I'm a Survivor. I'm Going to Make It.

STORY BY CANDACE  SPRUILL, ENYA HUNTER, & MICHELLE LATTIMER, FNN REPORTERS, CHAMBERLAIN BUREAU.

JUNE 12, 2014.  Have  you heard about the book or movie, The Fault In Our Stars?  According to Wikipedia,"The Fault in Our Stars is the fifth novel by author John Green, published in January 2012. The story is narrated by a sixteen-year-old cancer patient named Hazel, who is forced by her parents to attend a support group, where she subsequently meets and falls in love with the seventeen-year-old Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player and amputee".

The title is inspired by a famous line from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar (act 1, scene 2). The nobleman Cassius says to Brutus: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." 

This movie talks about cancer and how it changes peoples' lives. FNN interviewed a Friendship Chamberlain cancer survivor to better understand Cancer and its impact on a person’s life. Ms. Valdez is a brave cancer survivor. She has helped achieve the mission of FPCS with many of the students at Chamberlain despite her cancer. Here are some of the questions we asked her. 

How did you beat cancer? 

I had to have chemotherapy and 6 months of radiation.

What is it like to have cancer? 

The beginning and the end are the hardest. Life after a cancer diagnosis will never be the same. 

What would you tell the other cancer fighters to do to get cancer out of their system?

Pray.  Allow others to help you, you deserve it. Keep all your appointments. Ask any question that you may have. Keep open communication with your Oncology team. 

When did you find out you had cancer? 

I was a sophomore in College. My life is very different after being diagnosed with cancer.

What foods did you eat? 

Fresh fruits and veggies. My favorites were mango, coconut, broccoli and asparagus. Clean sources of protein like fish. I limit my soda intake and no processed food plus plenty of water. These things keep my energy level high. 

Ms. Valdez is just one example of a brave and strong role model who has fought cancer and is still here today to share her story. The American Cancer Society says “ About half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer.

The risk of developing many types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person’s lifestyle, for example, by staying away from tobacco, limiting time in the sun, being physically active, and eating healthy.

How can we help? Chamberlain eighth grader, Alexis Olszewski, has done things with St.Judes Children’s Research Hospital. Learn how you can help here at http://www.stjude.org/   Learn as much as you can to prevent and protect yourself. Ms. Blanford’s science class is researching diseases. Cancer is not one disease—but many. Donate coins or participate in a fundraiser. You can go to http://www.cancer.org or ask your Dr. There are many kinds of cancer. People and animals can get cancer. There is no cure for many cancers at this time. By working to prevent cancer and helping others with cancer, we can continue to fight it and move closer to finding a cure. 

Candace Spruill, Enya Hunter and Michelle Lattimer are 5th graders at FPCS Chamberlain.