By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
While everyone else was preparing for Oxford’s Relay for Life last year, Bob Goepfert was undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his colon.
‘This was my first surgery since I had my tonsils out when I was a young child about 4 years old,? said the Brandon Township resident. ‘It was painful, but it was indeed a success.?
It was so much of a success that Goepfert, who’s a member of Oxford United Methodist Church, was the picture of health as he spoke during the Survivor Recognition Ceremony at this year’s Relay for Life held over the weekend at the OHS football stadium.
Goepfert’s 10-minute speech took the audience on a journey from diagnosis to survival.
It was a routine checkup at the doctor’s office in May 2008 that first indicated something was wrong. The blood test showed Goepfert was anemic.
Considering he’d gone backpacking through the mountains of New Mexico with Boy Scout Troop 366 and gave blood every three months at American Legion Post 108, Goepfert couldn’t understand it.
‘I think there’s a tanker down there with my name on it,? he said referring to his regular blood donations.
Some tests revealed Goepfert had a tumor in the upper part of his colon.
‘The doctor told us he was 99 percent sure it was cancer,? he said. ‘I looked at my wife and I could see the tears flowing. Although the doctor said it was operable and probably curable, nothing could prepare us for the word ‘cancer.??
The following week while everyone else was busy erecting tents and setting up the field for Oxford’s Relay for Life, Goepfert was at POH Regional Medical Center, surrounded by family and friends, undergoing surgery.
‘I was jumping on a roller coaster ride that I had not bought a ticket for,? he said.
The biopsy revealed it was Stage 3 colon cancer. Chemotherapy was the next step.
‘I had visions of losing my hair, throwing up, losing weight, feeling miserable,? Goepfert said. ‘The first few treatments weren’t too bad, but unfortunately they did get worse. I wasn’t prepared for the pain that goes deep in your bones.?
The only upside was he didn’t lose his hair and some ‘wonderful drugs? prevented him from getting ‘too sick.?
Through it all, Goepfert was amazed by the outpouring of kindness and goodwill he and his family received.
‘We found we had more friends and support than we ever realized,? he said. ‘They came from school, they came from our church, they came from Troop 366.?
It was that support that sustained him during his battle with cancer.
‘When I didn’t think I could take one more minute on this roller-coaster ride, there would be someone from the scouts or church who would say to me, ‘We pray for you every night,?? Goepfert said. ‘Those words and prayers kept me going (and) gave me the strength to face each new treatment.?
He finished his chemotherapy in early December 2008 and was pleased to report that his last two PET scans indicated he was cancer-free.
To those out there fighting cancer or facing the potential of a cancer diagnosis, Goepfert offered this advice:
‘When the doctor says ‘cancer,? look it in the eye and say, ‘I’m not going to do this alone.? Reach out to your family, your friends, the American Cancer Society and ask for help. I promise you’ll be amazed at the help and support friends will offer. Accept their offer and begin the fight.?