I Had A ‘Legitimate Cancer’

What a great story!! I read your article while sitting in a doctors office with my husband and started crying and said "wow"-so this is why I do Relay every year-as a 13 year breast cancer survivor.
Sometimes those of us who are blessed to be long term survivors and volunteer with ACS to help put on this wonderful event, forget what it means to those 1st time survivors who are just coming to grips with what they have been thru.
Cancer is still a very Scary word and our goal is to get rid of it by 2015, Do able? Maybe-but with HOPE everything is possible.
God Bless you Steve and your family, but most of all your Mother-Moms know Best.
Mary Gilbert
McDonough, GA

Thanks for making another shy cancer survivor feel better about being awkward at walks and anything with hoopla. I've testified before Congress and helped enact better health coverage for cancer patients, but I would have had the same reaction to the purple shirt. Maybe I'll do better next October.

I have a "legitimate cancer" too, bladder cancer. You don't hear much about it or anything at all. Even though it is the 4th most common cancer in men you never hear about it. I'm desperate to have some high profile publicity in the mainstream media. Why don't they pay attention to it?

Steve,
As a nine year prostate cancer survivor and an eight year participant in Relay For Life, I read your article with great interest. Some of your experiences parallel my own. I resisted participation in my first Relay, I wasn't the least bit interested in walking around a track with a bunch of other cancer "victims" (which is what I considered myself at the time). Physically I was doing fine, mentally I was a wreck -- I could not bring myself to accept what had happened to me. Somehow, I was talked into doing Relay (God bless my wife!). The other survivors at that first event included a guy in his eighties dressed in a tuxedo and a baby not yet a year old, being held by his parents. I was devastated looking at that kid. As we started the walk, I stood separate from the other survivors, not being able to admit to myself the reason I was there. I also started crying. The next thing I knew, one of the other survivors came over to me with a big smile on her face, put her arm around me and said "hey, come on, we're here to celebrate life! Let's march together." We walked that first lap with her arm around me, she was waving to the crowd and making a lot of noise. By the time that first lap ended, I can honestly say that my healing had finally begun. I was not alone in fighting cancer, I realized that I was a Survivor. My wife and daughter joined me for the second lap, the Caregivers' Lap. I was waving to the crowd and making a lot of noise. I've participated in numerous Relays since that first one -- from Shea Stadium here in New York to in front of the Capital Building in Washington, DC, and I've lost count of how many Purple Shirts I've collected. Thanks to Relay, I've become active in the fight against cancer, from meeting with members of Congress to being a facilitator for Man-to-Man, the American Cancer Society's Prostate Cancer support group. Relay has become a big part of my life. One important thing you didn't mention in the article, Relay For Life is one of the American Cancer Society's main fundraising events, and has been since 1985. I'm proud to be part of it, and welcome you to the ranks of Survivors.
Vic Gabay :-)

I am also a cancer survivor. I am employed at Bath Community Hospital in Hot Springs, Virginia. I do not live in Bath County but feel like I am a part of the community becuase of the love and prayers I recieved when going through my own cancer. I also participated in the Bath County relay walk in 2006 and was very moved by the cheers not only from my mom and step-daughter but also from my many friends from the community. The proudest moment for me though was walking behind the little 2 year old boy who I had found a cancer in and knowing that by the grace of Jesus Christ he was there walking in the survivor walk. Good luck to you and may God bless you and your family.

Thank you so much for putting this event into words from your survivor side of Relay For Life. I've been involved in RFL as a volunteer for 8 years in Kissimmee, FL and reading your story makes it all worth while. Best of everything to you and your family! God Bless your Mom!!

Steve Tuttle,
Missed your calling or you have plumbed deeper depths of it. Made me feel like I was there breathing mountain air, wearing a purple shirt, taking the victory laps, weeping for those not there, remembering roots just plunged deeper still into rich soil and a rich heritage of faith. Mid-forties, two kids, guessing no wife, successful career, DC culture/atmosphere, lonely rugged, ragged ascent to the top of Mt Everest in the no-oxygen zone. Been there myself. Dead for 25 minutes 23 years ago. Oxygen never smelled so fresh. Sunlight never felt so warm. The eyes of loved-ones never looked so bright. Congratulations for getting out of the cubical and rediscovering original priorities. Blessings,

Mr . Tuttle,
As the child of a cancer survivor, I felt moved to respond to your article. It brought back memories of when my father had cancer. Thankfully he survived, and I can tell you that it didn't matter to his four children where it affected his body. I am so glad to read of your recovery and I applaude your participation in the fundraising walk, purple t-shirt and all. Thank you for your touching and heartfelt confession. You are a true man and an inspiration to all.

Mr . Tuttle,
As the child of a cancer survivor, I felt moved to respond to your article. It brought back memories of when my father had cancer. Thankfully he survived, and I can tell you that it didn't matter to his four children where it affected his body. I am so glad to read of your recovery and I applaude your participation in the fundraising walk, purple t-shirt and all. Thank you for your touching and heartfelt confession. You are a true man and an inspiration to all.

Mr . Tuttle,
As the child of a cancer survivor, I felt moved to respond to your article. It brought back memories of when my father had cancer. Thankfully he survived, and I can tell you that it didn't matter to his four children where it affected his body. I am so glad to read of your recovery and I applaude your participation in the fundraising walk, purple t-shirt and all. Thank you for your touching and heartfelt confession. You are a true man and an inspiration to all.

Mr. Tuttle: I really enjoyed your article. You are very honest about your feelings, and all cancer survivors can relate to those feelings. I am so glad that your little Mom insisted that you go to Relay! I am a cancer survivor (almost 14 years) and a volunteer with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Reading your article brings feelings of being proud to be a survivor and being proud of what we do at Relay. Relay is for you and all other survivors to celebrate life. I hope you will continue to "Relay" for the rest of your long life. I'm sure your local American Cancer Society could use some great volunteers like you! You will definitely receive a blessing! Thanks so much for your article.

GREAT STORY. ROSEANN

rMr. Tuttle: I read your article today with great interest,. Both my parents had cancer during their lifetime. My father had prostate cancer and my mother had bladder cancer. After living their treatments at the time I never thought I could deal with the illness.

Much to my dismay I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2005. After having part of my left kidney removed I though that I was free and clear. I must add that it was during that time that my daughter marched in the Relay for Life. I still wear my wrist band proudly at this time.

Much to my dismay I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and cancer of the intestine in 2007. After a dual operation and a year of oral chemo, I still take one day at a time.

I found your article uplifting and I hope that someday soon I can have a positive attitude such as yours.


Thank you:

Scott R. Freehold, NJ

rMr. Tuttle: I read your article today with great interest,. Both my parents had cancer during their lifetime. My father had prostate cancer and my mother had bladder cancer. After living their treatments at the time I never thought I could deal with the illness.

Much to my dismay I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2005. After having part of my left kidney removed I though that I was free and clear. I must add that it was during that time that my daughter marched in the Relay for Life. I still wear my wrist band proudly at this time.

Much to my dismay I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and cancer of the intestine in 2007. After a dual operation and a year of oral chemo, I still take one day at a time.

I found your article uplifting and I hope that someday soon I can have a positive attitude such as yours.


Thank you:

Scott R. Freehold, NJ

I was still under treatment and wore my wig to my first Relay for Life as a survivor. I didn't feel like I belonged there. I wasn't a survivor; I was a patient. That was 7 years ago, the second time I'd had cancer. I'm still here and still raise money for the American Cancer Society and still do the Survivor's Lap at the Relay...and wouldn't miss it. It's a great high.

I was still under treatment and wore my wig to my first Relay for Life as a survivor. I didn't feel like I belonged there. I wasn't a survivor; I was a patient. That was 7 years ago, the second time I'd had cancer. I'm still here and still raise money for the American Cancer Society and still do the Survivor's Lap at the Relay...and wouldn't miss it. It's a great high.

I'm also Involved with Relay. Please call 1-800-ACS-2345 if you need help. That's the American Cancer Society and they are there 24 hours a day to help.