Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

In early December 2001, Alan Schwen, the 2001 WMRRA overall Champion, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease, also known as Lymphatic Cancer.

In a telephone call to Roadracing World January 2, Schwen said that he started to feel the symptoms of some unknown illness in September of 2001, but didn’t go see a doctor until after returning to his Olympia, Washington home until after the Suzuki Cup Finals in late October. Schwen’s first doctor didn’t think the swollen spots on his neck were anything more than a viral infection, but luckily referred the 36-year-old racer to specialists.

Oncologists at the Western Washington Oncology Cancer Center in Olympia immediately ordered biopsies that confirmed Schwen’s cancer just after Thanksgiving. “Those were a couple of scary weeks,” admitted Schwen. “Luckily, we found it early, and luckily, it’s one of the most treatable and curable cancers out there.”

According to the American Cancer Society’s website, www.cancer.org, “In 2002 there will be about 7000 new cases of Hodgkin’s disease in this country. About 1400 people will die of the disease. Because of better treatment, death rates have fallen by more than half since the early 1970s.

“Treatment for most cases of Hodgkin’s disease is very effective. The 1-year relative survival rate after treatment is 93%; the 5-year and 10-year rates are 82% and 72% respectively. At 15 years, the overall survival rate is 63%. The survival rate refers to the percent of people with Hodgkin’s disease who live at least that many years after their cancer is diagnosed.

“For the most part, we can say that no major risk factors for Hodgkin’s disease have yet been found.

“Since we do not know what causes Hodgkin’s disease, it is not possible to prevent the disease. A great deal of research is under way to try to find the cause of this cancer.”

Schwen has already begun treatment with the first of eight, bi-weekly chemotherapy sessions. After the chemotherapy, which Schwen describes as feeling like having a stomach virus, Schwen will have to go through four 5-day weeks of radiation therapy.

Schwen says that doctors have already seen signs that the lumps in his neck are going away and expect him to have a full recover with no restrictions. Then Schwen hopes to be able to defend his Number One plate in 2002. “Our racing season up here doesn’t start until mid-April, and I will be done with the radiation treatments in mid-March,” pointed out Schwen.

Schwen, the Parts and Accessories Manager of Southside Honda in Olympia, said that he does have health insurance but that his annual deductibles are high and that with the new year starting he will have to pay both year’s deductibles at once. WMRRA’s club officers have begun discussions on a possible fund raiser to help with Schwen’s medical expenses. For additional information, call WMRRA at (425) 338-4686, www.wmrra.com.