The Voice - Student Newspaper

Benched by cancer

Six months ago, the only thing Derek Davis worried about was botching a breakaway slam-dunk. That didn't happen often. Davis, a 6'3" embodiment of athleticism, was a highlight waiting to happen for Glendale Community College basketball the last two years. "I love dunking, man," Davis gushes. "Even though it's only two points, it feels like it should be worth six."

"I was feeling perfectly fine. I had no problems whatsoever."

For the majority of last season, Davis was the Gauchos' sixth man, coming off the bench to inject his defense, rebounding, and contagious energy into the game. His role expanded after guards Mark Celaya and Wilson Bibleheimer both went down with injuries. Usually a forward off the bench, Davis was now the starting shooting guard on a Gauchos team struggling for playoff positioning. Gauchos' center Nick Sheffield, who played with Davis last season, said, "He was huge. Those last eight games, he showed off his ability to really play. He really stepped up and went to business." Davis summed up best when he said, "It was just me being Derek. "Glendale came up short in the playoffs, falling to Phoenix College in the divisional championship game. Davis' play was enough to earn the attention of two Division II colleges. The only uncertainty at that point was who he would be dunking on next.

"Before the season was over, I started noticing the lump."

Davis noticed the lump between his shoulder and collarbone towards the middle of the season. While the swelling didn't unduly worry him at the time, he admitted that the possibility of cancer had crossed his mind. Davis' grandmother and a few distant relatives had suffered from cancer, but all of them were relatively advanced in age when they were diagnosed. As the lump increased in size, so did the questions about it. After the season ended in February. Davis said it grew "to the size of a golf ball". Friends, teammates and family asked about it until Davis himself could no longer ignore the fact that he should get it looked at.

Davis went with his father for an evaluation in late April. After removing the growth for examination, the medical staff expressed the possibility of cancer, something Davis had held at bay in his mind during the previous months. A few days later, the doctors phoned Davis, requesting that he and his father come in to hear the results. As they drove to the medical center, Davis says he kept thinking, "Please, don't let it be cancer."The doctors were unable to give Davis the answer for which he'd so desperately pleaded. He had Hotchkins lymphoma, a blood-related cancer. At first, the medical staff assessed the severity as Stage 1-A, indicating the cancer was limited to one area and easily treatable. As they investigated further, however, they found that the cancer had spread to affect the lymph nodes in his shoulders, armpits, chest, groin and abdomen. They revised their original assessment and calculated that the cancer was in fact at Stage 3.Family and friends were shocked at the news. Davis' own reaction was more personal."I guess I was just kinda hurt."

"The better outtake you have on this, the better you feel."

Chemotherapy treatment began in June. Davis goes through the process every two weeks, resting the first week following the session, and then getting out for a week before undergoing the treatment once again. The usual side-effects associated with chemotherapy have manifested themselves in the 20-year-old. He feels the soreness, sees what looks like bruising on his hands. His sense of taste has dimmed, and gives a metallic aftertaste to the food and drink he consumes. He's lost most of his hair, but that hasn't affected him as it might others. "I don't really like being bald, but ain't no one really said I look bad, so I guess I'm ok. "According to the medical staff, Davis is more than ok." The doctors are saying I'm progressing very well. There're actually a lot of symptoms that somebody can have, and I've shown very little of any of those symptoms."The experience has left Davis with personal insight in how to deal with issues both physical and mental. "Just keep your head up. The better outtake you have on this, the better you feel. If you sit around, not necessarily moping, but if you let all the bad stuff that's going on with you affect you, it's just going to make you feel worse. Try to just find good things in everything."

Interestingly enough, San Diego Christian College is still interested in Davis despite the complications involved. While it's doubtful that he would play this year due to the timing of his treatment, Davis is hopeful he'll play college ball by next year."There's actually a very strong possibility of still going there. I've been talking with the coach very extensively."Assuming the chemotherapy eliminates the cancer, Davis would finish treatment by December. His mind is centered on where he'd like to be when the process is over."After all this is said and done, I want to see myself doing well and healthy, going to school in San Diego, enjoying the college life, and all that good stuff."And how will Davis celebrate his win over the stiffest opponent he's ever faced?"I gotta do a celebratory windmill. Definitely a celebatory windmill, just to let you know I'm back."