Cancer benefit/Basketball game question.
 

So,

I am getting all excited about participating in an annual basketball game to benefit the American Cancer society in March. It takes place at the school where I work.

It was during last year's game when I began feeling those strange (now too familiar) symptoms of Aplastic Anemia.

Now, with a HGB up to 12 and change, I'm running a few "suicides" on the court to get in shape. I am determined to be in good enough shape to hustle back on defense come game time.

Anyway, I'm talking to the coordinator to see if I can do a quick two minute pre-game "share my story" inspirational talk with the kids. With AA, you're pretty much treated with all the infrastructure of cancer clinics.

BUT! Then there's that little voice in my head that tells me that I could be hijacking the event on behalf of bone marrow failure diseases.

So, what do you guys think? Am I overstepping on this one?:confused:

Thanks,

Ryan

Not at all! I think the more people know about these conditions, the better. I had so many people who were SHOCKED to find out that you can have chemo without having cancer, and that conditions like ours which are so similar to blood cancers aren't catered for by a lot of the cancer charities and legislations. The more awareness that's out there, the better chance we have for others with bone marrow disorders to benefit from widening the scope of the help that's out there.

I can see how you can hijack the event if you're not careful. Is the event's purpose to raise money for cancer treatment, or cancer support services, or cancer awareness.

As long as your talk addresses the objective of the event and you tie your experience to it, then you should be OK as long as you don't make it about "you" or SAA. BMT's, chemotherapy effects, infections, transfusions, getting through the treatment and more are shared elements of both. If you can encourage the audience to donate blood or bone marrow, it will make a difference. And you can speak from the heart about this. Blood saves the live of those facing cancer and blood disorders.

Hematology and Oncology almost always are together. Go for it.
But I think we have a biased view on this board.

The decision is up to the coordinator, so why not ask? You can make a big impression in two minutes and people are strongly affected by personal stories. Hearing from a patient like you could encourage more people to get involved and donate to support patients and research for all diseases.