GLASGOW — Ken “Pappy” Dennison hasn’t missed a Relay for Life event since he was first diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1986 when he was 60 years old.
“I come anyway whether I have something to report or not,” said the 83-year-old Cave City resident. “I’ve got something to celebrate.”
Ken has won the battle with cancer not once, but twice. He was diagnosed a second time with cancer 12 years later in 1998.
“It just goes to show you that you never know when it comes to cancer,” said his wife, Dixie.
Ken underwent chemotherapy to treat his cancer. He has been cancer free for 11 years. He takes the survivor walk every year with his wife.
The walk leaves the couple with mixed emotions. They lost their son, Richard, to cancer in 1988.
“His was melanoma,” Ken said. “The worst kind.”
Since then other family members have been diagnosed with the disease, including their granddaughter, Leanna Isom, who is also now cancer free.
Ken has one thing to tell others about cancer.
“Be smart. Go to the doctor right away ... as soon as you see something you don’t understand and find out what it is,” he said. “Because early detection is the answer to it.”
Cancer survivors take a lap around the track by themselves to celebrate being cancer free. They take a second lap around the track with their family and caregivers.
The first lap around the track as a cancer survivor is an emotional moment for many, including Ruby Eatmon, of Glasgow.
On Friday night Ruby celebrated five years of being cancer free. She also celebrated her second year as a liver transplant recipient.
“I’m just glad to be here,” she said after taking the first lap.
Ruby was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 45.
Learning his wife had cancer was “heart breaking,” said her husband, Raymond.
Ruby opted to take experimental drugs to treat her cancer, but was ordered by her physician to stop to taking the durgs due to side effects. She was then prescribed Tamoxifen, but eventually stopped taking it because she developed cirrhosis of the liver.
Ruby says she couldn’t have made it through her ordeal had it not been for the support she received from her husband.
“He’s been with me through everything,” she said. “He’s been my rock.”
On Friday, Ruby went to Lexington where she had her liver transplant for a check-up and was told everything was OK.
“I’m here for a reason,” she said as she walked the second lap around the track with her husband. “I don’t know what it is.”
Ken and Ruby were among 146 cancer survivors who turned out Friday night at Glasgow High School to celebrate being cancer free.
Each cancer survivor was given a medallion and a pink carnation in recognition of their battle with the disease. Their caregivers were also honored.
The event, which lasted through the night, included games for children and adults, food and entertainment.
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Gina Kinslow
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Survivors, supporters celebrate the living, those lost to cancer
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