Phoenix resident in the limelight as she battles cancer
Sep 7, 2018, 4:11 AM | Updated: 12:55 pm
PHOENIX — A Phoenix woman battling cancer will be front and center to share her story on Friday.
As part of the 10th year of Stand Up to Cancer, Lidia Gonzalez, who’s battling pancreatic cancer, will be one of the faces of the televised fundraising event.
The show will air on the local ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox channels from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
With fewer than 7 percent of patients surviving five years, Gonzalez joined the SU2C-funded clinical trial.
Through SU2C’s trial, which Gonzalez began back in December 2017, the retired kindergarten teacher has added time to her life.
“It’s really impacted my life in a lot of ways,” the Phoenix resident said. “I have a new style of life, but thank God for the clinic and all these trials. I’ve been a survivor for nine months already and I’m just taking every step of what I have to do and so far I’m feeling good and my cancer has been reduced to almost in half.
“I’m very glad for that and even my numbers are down.”
But what exactly is SU2C?
“Stand Up To Cancer enables scientific breakthroughs by funding collaborative, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional scientific research teams and investigators,” the organization’s website read.
The show, with Bradley Cooper as the co-executive producer, helps raise awareness and funds for groundbreaking cancer research and therapies.
The organization gives back 100 percent of the donations raised to support its collaborative cancer research programs. The therapies used are some of the most modern. Thanks to SU2C, scientists can fine tune these therapies to get the most good for their patients and locate other cancer-fighting strategies.
To date, SU2C has planned, started or completed more than 180 clinical trials. There are more than 1,500 researchers working on new therapies with over $480 million pledged.
“[I’m] very thankful because this is something that not only can help me but can help somebody else,” Gonzalez said. “Hopefully it will be beneficial for more people, that’s what I wish for.”
Several other Phoenix residents have benefited from the help of SU2C as well.
Along with Gonzalez, Phoenix-area clinical researcher Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, of TGen, will also be featured on the telecast.