A Reason to Relay

by Kathleen Sheridan | photography by Muzel Chen

With Relay for Life teams in more than 4,200 communities throughout the United States and in eight foreign countries, the University of Georgia takes great pride having fielded the first student-run relay team in 2001. More than 60 schools have followed UGA’s example and are now supporting the American Cancer Society research fund. According to UGA’s Relay for Life website, their mission is to promote awareness of cancer, raise funds to research and treat the disease and educate the public about it. They also “hope to encourage other students across the country to take up this fight. The relay is about remembering those we’ve lost and honoring those who continue to fight it.”

Relay For Life has had a tremendous impact on the research fund, raising more than $230,000 in 2004 alone. Rivaling this great feat is the impact of the kind-hearted festivities on cancer survivors and their families. Minah Yacher, a 25-year-old graduate student at UGA, is a cancer survivor and team member in Relay For Life.

Editor’s Note: The following is Minah Yacher’s story of survival as told to Kathleen Sheridan.

My world changed on Sept. 17, 2001. It was the day of my 10-month anniversary with my then-boyfriend Nathaniel when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a lymphatic cancer. He and my mother were with me when I received the news, and Nathaniel told me I was beautiful and stood by me (literally) when I had no hair and was in very poor health.

As a 21-year-old several weeks into my senior year of college, I began chemotherapy sessions at Hematology and Oncology of Northeast Georgia in Athens. At a time when I was supposed to be almost completely independent, almost all control in my life was taken away. My mom was there whenever she could be. Since I refused to leave school in Athens and my mom lives in Alpharetta, it was difficult for her to attend every chemotherapy treatment, though she would have if I had allowed her. However, I wanted to keep at least some of my independence; and by staying in Athens and keeping my apartment, I maintained control.

After three months of chemotherapy I took a turn for the worse and, as a result, had to forfeit some of my independence. After chemotherapy I went home for a week so my family could take care of me. I needed a great deal of support because I was very weak from the chemo and had trouble walking. Once I felt strong enough to walk, I drove back to Athens only to relapse week later. Luckily, I had some very understanding teachers, and the UGA Disability Services was extremely helpful throughout my treatment. They had a note-taker for all my classes, and someone even videotaped a class for me when I was too sick to attend. I know my mom wasn’t happy that I wanted to stay in school; but I was determined to graduate in May 2002, my original graduation date, so I refused to take the semester off for medical problems. Fortunately, it all worked out.

On March 14, 2002—six months of chemotherapy since my diagnosis—I officially became cancer-free. For the first two years after chemotherapy ended, I had full blood work every three months and a CT scan every six months. Then, after the second year, I switched to blood work every six months and a CT scan once a year—my current standing. Once I hit the amazing five-year mark (the official day you are considered in remission), I will have blood work once a year for the rest of my life and a CT scan only if necessary, such as if something comes up in my blood work or I feel something unusual.

Having cancer has affected my decisions in life. I am now much more health conscious. I have always been aware of my health and have tried to exercise and eat well, but I am now more aware of its true importance. I do not eat any red meat and have more fruits and vegetables in my diet. Although eating this way will not affect whether I have a reccurrence of Hodgkin’s, it will help prevent other health problems. There is no way I could have prevented cancer, but I have spent enough of my life being sick and I refuse to be sick if I can help it.

My motivator is prevention and early detection. Do everything you can do to prevent any type of health problem and be aware of your body so that if something is wrong, it can be treated in the early stages. The way you live your life today will affect the way you have to live your life in the future. I have formed habits now that will hopefully prevent me from having to make drastic changes later in life.

Everything happens for a reason. Although I would never want to go through it again, cancer had a positive effect on my life. When I was going through it, I was very frustrated and would constantly wonder: “Why me? Why do I have to go through this? What have I done to deserve this?” I needed it for many reasons that I would not realize until much later. I find that I learn this lesson over and over again. When I am going through difficult trials, I remind myself that although I cannot see it now, some day I will understand why I had to experience these trials and tribulations. If nothing else, cancer gave me a better understanding of why things happen the way they do, and it gave me greater patience and tolerance for all of life’s bumps.

I think the American Cancer Society is a wonderful organization that truly helps people. My first Relay For Life was three weeks after I finished chemo at UGA. I was treated like royalty when I got there and was immediately hooked. I quickly formed a team for the North Fulton RFL, now called the Alpharetta RFL, which took place five weeks after the UGA relay. This event is fun and truly inspirational. You cannot walk around the track during the luminary ceremony and not be touched by the names you see on the candle-lit bags representing those lost to cancer, those still fighting and those who have survived the disease. I was lucky and very blessed to have survived this horrible disease that takes so many lives, but not everyone is as lucky as I am. A cure is out there; we just have to find it.

On that inspiring note, you might ask, “What can I do to help?” Luckily, there are numerous ways to get involved. You can participate in UGA’s next RFL (more details can be found on their website at www.uga.edu/relay) or you can donate directly to the ACS by going to their website at www.cancer.org. Most importantly, remember that a cancer victim is not the only one affected by cancer. Family and friends also go through a difficult experience, and the best thing you can do is remain positive and supportive. With all of our help and extensive research, a cure for cancer will be found.