A cancer survivor once said that every day for 364 days a year, she tells herself, “Today, I don’t have cancer.” And she lives the entire day with the freedom that thought brings. She works, spends time with family and friends, and laughs. She makes plans. Those kinds of days are quite liberating to someone who has been through a surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, powerful medications, experimental drugs, or all of it.
The reset takes courage.
And then there’s Day 365—the checkup appointment. The worry that she successfully stuffed away all year emerges again. But a good report brings relief. And she again looks forward to the next 364 days.
It’s on this day, especially, that we’re in solidarity with her. Perhaps we’ve never had to grapple with a cancer diagnosis. And we’ve lived life with much freedom this year, and the years before it. But we know there’s no guarantee of being cancer-free for our entire lives. Just like cancer survivors on checkup days, we’re hopeful for continued good health.
Good reports are on the rise in the crusade to cure cancer.
The American Cancer Society confirms this in its 2024 report. Although the cancer incidence rate has slowly increased, the cancer death rate has declined by about another 2% over the last ten years.
More people are being diagnosed with cancer. Fewer are dying from it. Cancer is throwing more at us, but we’re better at effectively treating it. This is especially true when considering the early years of cancer treatment. The five-year survival rate of all cancers in the 1960s was about 30%. Now, it’s nearly 70%.
Even without all these statistics, we can see the truth in increased cancer survival rates in our own communities. We all know someone who received a devastating diagnosis, only to come through it with restored health.
Lifestyle choices and early screenings help. For the most part, we can choose to engage in healthy habits and to complete early detection screenings that are available to us. However, these two things—although extremely helpful—do not stop or cure all cancers.
Cancer is a clever disease that can only be outsmarted by research. For most of us, it’s a little too late to choose cancer research as a career choice. Fortunately, many others have answered that call.
The American Cancer Society supports these research doctors with funding. It is currently providing nearly a half billion in grants to study and help eradicate these cancers: blood, brain, breast, cervical, colon, head and neck, kidney, lung, melanoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, sarcoma (soft tissue) and childhood cancers. It provides another $43 million in research dollars to study other cancers not listed here.
Money does make the world go round, after all.
This is one of those times that, individually, our actions have little impact. But by pooling our time and resources together, we can attack the awful history of cancer and rewrite the odds.
That’s where the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life comes in. Just as a relay team has four members competing in a race, Relay for Life has four components that thread together in its quest to beat cancer. At each event, a community comes together to: celebrate cancer survivors, acknowledge the important role of caregivers, honor and remember loved ones, and accept free-will donations that will go on to fund critical research.
Cancer is a formidable enemy. But there are over 2,000 Relay for Life events held throughout the country every year, and its participants are equally determined.
There are many good causes to support. Sometimes, we wonder if we’re really making a difference.
This effort, though, is working. Survival rates continue to climb.
But we won’t cross the finish line until a cancer cure for all is made possible.
Attend your community’s Relay for Life and help stomp out cancer.
Chickasaw County, Iowa, Relay for Life
Sponsored by:
Lawler Lions Club Relay for Life Committee
& New Hampton Relay for Life Committee
This year held at:
Highland Park (Hwy 24), Lawler, Iowa
Sun., Aug. 4th, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Live Music – Bring a lawn chair.
Food Available
$10 Luminaries Available
Throughout the event: Short reflections from three individuals who’ve journeyed with cancer.
All proceeds go toward the American Cancer Society.
Additional Event Benefiting the American Cancer Society
4 Person Best Ball Golf Tournament, Sponsored by Lawler Lions Club
Jackson Heights Golf Course
Fri., Aug. 2nd, 10:00 a.m. Shotgun Start
$200 per team plus cart rental.
Free-will lunch provided.
Contact Laurie at 319-240-9300 or Mary at 641-210-9871 for more information.
Moving the Conversation Along 