bank! It's what to wear when you want to go comfortably casual. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed

Before I entered high school, cancer was something that I knew existed but was not at all focused on.

That changed my freshman year in high school when my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer.

As many of my posts on my personal blog have documented, my family had been battling cancer for about four years. During my freshman year, my Papa Dick was diagnosed with cancer (brain tumors, secondary). On November 10th, he passed away. Shortly before Papa Dick passed, my Papa Ron (on my dad's side) was diagnosed with Renal Cell Kidney cancer. And not long after that, Grandma Barbara (Papa Ron's wife), was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Papa Ron fought his cancer for almost three years, and came incredibly close to winning.

Those years ... challenged my family and forced everyone to make decisions that no one should ever have to make.

After a long battle, cancer took my Papa Ron. A few days later, I was faced with the last opportunity to tell my Grandma Barbara goodbye before the cancer took her too.

Those three years turned my life upside down.

But, out of all of the horror, came an opportunity for me to find a passion and make a difference. Having lost three, incredibly important forces in my life to cancer brought me to the American Cancer Society. I started participating in Relay for Life, eventually joining the committee. Now, I am our Relay Chair.

It seems as if everywhere I turn, I find someone going through what our family was forced to experience. And now I can provide them support and point them to the American Cancer Society.

If asked why I relay, my answer is simple: I relay so that, maybe, no one ever has to go through what my family went through. I relay in hope that there isn't another soul on earth that has to experience the emotional and physical pain that my grandparents did. I relay in their memory, but I relay for the future and for those who, just maybe, will not have to run the same course as they did.

In an effort to raise money year-round (as opposed to just asking for donations during Relay season), I have opened a store at Cafepress. All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. By displaying the merchandise, or wearing the clothing, you will be helping to spread the message.

I fully believe that, together, we can fight it.

Horrible Day - - Papa Dick passes
Five minutes before school was out I was called to the office. Ever since grandpa got sick, getting called to the office made me as nervous as hell. I was so afraid that one day my mom was going to be in the office to tell me that grandpa was gone. Today was that day...

About Relay for Life
Relay for Life is the last weekend in April. I've always taken Relay for Life, as well as all of the fundraisers I've participated in, very seriously...but this time, Relay for Life has taken on an entirely new meaning for me. I'm not just walking for everyone, I'm walking for my Grandpa Ron, and in memory of my Papa Dick...

Grandma might have cancer too....
As some of you know, my grandpa Dick on my mom's side of the family recently passed away -- he had brain tumors that were secondary to another cancerous source. My grandpa Ron (my father's dad) was diagnosed with Renal Cell Kidney Cancer shortly before my grandpa Dick passed away. I couldn't believe it, and I still can't. And now what?

The Decision
On Monday night, dad was told that he should come to the hospital. Grandpa Ron was in ICU and the family seemed convinced that Grandpa wasn't going to make it through the night. A tumor is taking up his entire lung and he has a blood clot in his leg. Mom and dad rushed to the hospital, leaving my brother and I at home because they had been told that we couldn't come tonight...

Forever Missing...
I made a decision about my dilemma in my previous post. In the end I decided to go with my family to see Papa Ron. And it was just as hard, if not harder, than I thought it would be. But I am glad that I went because after all he's been through I feel as if it is the least I could do. And, it gave me a chance to see him one last time...

I Cry Alone
Well, I have to admit that I have been avoiding this post. For those of you who have been following some of my posts, you know that my Papa Ron passed away just recently. Grandma joined Papa on Sunday, July 30th.

Her service was excruciatingly difficult.

Due to organizations, mainly the ACS (the largest private, nonprofit source of cancer research funding, second only to the federal government), the world is progressing towards better cancer prevention and treatment.


Death rates for female breast cancer dropped 20.8% between 1991 and 2001, and the prostate cancer death rates dropped more than 26%.


In 2000, there were 9.5 million cancer survivors.


We can continue to make a difference.

As a college student with cancer, you should be able to focus on getting well. You should not have to worry about whether or not your health insurance will cover you.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Because many college students are covered by their family's plan, their health insurance requires that they maintain a full-time college schedule to keep their insurance coverage. For a college student with cancer, this might not be possible.

HELP PASS MICHELLE'S LAW

Michelle Morse was a college student battling colon cancer. Because her family's health insurance would not cover her if she was not a full-time student, Michael was forced to continue attending school full-time while undergoing treatment.

After her death, her mother started campaigning for a law that would protect college students battling cancer from having to face the same challenges as her daughter.

"Michelle's law will require health insurance companies to cover college students while on medical leave for up to 12 months."

Ready to help?
Take just TWO minutes of your time and send a letter urging your Members of Congress to pass Michelle's Law. The letter is already written for you! Of course, if you wish to personalize it you are more than welcome to.

Click here to Email your Members of Congress

Treatment decision tool

Hope Lodge
"The American Cancer Society is trying to make this difficult situation easier for cancer patients and their families through 22 Hope Lodges - free, temporary housing facilities for cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. But Hope Lodges are more than just a place to stay - they provide a home-like nurturing environment, so patients can get support from others going through the same experience."

Reach to Recovery

Look Good...Feel Better for Teens
Look Good...Feel Better for Teens is a unique, free program for teenage cancer patients, 13 to 17 years old, that helps them cope with the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.
Look Good...Feel Better for Teens has a Web site called 2bMe that is available to all teens with cancer. Check it out --> www.2bMe.org

Look Good...Feel Better
The Look Good...Feel Better program is a community-based, free, national service that teaches female cancer patients beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.