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![Calling cancer "the rudest shock in my life," Tracy Sheehan, honorary chair of the 2010 Riverview Relay for Life, said since her diagnosis she divides her life into two categories: "B.C, before cancer" and "A.C., after cancer." As she put it: "It is the line of demarcation in my world."
The breast cancer survivor spoke at the opening of the Relay at Riverivew High School in Riverview, Fla., thanking the doctor "who game me the greatest gift of all, the gift of hope, that we could battle it and survive and we have for seven years."
Sheehan recounted the details of her cancer journey, from the rude awakening of diagnosis to realizing during her first round of chemotherapy that, "My God, this is bigger than me," to surving through the "umpteen rounds" of treatment. As for the loss of her hair, she said: "It's pretty anti-climactic when it comes to living or dying."
Surving the cancer requires you "to do what is affirming to your life and what is important to you," Sheehan said, noting that for her this meant waking up early, going to the gym, riding her motorcyle, and taking care of her family. As a former reporter, practicing attorney, and now a cancer survivor, Sheehan said she chose to "honor my life by doing good things," which led to her successful acquisition of a judgeship in the Unified Famly Court for Juvenile Dependency, which deals with cases of abuse and neglect. Sheehan saw it as her "obligation as a survivor to do more."
She said she cringes at the word "remission," which she refers to as "a state of hiatus."
"I'm not waiting to get sick, I'm cured," Sheehan said. "God will pick my day and I hope it's not any time soon."
Sheehan said the coming together of a community to fight against cancer is imperative. "For those of you who haven't been touched by cancer, you will be," she said. "I hope not that close, but you will be."
For Sheehan, the words were bittersweet as she learned that day that her mother had received word that her bladder cancer had returned. "It's back with a vengeance and at age 75 she was told she is, quote, 'terminal,' " Sheehan said. But "I told her, 'We're all terminal,' " Sheehan added, and "those of us who have been touched by cancer, never underestimate the power of positive thinking."
"When the doctors tell you 80 percent of you [with a certain type of cancer] are going to die in the next five years you've got to claim that 20 percent," Sheehan said. "By God, somebody has to claim it." The bottom line, Sheehan said, is that after the diagnosis you can do one of two things: "You can roll over and play dead," she said, "or you can go out there and kick butt!"](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/Riverview-Relay-For-Life/i-HrX4JqG/1/Ti/DSC_0140-Ti.jpg "Calling cancer \"the rudest shock in my life,\" Tracy Sheehan, honorary chair of the 2010 Riverview Relay for Life, said since her diagnosis she divides her life into two categories: \"B.C, before cancer\" and \"A.C., after cancer.\" As she put it: \"It is the line of demarcation in my world.\"
The breast cancer survivor spoke at the opening of the Relay at Riverivew High School in Riverview, Fla., thanking the doctor \"who game me the greatest gift of all, the gift of hope, that we could battle it and survive and we have for seven years.\"
Sheehan recounted the details of her cancer journey, from the rude awakening of diagnosis to realizing during her first round of chemotherapy that, \"My God, this is bigger than me,\" to surving through the \"umpteen rounds\" of treatment. As for the loss of her hair, she said: \"It's pretty anti-climactic when it comes to living or dying.\"
Surving the cancer requires you \"to do what is affirming to your life and what is important to you,\" Sheehan said, noting that for her this meant waking up early, going to the gym, riding her motorcyle, and taking care of her family. As a former reporter, practicing attorney, and now a cancer survivor, Sheehan said she chose to \"honor my life by doing good things,\" which led to her successful acquisition of a judgeship in the Unified Famly Court for Juvenile Dependency, which deals with cases of abuse and neglect. Sheehan saw it as her \"obligation as a survivor to do more.\"
She said she cringes at the word \"remission,\" which she refers to as \"a state of hiatus.\"
\"I'm not waiting to get sick, I'm cured,\" Sheehan said. \"God will pick my day and I hope it's not any time soon.\"
Sheehan said the coming together of a community to fight against cancer is imperative. \"For those of you who haven't been touched by cancer, you will be,\" she said. \"I hope not that close, but you will be.\"
For Sheehan, the words were bittersweet as she learned that day that her mother had received word that her bladder cancer had returned. \"It's back with a vengeance and at age 75 she was told she is, quote, 'terminal,' \" Sheehan said. But \"I told her, 'We're all terminal,' \" Sheehan added, and \"those of us who have been touched by cancer, never underestimate the power of positive thinking.\"
\"When the doctors tell you 80 percent of you [with a certain type of cancer] are going to die in the next five years you've got to claim that 20 percent,\" Sheehan said. \"By God, somebody has to claim it.\" The bottom line, Sheehan said, is that after the diagnosis you can do one of two things: \"You can roll over and play dead,\" she said, \"or you can go out there and kick butt!\"")
![Calling cancer "the rudest shock in my life," Tracy Sheehan, honorary chair of the 2010 Riverview Relay for Life, said since her diagnosis she divides her life into two categories: "B.C, before cancer" and "A.C., after cancer." As she put it: "It is the line of demarcation in my world."
The breast cancer survivor spoke at the opening of the Relay at Riverivew High School in Riverview, Fla., thanking the doctor "who game me the greatest gift of all, the gift of hope, that we could battle it and survive and we have for seven years."
Sheehan recounted the details of her cancer journey, from the rude awakening of diagnosis to realizing during her first round of chemotherapy that, "My God, this is bigger than me," to surving through the "umpteen rounds" of treatment. As for the loss of her hair, she said: "It's pretty anti-climactic when it comes to living or dying."
Surving the cancer requires you "to do what is affirming to your life and what is important to you," Sheehan said, noting that for her this meant waking up early, going to the gym, riding her motorcyle, and taking care of her family. As a former reporter, practicing attorney, and now a cancer survivor, Sheehan said she chose to "honor my life by doing good things," which led to her successful acquisition of a judgeship in the Unified Famly Court for Juvenile Dependency, which deals with cases of abuse and neglect. Sheehan saw it as her "obligation as a survivor to do more."
She said she cringes at the word "remission," which she refers to as "a state of hiatus."
"I'm not waiting to get sick, I'm cured," Sheehan said. "God will pick my day and I hope it's not any time soon."
Sheehan said the coming together of a community to fight against cancer is imperative. "For those of you who haven't been touched by cancer, you will be," she said. "I hope not that close, but you will be."
For Sheehan, the words were bittersweet as she learned that day that her mother had received word that her bladder cancer had returned. "It's back with a vengeance and at age 75 she was told she is, quote, 'terminal,' " Sheehan said. But "I told her, 'We're all terminal,' " Sheehan added, and "those of us who have been touched by cancer, never underestimate the power of positive thinking."
"When the doctors tell you 80 percent of you [with a certain type of cancer] are going to die in the next five years you've got to claim that 20 percent," Sheehan said. "By God, somebody has to claim it." The bottom line, Sheehan said, is that after the diagnosis you can do one of two things: "You can roll over and play dead," she said, "or you can go out there and kick butt!"](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/Riverview-Relay-For-Life/i-SnHXCh9/1/Ti/DSC_0146-Ti.jpg "Calling cancer \"the rudest shock in my life,\" Tracy Sheehan, honorary chair of the 2010 Riverview Relay for Life, said since her diagnosis she divides her life into two categories: \"B.C, before cancer\" and \"A.C., after cancer.\" As she put it: \"It is the line of demarcation in my world.\"
The breast cancer survivor spoke at the opening of the Relay at Riverivew High School in Riverview, Fla., thanking the doctor \"who game me the greatest gift of all, the gift of hope, that we could battle it and survive and we have for seven years.\"
Sheehan recounted the details of her cancer journey, from the rude awakening of diagnosis to realizing during her first round of chemotherapy that, \"My God, this is bigger than me,\" to surving through the \"umpteen rounds\" of treatment. As for the loss of her hair, she said: \"It's pretty anti-climactic when it comes to living or dying.\"
Surving the cancer requires you \"to do what is affirming to your life and what is important to you,\" Sheehan said, noting that for her this meant waking up early, going to the gym, riding her motorcyle, and taking care of her family. As a former reporter, practicing attorney, and now a cancer survivor, Sheehan said she chose to \"honor my life by doing good things,\" which led to her successful acquisition of a judgeship in the Unified Famly Court for Juvenile Dependency, which deals with cases of abuse and neglect. Sheehan saw it as her \"obligation as a survivor to do more.\"
She said she cringes at the word \"remission,\" which she refers to as \"a state of hiatus.\"
\"I'm not waiting to get sick, I'm cured,\" Sheehan said. \"God will pick my day and I hope it's not any time soon.\"
Sheehan said the coming together of a community to fight against cancer is imperative. \"For those of you who haven't been touched by cancer, you will be,\" she said. \"I hope not that close, but you will be.\"
For Sheehan, the words were bittersweet as she learned that day that her mother had received word that her bladder cancer had returned. \"It's back with a vengeance and at age 75 she was told she is, quote, 'terminal,' \" Sheehan said. But \"I told her, 'We're all terminal,' \" Sheehan added, and \"those of us who have been touched by cancer, never underestimate the power of positive thinking.\"
\"When the doctors tell you 80 percent of you [with a certain type of cancer] are going to die in the next five years you've got to claim that 20 percent,\" Sheehan said. \"By God, somebody has to claim it.\" The bottom line, Sheehan said, is that after the diagnosis you can do one of two things: \"You can roll over and play dead,\" she said, \"or you can go out there and kick butt!\"")
It was a weekend for celebrating, for remembering, and for fighting back. The American Cancer Society's Riverivew Relay For Life was one of three overnight Relays at three high schools less than seven miles apart in Hillsborough's East End, all held on the weekend of March 26-28. Along with Riverview High School, 2010 Relays in Florida's eastern Hillsborough County also took place at Newsome and Bloomingdale high schools. A fourth Relay was held the same weekend at Lennard High School in Ruskin, also in Hillsborough County.
The theme for Riveview's Relay: "Reasons to Celebrate."
Related Coverage:
The theme for Riveview's Relay: "Reasons to Celebrate."
Related Coverage:
- The 2009 Riverview Relay For Life
- The 2010 Greater Brandon Relay For Life
- The 2009 Greater Brandon Relay For Life
- The 2010 Bloomingdale Relay For Life
- The 2009 Bloomingdale Relay For Life
- The 2010 Newsome Relay For Life
- The 2009 Newsome Relay For Life
- The 2010 Plant City Relay For Life
- The 2009 Plant City Relay For Life
- The Survivor Musical Tribute performed by 13 Ares 6 schools at the 2010 PCE Relay For Life
My Paper Now is dedicated to covering the Relay experience in Hillsborough's East End. Explore the story further with the links below:
Related Coverage:
-
My Paper Now is dedicated to covering the Relay experience in Hillsborough's East End. Explore the story further with the links below:
- The 2009 Riverview Relay For Life
- The 2010 Greater Brandon Relay For Life
- The 2009 Greater Brandon Relay For Life
- The 2010 Bloomingdale Relay For Life
- The 2009 Bloomingdale Relay For Life
- The 2010 Newsome Relay For Life
- The 2009 Newsome Relay For Life
- The 2010 Plant City Relay For Life
- The 2009 Plant City Relay For Life
- The Survivor Musical Tribute performed by 13 Ares 6 schools at the 2010 PCE Relay For Life
It was a weekend for celebrating, for remembering, and for fighting back. The American Cancer Society's Riverivew Relay For Life was one of three overnight Relays at three high schools less than seven miles apart in Hillsborough's East End, all held on the weekend of March 26-28. Along with Riverview High School, 2010 Relays in Florida's eastern Hillsborough County also took place at Newsome and Bloomingdale high schools. A fourth Relay was held the same weekend at Lennard High School in Ruskin, also in Hillsborough County.
The theme for Riveview's Relay: "Reasons to Celebrate."
Related Coverage:
The theme for Riveview's Relay: "Reasons to Celebrate."
Related Coverage:
- The 2009 Riverview Relay For Life
- The 2010 Greater Brandon Relay For Life
- The 2009 Greater Brandon Relay For Life
- The 2010 Bloomingdale Relay For Life
- The 2009 Bloomingdale Relay For Life
- The 2010 Newsome Relay For Life
- The 2009 Newsome Relay For Life
- The 2010 Plant City Relay For Life
- The 2009 Plant City Relay For Life
- The Survivor Musical Tribute performed by 13 Ares 6 schools at the 2010 PCE Relay For Life
My Paper Now is dedicated to covering the Relay experience in Hillsborough's East End. Explore the story further with the links below:
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