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March 26, 2009 The Ashland TAB, Page 3

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QUESTION & ANSWER WITH BOB HEBDEN

After cancer battle, Ashland man tries to raise awareness

Bob Hebden’s dad, Charles, worked at the old Nyanza dye factory. As a child, Hebden remembers playing in the tinted lagoons near the now-infamous plant. Years later, a state study found elevated cancer rates in people who played in or near water polluted by chemical waste from Nyanza. Though he has no proof, Hebden, now 70, thinks that probably contributed to his father’s death from pancreatic cancer. His mother, Annie, died of colon cancer. And at 59, Hebden fought colon cancer himself. After surgery to remove 18 inches of his colon, Hebden has been cancer-free for 11 years and wants to tell his story to highlight the importance of prevention and early detection for Colon Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening for men and women aged 50 and over, and that those at higher than average risk should start testing even earlier. More than

half of colon cancer deaths could be prevented if everyone who should get screened did so, the Cancer Society says.

Q: A:

Can you tell the story of how you were diagnosed? I was diagnosed after asking my primary care physician four years in a row for a colonoscopy, due to the fact that my mother died of colon cancer at age 71. At the time, I was 51 and overdue. He continued to tell me that it was not necessary. On year five of my annual physical, my wife came with me and said to my doctor, “Either he gets a colonoscopy or a new primary care doctor.” He reluctantly agreed and I was diagnosed with colon cancer from that test.

lucky ones. The recovery went well, and I did not need chemotherapy. What would you like others to take away from your Q: story? Be your own advocate. There are generally no A: symptoms. Follow the American Cancer Society guidelines. You've been cancer-free for 11 years. How often do Q: you get check-ups to make sure you're still healthy? I started out with every six months and now I am at every three years.

A:

What made you decide to help the American Cancer Q: Society try to raise awareness of

What was your surgery colon cancer? like? Was there a long Q: Losing my mom to this recovery period and do you think A: number three killer of men it would have been shorter if and women in America, and letyour doctor caught the cancer sooner? The surgery was rough. However, I was one of

A:

ting people know that early detection is the key to survival. — David Riley/Staff writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY ART ILLMAN

Bob Hebden stands at Old Mill Pond in 2006, the year the state released a study linking cancer rates to people who came in contact with contamination from the old Nyanza property.

Close Game

PHOTOS BY MARK FISETTE

The Ashland K-12 PTO hosted a fundraiser basketball game last weekend between the Harlem Wizards stunt team and Ashland school faculty and staff. At left, Mindess School Principal Arlene Argir hangs out with Wizards #33 David “DP” Paul. Above, Athletic Director Naomi Martin lends support to Wizards #24 Rashaan “The Rocketman” Barner.

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STUDENT STANDOUTS

Ramsley named to Dean’s List at WPI Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced that Christopher Ramsley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Ramsley of Ashland, a junior majoring in Interactive Media & Game Development, was named to the university’s Dean’s List for academic excellence for the Fall 2008 semester.

Ashland students make the grade at UMass Dartmouth The following students were named to the Dean’s List at UMass Dartmouth for earning a grade point average of 3.2 or higher: Samantha J. Provencal, Elise J. Stucchi, Nina Marie Greel, Kimberly A. Fox, Matthew Thomas Landers and Gina Elizabeth Guidi.

Ashland students named to Dean’s List at Assumption Leandra D. D'Eramo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Antonino G. D'Eramo, Alyssa A. McHale, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick T. McHale, and Cristina Roffo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fernando Roffo, were named to the Dean’s List at Assumption College for the Fall 2008 semester. Students must earn a gradepoint average of 3.5 or higher to be named to the list.

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