Families, friends walk united in Relay for Life

YSU Relay Opening Ceremony

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The opening ceremony for the 2009 Relay for Life at Youngstown State University.

By Ed Runyan

This year in the United States, 1.4 million people will be diagnosed with cancer, and a half-million will die from it.

YOUNGSTOWN — Janice Rovnak of Youngstown had seen breast cancer up close.

Her mother, Betty Ford, who lives just across the street from her, was diagnosed with the disease in 2000. An aunt had died of the disease in 1984 at age 64.

Nonetheless, in 2004, Rovnak at age 47 had had only a couple of mammograms since turning 40.

For some reason, she just didn’t think she would get cancer, and her insurance didn’t pay the entire cost of having a mammogram.

Fortunately for Rovnak, who also has a cousin diagnosed in 2004, her third mammogram enabled doctors to spot the cancer early.

Her mother was just finishing the final stages of hormone therapy — a treatment that usually takes place for about five years after surgery — when Janice began her five years on the treatment.

Now she doesn’t have any illusions about the chances of cancer affecting her or her family, nor does she take life for granted.

“When I turned 50, my brothers laughed and said you’re so old. I said, ‘That’s OK. I’m still alive to celebrate my birthday,’” she said Friday inside Beeghly Center on the campus of Youngstown State University.

Rovnak, 52, and her mother, 73, were among dozens of cancer survivors to walk the opening lap at the area’s first American Cancer Society Relay for Life this year.

Rovnak said there’s another thing that hits you when you’re a cancer survivor — walking in the opening lap at the Relay for Life, when hundreds of people clap as you walk with other survivors at the start of the 18-hour event.

“As you’re walking, you realize how nice it is to be here,” Rovnak said.

Ford, who’s been considered cured since 2005, said she’s been blessed to survive cancer.

“I can do everything,” she said.

The women said a positive attitude is important for battling the disease — and essential.

“What I’ve heard is that if you’re upbeat, people don’t feel sorry for you,” Rovnak said. “You really don’t want their pity, just their prayers.”

“If you smile, it makes all the difference in how you feel,” Ford added.

Friday night’s kickoff was a celebration of 25 years of Relay for Life Events, started in 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt, who walked 83 miles in 24 hours in Tacoma, Wash., and raised $27,000 for cancer research.

“Isn’t it amazing to think that we are part of an international movement to end this disease?” said Mary Noble of Struthers, one of the event’s organizers. “And it all started with just one volunteer.”

Relays for Life are held in 20 countries, with 4 million participants annually.

Since 1985, there’s been a 14 percent drop in cancer rates and a 14 percent drop in the mortality rate for cancer patients.

Since 1975, the five-year survival rate for all cancers rose to 66 percent from 51 percent.

Today, there are 11 million cancer survivors in the United States, Sharon Schroeder, the Youngstown event’s chairwoman said during the opening ceremonies.

Each year in the United States, 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer, and a half-million will die from it, the American Cancer Society says. One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer sometime in their lifetime.

runyan@vindy.com