Local Cancer Survivor A 'Hero of Hope'

Amy Tuleen is a two-time survivor of cervical cancer.

And after her challenging recoveries, the 41-year-old now dedicates her energy to heightening cancer awareness.

Tuleen is one of 30 Californians recently named a Hero of Hope for the American Cancer Society's 2012 Relay for Life program. These heroes give inspirational speeches and offer support at community events.

Tuleen, a Fremont native and resident, said it gives her an outlet to share information about cancer and is a way for her to contribute to curing the disease.

Tuleen was diagnosed in 2007, while she was living in Newark.

First she noticed a stinging pain in her lower back. She thought it might be due to drastic weight loss she had experienced from being sick for more than a year. But after months of pain, she learned she had a tumor.

By the time she was diagnosed, Tuleen’s tumor was inoperable. She went through internal and external radiation and chemotherapy. In her first week of treatment, she lost another six pounds and found treatment was more painful than words could describe.

“Everything we hear about cancer treatment is true. I had all the experiences, all the bad experiences that come with chemo,” Tuleen said. “Everything tasted terrible. Smells made me throw up.”

But what got her through, she said, was the endless support she received from others.

“I was very fortunate for my friends and sister,” Tuleen said. “I had a group of people who took care of me. It takes a lot of people to take care of one cancer patient.”

After her cancer returned in January 2010, and she went through treatment again and fully recovered — but afterwards, she had to , Tuleen had to care for her mother, who had terminal lung cancer. Her mother passed away just nine weeks after her diagnosis, Tuleen said.

The unpredictability of cancer is the reason why Tuleen is an advocate for regular check ups and being tested.

Cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer formed on the cervix, and symptoms might not be found during regular Pap tests, according to the National Cancer Institute. But doctors do say Pap tests are the best test for cervical cancer, according to an Associated Press report.

Often cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Tuleen also believes in being involved in searching for a cure.

Tuleen has participated in Newark’s annual Relay for Life events since 2008. Her team, Kruzin' for a Cure, has been the top fundraising team for two consecutive years, raising about $20,000 in 2010 and 2011 through numerous events like dances and pancake feeds.

“I didn’t want to go through it [again]. I don’t want anyone to lose their mom, their dad, any loved one,” she said.

And her hope is to continue inspiring others to support cancer awareness.

Teammate Kirsten Marshall has only known Tuleen for a few years but said Tuleen makes her want "to help and to be a better person."

"She’s extremely easy to talk to and always seems genuinely interested in what you have to say, no matter what the topic," said Marshall, who met Tuleen after she had gone through her second cancer treatment. 

Marshall said Tuleen has always been open about her experiences with cancer and that she has inspired the whole Kruzin' For a Cure team.

"She is also open and honest about her battle and I think a lot of us have never seen that side though someone else’s eyes," Marshall said. "She inspired our whole team because she’s the kind of story you want to hear.  She fought and won twice.  She is the happy ending, the life after cancer. She’s not some story you read in the paper, but someone you see every day, one of us, she’s completely relatable."

For more information about California’s Heroes of Hope with the American Cancer Society, click here. Stay updated with Relay for Life, Newark 2012, by following its Facebook page here.