This year marks five years since Buena Park Councilmember and former Mayor Dr. Elizabeth Swift was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, Swift is a cancer survivor.
Some people are not as fortunate as Swift. Swift's brother-in-law, Jay, was 28, when he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when the white blood cells that form part of the immune system, to protect the body from infection and disease, divide faster than normal cells or live longer than they're supposed to.
This year marks five years since Buena Park Councilmember and former Mayor Dr. Elizabeth Swift was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, Swift is a cancer survivor.
Some people are not as fortunate as Swift. Swift's brother-in-law, Jay, was 28, when he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when the white blood cells that form part of the immune system, to protect the body from infection and disease, divide faster than normal cells or live longer than they're supposed to.
"Jay was the most talented, natural musician you can imagine; he taught himself to play the guitar, banjo, slide steel guitar, and played them beautifully," said Swift. "Anything he heard on recordings, he could duplicate almost immediately, and he made his living as a musician; we used to call him the 'singing mute' because he would sing with his band, but you could hardly get him into a conversation."
Swift explained that Jay endured numerous rounds of chemotherapy, and that at first, he responded well, and the cancer went into remission.
"At 31 years-of-age, Jay's cancer was back with a vengeance and spread throughout his whole body, and he lost his battle," Swift said.
Swift said that she and her husband, Greg, sign a "Luminaria" at the annual Buena Park/La Palma Relay for Life in Jay’s memory, and they walk the track at Buena Park Junior High School in the glow of the many lit candles, and think about how much Jay meant to them.
"It’s such a beautiful way to commemorate Jay's life."
Swift said that after Jay's death, the family hoped that Jay would be the only Swift family member directly affected by cancer.
"You have breast cancer," are the words I heard on the first Friday of June 3, five years ago," Swift said. More tests were done to decide what treatment Swift would require, and because invasive cancer was detected, the tumor board at St. Jude Hospital recommended a mastectomy, which took place later that summer.
Swift explained that the day before surgery, she invited all her lady friends to her home, from Buena Park High School, where she was a teacher; Buena Park School District, where she was a board member; from her church, and some of her high school friends to what she called her "Pre-Op Pool and Prayer Party."
"We had a great time, eating pizza and salad; we visited, laughed, and had so much fun," Swift said.
"One request I made from all who attended, was to write their favorite prayer, Bible verse, or inspirational thought, and bring it with them to the party," she said. "I wanted those prayers and positive messages to read during my recovery period, so I would repeatedly benefit from my friend's inspiration for as long as I needed it. I put them in a photo album named, 'My Book of Inspiration from Family and Friends.'”
Swift said those thoughts and prayers were an uplifting gift, and that she seemed to sail through her recovery, returning to teaching by the third week of school.
"I didn't need chemo, so aside from check-ups with my oncologist every 3-to-4 months and taking a pill a day for five years, that’s all the cancer treatment I needed. I escaped the harrowing experiences I'd heard other survivors talk about."
Swift explained that she's a born worrier and would have normally worried about her diagnosis and surgery, but she was able to remain calm and composed.
As Swift was about to leave for school one day, a couple months before she knew about her cancer, she took time to say a prayer for her students.
"I asked God to help my students and all the students at BPHS to have a good day and then got into my car for the one-mile drive; by the time I got to the end of my street, I had come so close to being hit head-on by an out-of-control driver, that it's still difficult to understand how he missed me," she explained. "I had the sudden realization that God had spared my life, and that the prayer I said earlier for the kids, had been as much for me as for them – that was an amazing realization – and I then realized there had been many more times in my life I had been in danger, but had been saved."
Swift said she enjoys telling her story, especially to those just diagnosed with breast cancer.
"It's an elite club and those in it can encourage others; I say it's not as bad as it sounds, and through God's strength, I was able to go step-by-step through the process and not worry, cry nor grieve," Swift said.
"In fact, I'm joyful to be alive – thanks for letting me share my story about how cancer touched my life – and letme encourage you to hang on – you do have a safety net made up of the love of friends, family, and the Lord. They will all be with you as they have been with my family and me."
Swift also reminds people that through Relay for Life, communities celebrate, remember, and fight back.
The relay celebrates the lives of people who have battled cancer, remembers loved ones lost, and fights back against the disease.
"Through all of this, I decided that God was not finished with me yet, and that there must be more He wants me to accomplish – trust in the Lord with all your heart, as it says in Proverbs 3:5."
For Buena Park/Relay for Life information, visit RelayforLife/BuenaPark/LaPalma.com
