Survivor Series: Two-time Cancer Survivor Says Upcoming Relay for Life is Relay for All

The American Cancer Society is sponsoring a 24-hour Relay for Life in Albany in August to give everyone a chance to celebrate those who have fought cancer, remember those who have died, and fight back against this pervasive disease. A Luminaria ceremony is one of the special events planned.

“I’m excited that Albany is doing a relay,” said Cheryl Ziperstein, twice a cancer survivor. “This is such a wonderful way for the community to come together. So many people have been touched by cancer and, if it wasn’t for a relay, would never have known about each other.”

Ziperstein, an Albany resident for more than 20 years, was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, then diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.

“My family had a history of cancer,” she said. “My mother died of breast cancer and my brother of rectal cancer, but Hodgkin’s lymphoma came out of the blue.”

According to Wikipedia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes. It is characterized by the spread of the disease from one lymph node group to another. It may be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation; the choice of treatment depends on the age and sex of the patient and the stage and type of the disease.

Ziperstein's disease was discovered when her doctor insisted that she have a second biopsy on a swollen lymph node; it came back positive.

Her world turned upside down. For four months, five days a week, she underwent radiation from the bridge of her nose to below her pelvic region. But she continued to work, and she and her partner, Harold Caplan, decided to marry as soon as the radiation was over.

“When I was 30, I was a career counselor and my employer was just wonderful about letting me work flexible hours,” she said. “It was very important to me to keep an outside identity, for me to help other people, and be defined as other than a cancer patient.”

She added, “Also, I had my wedding to look forward to. We saved eggs before the radiation began, so I was able to have children, who attended Albany schools.”

Her pride is quite evident when she speaks of her children: Ilana, 25, and Seth, 23.

After her Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatment was complete, Ziperstein began volunteering with the American Cancer Society.

“Being in treatment and fighting for my life was a very powerful experience,” she said.  “But I was no longer fighting. All the attention was gone. I had to get on with my life. I wanted to hold on to that intensity, the bittersweet feeling.”

Ziperstein’s answer to this was to start helping other cancer patients as a volunteer, which eventually led to a staff position. She is now the cancer resource director of the Society’s Stephanie H. Lane Cancer Resource Network, which coordinates patient services for California.

In 2006, Ziperstein was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

“Once again, I was a cancer patient,” Ziperstein said. “This time I had to approach my time away from work very differently.”

Older and having to undergo chemotherapy, her doctor advised her not to work, because the chemotherapy is so draining. 

She posted her condition on the Caring Bridge website, where people can "add health updates and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages," but told friends and family that when they visited, she didn’t want to talk about cancer; she wanted distractions.

She asked friends to go for a walk with her. “Even if it was only around the block, that made a big difference,” she said. “I asked people to bring over a movie, or play a game with me. A group of coworkers started coming over once a week for game night and that really made me feel good.”

Ziperstein emphasized the importance of not being isolated.

“That’s why Relay for Life is so important. This will give so many people a chance to connect, people who may only have known through word of mouth that someone they know had cancer.”

The 24-hour Relay for Life takes place in Albany from Aug. 27-28, beginning at 10 a.m., at Cougar Field. There is a , to learn more, on July 13 at Saint Mary's High School.

Information about or volunteering for the can be found at www.relayforlife.org/albanyca.

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