www.wickedlocal.

com/ashland March 26, 2009 The Ashland TAB, Page 3

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH BOB HEBDEN

After cancer battle, Ashland man tries to raise awareness

Bob Hebden’s dad, Charles,
worked at the old Nyanza dye
factory. As a child, Hebden
remembers playing in the tinted
lagoons near the now-infamous
plant.
Years later, a state study found
half of colon cancer deaths could
be prevented if everyone who
should get screened did so, the
Cancer Society says.
Q: Can you tell the story of
how you were diagnosed?
lucky ones. The recovery went
well, and I did not need
chemotherapy.
What would you like oth-
Q:
story?
ers to take away from your

elevated cancer rates in people
who played in or near water pol-
luted by chemical waste from
Nyanza. Though he has no proof,
Hebden, now 70, thinks that
probably contributed to his
father’s death from pancreatic
cancer. His mother, Annie, died
of colon cancer.
And at 59, Hebden fought
colon cancer himself. After
surgery to remove 18 inches of
his colon, Hebden has been can-
cer-free for 11 years and wants to
tell his story to highlight the
importance of prevention and
early detection for Colon Cancer
Awareness Month.
The American Cancer Society
recommends yearly screening
for men and women aged 50 and
over, and that those at higher
than average risk should start
testing even earlier. More than
I was diagnosed after ask-
A: ing my primary care physi-
cian four years in a row for a
colonoscopy, due to the fact that
my mother died of colon cancer
at age 71. At the time, I was 51
and overdue. He continued to tell
me that it was not necessary.
On year five of my annual
physical, my wife came with me
and said to my doctor, “Either he
gets a colonoscopy or a new pri-
mary care doctor.” He reluctant-
ly agreed and I was diagnosed
with colon cancer from that test.
What was your surgery colon cancer?
Q: like? Was there a long
recovery period and do you think A: number three killer of men
it would have been shorter if and women in America, and let-
your doctor caught the cancer
sooner?
The surgery was rough.
A: However, I was one of
Be your own advocate.
A: There are generally no
symptoms. Follow the Ameri-
can Cancer Society guidelines.
You've been cancer-free
Q: for 11 years. How often do
you get check-ups to make sure
you're still healthy?
I started out with every six
A: months and now I am at
every three years.
What made you decide to
Q: help the American Cancer
Society try to raise awareness of
Losing my mom to this
ting people know that early
detection is the key to survival. STAFF FILE PHOTO BY ART ILLMAN
— David Riley/Staff writer
Bob Hebden stands at Old Mill Pond in 2006, the year the state released a study linking cancer rates to
people who came in contact with contamination from the old Nyanza property.

Close Game

PHOTOS BY MARK FISETTE

The Ashland K-12 PTO hosted a fundraiser basketball game last weekend between the Harlem Wizards stunt team and
Ashland school faculty and staff. At left, Mindess School Principal Arlene Argir hangs out with Wizards #33 David “DP”
Paul. Above, Athletic Director Naomi Martin lends support to Wizards #24 Rashaan “The Rocketman” Barner.

STUDENT STANDOUTS ’
Ramsley named to Dean’s List at WPI
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced that
Christopher Ramsley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Ramsley
of Ashland, a junior majoring in Interactive Media & Game
Development, was named to the university’s Dean’s List for
academic excellence for the Fall 2008 semester.

Ashland students make the grade at UMass

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