16/Nov/2008
Cancer Survivor Gives Back to American Cancer Society
By Emily Holden
It's the middle of the night and Frank Ragsdale reaches for his ringing telephone. On the line is a friend suffering from cancer. The anxieties, the unanswered questions, Ragsdale is willing to talk about it all.
Ragsdale has been in remission from non-Hodgkin lymphoma for four years. He has experienced chemotherapy and is an anesthesiologist, as well. This puts him in a unique position to counsel others with cancer.
"There's nausea, vomiting, fatigue. You know of course your hair loss...that didn't bother me," Ragsdale said. "It totally wrecks your body. You don't eat. You have to force yourself to eat. You have this metallic taste in your mouth and by the time you get rid of that taste and start to feel a little better, you have to go back."
Ragsdale said cancer takes a toll of families financially, as well. He missed work for eight months during treatment.
"Chemo is the gift that keeps on giving. I have neuropathy of my hands, my feet, my legs. You're never the same," he said. "But at least every day you wake up you're looking down at the grass, you're not looking up at it."
Ragsdale said he was fortunate to have a great medical team and good insurance, but that others are not as lucky. He said ACS has support groups, financial aid, and nourishments for special diets.
Because of the unfaltering care he received during treatment, Ragsdale still feels he owes a debt to the American Cancer Society for providing him support and knowledge from other cancer survivors. He has worked extensively with ACS, coordinating Relay for Life and lobbying in the nation's capitol. Ragsdale also frequented the state capitol when working to pass the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act enacted in 2007 and also to acquire funding for cancer screenings.
Ragsdale has been a Relay for Life participant, co-chairman, chairman and team recruitment and logistics chair. He said his favorite part of Relay for Life is coordinating fundraisers. He has been involved with pie throwings, dunking booths, candy and food sales and coin drives.
He said volunteering is time-consuming for all involved, particularly for those asking businesses for donations. He said he "just makes time" and often volunteers on his day off of work from Lane Regional Medical Center.
"We're competing with the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Susan G. Komen," he said. "It seems like everybody's asking for donations."
Ragsdale said businesses are not the only Relay for Life contributors.
"This community has been very supportive of this event, especially the hospital," he said. "The hospital really has the get-up and go to raise money for us."
By Emily Holden
It's the middle of the night and Frank Ragsdale reaches for his ringing telephone. On the line is a friend suffering from cancer. The anxieties, the unanswered questions, Ragsdale is willing to talk about it all.Ragsdale has been in remission from non-Hodgkin lymphoma for four years. He has experienced chemotherapy and is an anesthesiologist, as well. This puts him in a unique position to counsel others with cancer.
"There's nausea, vomiting, fatigue. You know of course your hair loss...that didn't bother me," Ragsdale said. "It totally wrecks your body. You don't eat. You have to force yourself to eat. You have this metallic taste in your mouth and by the time you get rid of that taste and start to feel a little better, you have to go back."
Ragsdale said cancer takes a toll of families financially, as well. He missed work for eight months during treatment.
"Chemo is the gift that keeps on giving. I have neuropathy of my hands, my feet, my legs. You're never the same," he said. "But at least every day you wake up you're looking down at the grass, you're not looking up at it."
Ragsdale said he was fortunate to have a great medical team and good insurance, but that others are not as lucky. He said ACS has support groups, financial aid, and nourishments for special diets.
Because of the unfaltering care he received during treatment, Ragsdale still feels he owes a debt to the American Cancer Society for providing him support and knowledge from other cancer survivors. He has worked extensively with ACS, coordinating Relay for Life and lobbying in the nation's capitol. Ragsdale also frequented the state capitol when working to pass the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act enacted in 2007 and also to acquire funding for cancer screenings.
Ragsdale has been a Relay for Life participant, co-chairman, chairman and team recruitment and logistics chair. He said his favorite part of Relay for Life is coordinating fundraisers. He has been involved with pie throwings, dunking booths, candy and food sales and coin drives.
He said volunteering is time-consuming for all involved, particularly for those asking businesses for donations. He said he "just makes time" and often volunteers on his day off of work from Lane Regional Medical Center.
"We're competing with the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Susan G. Komen," he said. "It seems like everybody's asking for donations."
Ragsdale said businesses are not the only Relay for Life contributors.
"This community has been very supportive of this event, especially the hospital," he said. "The hospital really has the get-up and go to raise money for us."
