World Cancer Day

by Angela Woon, Communications Specialist and Relay for Lifer

This is a significant year for me.

Twenty years ago one early January morning, my mom came to my room to tell me I did not have to go to school that day because, “Daddy is gone.”

My father had passed away from cancer.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I heard “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty on the radio and it gave me goosebumps. I remember listening to it on my Walkman in 1989. I remember it because I had just lied to my dad that morning. We had asked him to point to the letter “A” and he proudly pointed to “C.” And I told him through fake smiles and “wows” that he was correct. My father was an intelligent man, having studied law in the U.K., and had excelled at what he did.

Deep inside, I was crushed.

My daddy was a well-built, stocky man but by the time cancer had taken its toll, he was skin and bones, had lost his speech and was bed-ridden. My mom, even with her small 5’2” frame, could easily rotate his frail body several times a day so he would not get more bed sores. I do not like the term “vegetable” but that’s essentially what he had become.

This all happened in my home country of Malaysia. And now, 20 years later, I am here in San Francisco sharing this story with you. I wanted to write this for three reasons. It is a tribute to my dad on the 20th anniversary of his passing. I also wanted to write this to honor the strength of my mom and siblings who have come a long way since then. And last but not least, I wanted to write this to remind you that February 4th is World Cancer Day.

Malaysia and the United States are thousands of miles apart. But cancer knows no boundaries. I know of so many in the Bay Area who have survived cancer, are fighting cancer and remember those who unfortunately, have passed away because of it. Cancer is the leading cause of death around the world, regardless of country. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 84 million will die of the disease between 2005 and 2015 without intervention. As I understand all too well, cancer not only affects the patient but their family, friends and loved ones around them.

Each year on February 4, WHO supports International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer. Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes. This year’s theme, “Cancer can be prevented too,” focuses on simple measures to prevent cancer such as:

  * No tobacco use;

  * A healthy diet and regular exercise;

  * Limited alcohol use; and

* Protection against cancer-causing infections.

Working at Blood Centers of the Pacific, I’ve come to understand and appreciate the role of our special blood donors who help cancer patients fight their battle by donating platelets. This special component helps stop bleeding and is used in large quantities by leukemia and other cancer patients. We need more special blood donors like these!

On this significant day and thereafter, please join the fight against cancer and donate platelets. World Cancer Day is a perfect time to start. Thank you donors.

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