When a public figure suffers from a disease and dies as a result, we as a society are reminded of the fragility of life and the time we have.
We also have an opportunity to be inspired.
Here are five people who made a major impact in the world during their time of battling cancer, including ESPN’s Stuart Scott, but also people who became well-known simply for standing up to the disease and speaking out in a powerful way, even if some didn’t survive in the end.
1. Stuart Scott: Many people have been affected following the news of Scott’s death Sunday morning. Many people are grieving, but also many are looking back at the inspiring speech he gave at the ESPYS last year. When somebody can stand up and speak powerfully all the while going through a painful and scary process, facing the idea of your own mortality, it demonstrates a very distinct type of strength. “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer,” he said. “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.” Watch his motivational speech here.
2. Stephen Sutton: Diagnosed with bowel cancer at 15, Sutton decided he wanted to make a difference in the world and he did just that. Not only did he make a huge difference by taking advantage of social media and writing a blog that ended up going viral with his farewell post, he also helped raise more than $5.6 million for charity. Unfortunately Sutton died last May, but he made a lasting impression, even drawing in praise from some celebrities.
#StephenSutton #Hero What an inspiring and beautiful soul.
— Barry Manilow (@barrymanilow) May 14, 2014
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
3. Emma Hanigan: This inspirational author, wife and mother has remarkably beat cancer 8 different times since 2007 and she still keeps pushing after she started radiation for the 9th time last year. “I am living proof that cancer doesn’t always win,” she wrote for Daily Mail last March. “It has invaded my body but I will never allow it to invade my mind. I don’t lie awake at night contemplating my death. Cancer doesn’t define me. It’s merely a part of my life, and I’ve no intention of going anywhere for quite some time.”
4. Woody Roseland: Another example of incredible resilience, Roseland is a seven-time cancer survivor who has taken his motivation and turned it into art, as a writer, comedian and filmmaker, and he’s even taken his story to the TEDx stage. Even after losing his leg due to cancer in his calf, he still enthusiastically rode his bike for chemotherapy. You can learn more about Roseland and his creative endeavors on his website.
5. Talia Castellano: When this young lady got cancer and lost her hair at age 13, she turned to makeup as a way to express herself and feel beautiful – and she shared that passion with millions with YouTube tutorials. Cover Girl even ended up naming her the “honorary face” of the brand and she appeared on “The Ellen Show.” She passed away in 2013, but she’s still making a difference in the world with her foundation Talia’s Legacy.
