I have just signed up as a supporter of “Team Veremedy” on their 50 mile bike ride to help raise funds for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center’s research efforts at preventing breast cancer. Veremedy’s Angela Burrington, a veterinarian and a breast cancer survivor, along with her “Team”, saved my dog Juneau last year after he was hit by a truck. It just seems appropriate that I try to pay the favor forward in some way for someone else. The annual Prouty Ride happens next weekend in Hanover. Angela’s husband Brad and one of their daughters, Dana, will be making the ride in her honor.
As many of you know my mother died of a very fast-moving breast cancer more than 10 years ago. It was not pretty. I might also add that she was rather skeptical that any event featuring pink ribbons and people exercising on her behalf would do much to help her heal the disease. She also hated the use of the language used in describing people with cancer “battling” and “fighting”. These may be words appropriate to some, as are the pink ribbons, but, in my Mom’s case, she tried to live and work with the disease, getting dressed every day that she possible could, even if it meant wearing black. She also made a decision, hers alone, that she did not want to “battle” it. Everyone is different.
Mom was cared for in Boston by the so-called “best in the business” Dr. Susan Love and Brigham & Women’s Hospital, finally dying a short three months from diagnosis at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. Still, there were issues about what drugs might best help, whether mastectomy would or would not make the disease progress faster and there were smaller and larger incidents that created difficulties due to lack of communication among health professionals. From what I understand, after ten years, the treatment of breast cancer IS getting better with earlier detection and better chances of long-term survivor outcomes. That said, if any of that research money can be used for less dramatic but important issue of better communication techniques with patients and families among doctors, nurses and health-care providers, in my opinion that would be money well-spent.
In the meantime, I’m glad Angela Burrington is with us. She saved my dog’s life. Imagine if she had not been there? I can’t.
And even though my Mom hated those damn pink ribbons and she wasn’t much for exercise either, I say go ahead and support whoever you know who is trying to bike or walk or run to help make cancer less prevalent and easier to LIVE with. http://www.theprouty.org/
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 