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June 15, 2010
By Jaseon Outlaw
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1994 when I was 16 years old. Having to go through extensive chemotherapy treatments was very difficult for me, my family and close friends. I remember being embarrassed about being sick and wanting to hide the fact that I was sick from others. Looking back on it, I felt weak and unfit to have been susceptible enough to become sick enough to get cancer. Of course that was not true, but that is where I was mentally at the time.
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1994 when I was 16 years old. Having to go through extensive chemotherapy treatments was very difficult for me, my family and close friends. I remember being embarrassed about being sick and wanting to hide the fact that I was sick from others. Looking back on it, I felt weak and unfit to have been susceptible enough to become sick enough to get cancer. Of course that was not true, but that is where I was mentally at the time.
I remember my family being told I would not make it to see age 18 and that I would pass from my illness (based on multiple relapses). Sixteen years later I stand before you. I am now proud to be a cancer survivor (sixteen years in remission) and I share my story whenever it is relevant. I now find myself invigorated when I get the chance to talk about my childhood illness and I try and motivate others going through treatment now. Even though my teenage years were a trying time for me, I would not take the experience back for anything in this world. It changed me in so many ways and opened my eyes to one of the most serious medical conditions of our time.
I participated in St. Baldrick’s Day as a team leader and shavee this year. This was my first year participating in the event and my team raised $2,365 surpassing our goal of $2,000. I am proud to be give back to an organization that raises money to increase the number of future cancer survivors.
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Currently, Jaseon chairs the College of Social Sciences for University of Phoenix- Bay Area Campus, and is married to a wonderful woman and has two step-children.
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