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David Rak
Dave Rak, an engineer who lives in the older part of Clarence is dedicated to fitness. He runs three and a half miles – three times a week, participates in an over-40 softball league and loves to hunt and fish. Dave believes his physical conditioning helped him through his years of treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), a cancer of the lymphatic system.
"When I was diagnosed my doctors told me this was cancer with a small c – that this type of cancer is very treatable," Dave recalls. In fact, while the number of new NHL cases being diagnosed are increasing – improvements in treatments in recent years including blood and marrow transplant (BMT) have led to an improved cure rate.
Dave's first treatment was standard chemotherapy which produced only a partial response. So Dave examined his options and agreed to participate in a clinical trial using a new combination of two drugs – each known to be effective against NHL. Again Dave experienced a good but only partial response to the therapy. Upon the recommendation of his doctors at Roswell Park, Dave decided to undergo a BMT in an effort to cure his cancer. One of Dave's brothers proved to be an excellent match.
"The transplant worked like a charm," Dave remarks. During the time of his six- week recovery from the transplant, David says he pushed himself to stay active and healthy, working out on the hospital's treadmill early on and with the aid of the physical therapy team during the tough times.
"I know some of the medical staff thought I was nuts but exercise was and continues to be very important for my recovery." Dave is destined to keep active and along with that comes normal bumps and bruises. While playing softball, he recently broke two bones in his ankle that required surgery and kept him on crutches for a month.
He also actively tries to help others fight cancer, talking with patients as a volunteer with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's First Connection program. He visits with nurses and staff in the hospital unit where he underwent his transplant and even bakes cupcakes and cookies for the platelet donors and staff of the Donor Center at Roswell Park.
Dave says, "These platelet volunteers were there when I needed them during my transplant. Now I like to come back, share a laugh and thank them for all that they did for me with some homemade treats." Dave's message of hope for the holidays: "Cancer is tough to beat. Try to help yourself by staying active, have faith in God and confidence in your doctors and remember to thank all who have had a part in your well being."
"When I was diagnosed my doctors told me this was cancer with a small c – that this type of cancer is very treatable," Dave recalls. In fact, while the number of new NHL cases being diagnosed are increasing – improvements in treatments in recent years including blood and marrow transplant (BMT) have led to an improved cure rate.
Dave's first treatment was standard chemotherapy which produced only a partial response. So Dave examined his options and agreed to participate in a clinical trial using a new combination of two drugs – each known to be effective against NHL. Again Dave experienced a good but only partial response to the therapy. Upon the recommendation of his doctors at Roswell Park, Dave decided to undergo a BMT in an effort to cure his cancer. One of Dave's brothers proved to be an excellent match.
"The transplant worked like a charm," Dave remarks. During the time of his six- week recovery from the transplant, David says he pushed himself to stay active and healthy, working out on the hospital's treadmill early on and with the aid of the physical therapy team during the tough times.
"I know some of the medical staff thought I was nuts but exercise was and continues to be very important for my recovery." Dave is destined to keep active and along with that comes normal bumps and bruises. While playing softball, he recently broke two bones in his ankle that required surgery and kept him on crutches for a month.
He also actively tries to help others fight cancer, talking with patients as a volunteer with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's First Connection program. He visits with nurses and staff in the hospital unit where he underwent his transplant and even bakes cupcakes and cookies for the platelet donors and staff of the Donor Center at Roswell Park.
Dave says, "These platelet volunteers were there when I needed them during my transplant. Now I like to come back, share a laugh and thank them for all that they did for me with some homemade treats." Dave's message of hope for the holidays: "Cancer is tough to beat. Try to help yourself by staying active, have faith in God and confidence in your doctors and remember to thank all who have had a part in your well being."
