CANCER-BATTLING RELAY FOLLOWING HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS, MAN TAKES PART IN CALABASAS WALK-ATHON IN FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.Byline: JOHAN MENGESHA Special to Valley News There were no signs of it. No symptoms, no pain. There was nothing indicating what was going on inside his body. Ernie Cavazos was 33 years old when he decided to take a test and find out if he, too, had to fight the disease that his father had to battle 20 years before. In October 2003, Cavazos received the news. He had colon cancer colon cancer, cancer of any part of the colon (often called the large intestine). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. , the second leading cause of cancer deaths. The disease kills more than 50,000 Americans every year, but is almost always complete- ly treatable if discovered early. ``I was stunned and breathless,'' said the 36-year-old Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. resident. After getting over the initial shock, he said his reaction was positive. ``I decided it was nothing that was going to beat me,'' he said. His father had defeated the disease and so could he. Cavazos had surgery to remove the tumor in his colon. The surgery itself was successful, but he got an infection as a result of it and was hospitalized for a month. He caught pneumonia and lost 30 pounds during that time. After recovering from his infection, he started chemotherapy, which was not as bad of an experience for him as it can be for some. Cavazos said he got his chemotherapy treatments on Fridays, which left him a little sluggish over the weekends, but on Wednesdays he was on the ice with his teammates playing recreational hockey. In August 2004, Cavazos had a final surgery where the doctors ``put everything back into place,'' he said. Last year, while sitting in his doctor's waiting room, Cavazos saw a flier about the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life Relay For Life (often shortened to Relay) is a fundraising event of the American Cancer Society, and is now held in many other countries. It is an overnight event designed to spread awareness of cancer prevention, treatments and cures, celebrate survivorship and raise money events that are held around the country. He was interested in participating and contacted the ACS (Asynchronous Communications Server) See network access server. , which referred him to Calabasas' Relay for Life. Relay for Life is a 24-hour event where groups of people sign up to help raise money for cancer research and awareness. Each group alternates having one person walking around a track throughout the event. Group members not walking can take part in the festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. on the field. The Calabasas event will start at 10 a.m. June 24 at Calabasas High School Calabasas High School is a four-year high school, freshman-senior, in Calabasas, California, United States. Calabasas High School, which serves portions of Calabasas and the West Hills, Los Angeles, California section of Los Angeles, is one of three high schools in the Las and will end the same time the following day. Last year, around 500 people participated, Cavazos said. He said that this year, which will be the 60th anniversary of cancer research, there will be live bands, water slides, games and maybe even a dance tent for teenagers where they can entertain themselves after the older crowd gets tired. ``It's like a street fair,'' said Cavazos, who is now part of the Calabasas Relay for Life committee. The Relay for Life started 1985, when colorectal surgeon colorectal surgeon A surgeon specialized in managing colorectal disease–eg, hemorrhoids, cancer Gordy Klatt of Tacoma, Wash., wanted to raise more money for his local ACS office. Klatt, who loved to run marathons, decided to run around the track of a local university for 24 hours Adv. 1. for 24 hours - without stopping; "she worked around the clock" around the clock, round the clock . He took donations from people and raised $27,000 by himself. The Calabasas Relay for Life charges a $150 registration fee per team, which Cavazos said usually consists of around 10 people. Sometimes, however, there can be as many as 20. Each member is also urged to raise $100 in donations. They can either do it beforehand or during the event. Vanessa DiPerri, community mobilization manager for ACS in Valencia, said Calabasas' Relay for Life raised more than $100,000 last year. She said there are seven Relay for Life events in Valley communities, including Burbank, Chatsworth and Glendale. ``These are community- based events organized by volunteers,'' DiPerri said. Even though Cavazos won his battle against cancer, he still has to have check-ups regularly to make sure the disease is not coming back. He has blood tests and colon checks every three months and will have a CAT scan CAT scan (kăt) [computerized axial tomography], X-ray technique that allows relatively safe, painless, and rapid diagnosis in previously inaccessible areas of the body; also called CT scan. every five years. Cavazos said he feels responsible as a cancer survivor to help out and give back to the cancer community. ``A lot of people internalize internalize To send a customer order from a brokerage firm to the firm's own specialist or market maker. Internalizing an order allows a broker to share in the profit (spread between the bid and ask) of executing the order. their experience with cancer,'' he said. ``I'm willing to share my story with anyone who wants to listen.'' The following areas have upcoming 24-hour Relay for Life events: BURBANK July 8-9 ; 8 a.m.-8 a.m. Robert E. Gross Robert Ellsworth Gross (May 11, 1897 – September 3, 1961) was an American businessman involved in the field of aviation. His first venture, the Viking Flying Boat Company, failed with the loss of the aircraft market brought on by the Great Depression. Park 2814 W. Empire Ave. Burbank, CA 91504 www.acsevents.org/relay/ca/burbank CITY OF SAN FERNANDO San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. July 8-9; 9 a.m.-9 a.m. San Fernando Middle School 130 N. Brand Ave. San Fernando, CA 91340 www.acsevents.org/relay/ca/sanfernando FOOTHILLS July 24-25; 7 a.m.-7 a.m. Clark Magnet High School 4747 New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Ave. La Crescenta, CA 91214 www.acsevents.org/relay/ca/foothills NORTH HOLLYWOOD August 12-13; 10 a.m.-10 a.m. Walter Reed Middle School Walter Reed Middle School is a year-round school located in North Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. Its original name was North Hollywood Junior High School. The school is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. 4525 Irvine North Hollywood, CA 91601 GLENDALE October 7-8; 10 a.m.-10 a.m. Glendale Sports Complex 2200 Fern Lane Glendale, CA 91208 www.acsevents.org/relay/ca/glendale CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Ernie Cavazos enjoys life as a cancer survivor. On June 24, he will participate in the Relay for Life in Calabasas, helping to raise money for cancer research and awareness. |
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