I have cancer. Cervical cancer, to be specific, diagnosed a year and a half ago. I've gone through surgery, radiation and chemo, and am hoping to be told that I'm in remission in about another year. Needless to say, none of this is any fun, but that's not what this letter is about.
When I found out I had cancer, I was shocked to find out that a couple of other people I knew who also grew up in Fremont and graduated in '89 had also been diagnosed with various forms of cancer in their mid- to late-30s. As reunion time came along, and everyone began talking to all their old classmates again, it started to become obvious that we were very much NOT alone.
Just through a little word of mouth inquiry, I now have a list of 19 people from the classes of '88 and '89, who went to Kennedy, American and Washington, who have either fought or are fighting cancer. I have heard of one person who has lost their fight and died of breast cancer.
I personally have a LOT of medical problems, so I was really able to take the news that I had cancer pretty much in stride, like, "well, that figures." In the last couple of months, however, one of my dearest friends in the world has been diagnosed with lymphoma, and she is going through hell. *NOW* I'm really, REALLY pissed.
19+ cases of cancer at such young ages in a small geographic population is not normal. We have actually attracted the attention of someone from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, who is looking into this as a cancer cluster--think Erin Brockovich. The Malathion pesticide spraying that was done in the early 80s throughout the state of California is one possible contributing factor. Those of us who are sick would really like to find out why.
I am trying to find out how many more of us there are out there who have been hit with this very unwelcome disease. I have a sick feeling that I'm going to find out about far more than 19 of us, especially since my list so far doesn't include a single person from Irvington or Mission.
Here's the part where I ask everyone out there to forward this letter--please, forward this to anyone you know. If you know of someone who is fighting cancer, who is in our age group, who grew up in the Bay Area (Fremont, especially), please, please let me know. I need to know the person's name (so I can keep track of who's who), age, type of cancer, and any other information you can provide. It would help immensely if I were able to speak to that person via email or Facebook.
*No personal information will be shared with anyone but my mother!* (She's the one working with the CDC) We will be passing anonymous information to the CDC--Sex, age, type of cancer-- but no one will be identified unless they give permission, in the case that the CDC needs to speak to them.
This is very much not a joke, sadly. I wish it was.
I have set this blog up mainly to act as a "billboard" to convey the information I've just shared with you, and to help collect data about other patients. I get sick to my stomach each time I get a new name to add to my list, but I also get more determined to find out what in the world is going on. Like I said, I'm pissed, and I hope you will be too, if any of your friends have been sick.
My personal email is stephanie@blueblvd.com, and I can always be reached through facebook.
Please…spread the word!!
