Hildy Grossman wasn’t always an empowered cancer survivor. The psychologist and singer was accidentally diagnosed over six and a half years ago after injuring her wrist and elbow in a fall. She visited many doctors who recommended cortisone shots and many different tests. Ultimately she had an MRI that revealed two small tumors. When she was diagnosed with lung cancer she was stunned. Grossman had lived a healthy lifestyle. She was athletic and ate well. In her words, she lived a life that should not have resulted in lung cancer.
“I felt very embarrassed to have lung cancer. It was just an awful feeling. I didn’t want to tell anyone. I had my own prejudices before I was diagnosed. The person who gets lung cancer in my vision at that time is someone who is middle-aged, potbellied in a t-shirt in a bar drinking beers and smoking constantly. That’s who gets lung cancer. Not me.”
“Becoming aware that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer is the beginning. One of the healing things for me was having my husband share my diagnosis with friends and neighbors. He wasn’t embarrassed for me at all. Starting Upstage Lung Cancer was also healing for me. It has an altruistic component and a selfish component and as I began to put the organization together and raise awareness I began to think to myself, get over it! This is the face of lung cancer. Me. Lung cancer is everybody. That helped me get over the stigma. I’m proud to say I’m a lung cancer survivor now.”
Grossman feels lucky to be alive. The statistics are shocking. Currently, only 16% of people diagnosed with lung cancer survive five years post-diagnosis, a percentage significantly lower than that for other cancers. But with early detection, there is hope.
What Grossman has learned is that most people who find lung cancer in the earliest survivable stages find their cancer by accident. One of her tag lines and mottos is “survival should not be an accident“. Her husband uses one word to describe her; determined. Grossman believes luck played a huge role in her survival but her determination now is unwaverable in her efforts to make a difference for people impacted by this disease.
Grossman wants to grow her organization and collaborate with other organizations like LUNGevity to find an effective early detection for lung cancer so that more people will survive and she focuses on raising awareness and funding lung cancer research.
“People have no idea that lung cancer is the number one cancer killer; it kills more women and men than any other cancer. Part of raising awareness is letting people know we don’t know really what all the causes of lung cancer are and it’s still complicated because there is no early detection. Does it run in families? What about genetic testing? Raising awareness is just the beginning to getting answers to these kinds of questions.”
The unique thing about all of her events is that they all include music. Her next event is Paddlepalooza Sunday July 21, 2013 in Newton MA.
“Why did I survive? Why am I here? I feel grateful because I was spared. I wanted to use my experience to make a difference and create an organization and create events that counterbalance the horrors and stigma of lung cancer with the joys of community and music.”
Paddlepalooza is not a typical water event. “Water heals” is another favorite quote of Grossman’s. That’s what she says this event on the Charles River is all about, healing and hope. She describes it as a life affirming event on a summer day. The venue is like a snapshot in time. It’s a chance to make everlasting memories and appreciate the celebration of the day. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to LUNGevity in support of lung cancer research.
Paddlepalooza is open to people of all ages. It’s an event for boaters and walkers can walk along the path. Those who like to picnic can enjoy the surrounding peaceful scenery with family and friends. There will also be a concert when the paddle event is finished. All participants get an event t-shirt and lunch. For more specific details on the event, please visit the website here and register today.
“I want to reach survivors and their families, friends, coworkers, neighbors and the entire community! I want people to see this event as a really fun day and an opportunity to do something good. People will spend a bundle of money to have a good time at an amusement park. Think about having an equally great day at a great event doing something for a great cause at the same time.
“I want to invite everyone out to Paddlepalooza. It will be a memorable event in, on and beside the water! None of us know how long life is. This event is about appreciating the day, the vitality of the sun and the water and people coming together having a good time and supporting a wonderful cause.”
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