In September of 1982, Nancy Emerson began her battle against cancer. At the time of her diagnosis, her breast cancer had already spread to six lymph nodes, and her prognosis was not positive. Nineteen years later, Emerson is still alive and, for her courage and dedication to the cancer community, she has been named the 2002 "Cancer Survivor of the Year" by Coping, a national magazine aimed at cancer patients and doctors.
Emerson, a patient of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center since her diagnosis and an employee of the center since 1990, now spends much of her time assisting others in coping with the disease. "I decided to use my experience with cancer to help other patients," Emerson said. "By helping others, I didn't concentrate on myself as much, which was healing for me."
Emerson's message to fellow cancer sufferers is primarily one of hope. "Most people think of it as a death sentence, but you need to focus on living with cancer, not dying with cancer," Emerson explained. "People can live a fairly normal life with cancer. I'm working, I'm able to control the pain. You need to focus on the Ocan' in cancer."
Maxine Galloway, diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39 and also a patient of DCCC, is one of many that Emerson has touched. "Before she came in, I was just absolutely devastated," Galloway said. "Nancy was the first person I spoke to that I knew had walked in my shoes, and it gave me so much hope."
Galloway was full of praise for the advice and friendship that Emerson has given over the years. "She taught me to not be afraid to ask questions, learn as much as I can about breast cancer, be an informed patient. It changes your focus away from fear to taking it one day at a time and getting on with your life," Galloway explained. "And she has really inspired me to do the same thing with other people."
Dr. Kelly Marcom, a Duke medical oncologist and primary physician to both Emerson and Galloway, noted the importance of intangibles in fighting cancer. "You have to feel like you're playing an active role in the treatment of the disease," Marcom explained.
"[Emerson] is the best example of how important it is to maintain a positive attitude," Marcom said. He noted Duke's commitment to inter-patient counsel through the Duke Cancer Patient Support program, for which Emerson was one of the first volunteers and later served on the program's advisory board.
Emerson, the director of major projects and assistant director of development and communications for DCCC, has a long history of support for cancer research. She was one of the first cancer patients to take part in the first phase of a revolutionary trial conducted at Duke that used the patients' own dendritic cells to stimulate the immune system. Emerson has also served on the executive committee of the National Patient Advocate Foundation, which aims to ensure patients' access to medical care, and organizes the annual Tree of Hope, a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Duke that raises money for cancer treatment.
Although she noted there have been many advances in treatments for cancer and drugs to combat the side-effects of chemotherapy, Emerson lamented how little the government supports cancer research compared with how much suffering the disease causes, observing that, on average, one person succumbs to cancer each minute of the day. She has testified before Congress to gain greater federal funding for research, and continues to stress the need for personal contributions.
Emerson, whose cancer has spread to the skull, spine, ribs, arms and liver, refuses to give up. "My coping mechanism is to help others facing cancer," Emerson explained. With the aid of friends, family and hope, she continues to survive.
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