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Medical Leader News - BEATING THE ODDS: Damron has stayed positive during numerous bouts with cancerBEATING THE ODDS: Damron has stayed positive during numerous bouts with cancer
PIKEVILLE — Dozens of cancer survivors will circle the survivors lap at Bob Amos Park on May 16 during the Pike County Relay for Life event.
Like he has done for as long as he can remember, Elkhorn City resident Ross Damron, 77, will be walking. Having first been diagnosed with cancer 59 years ago and having since dealt with — and survived — at least seven other bouts of cancer, Damron deserves to take that victory lap.
“I’ve been really lucky. I always have good help in the form of my wife, Dixie,” he said, placing his hand on his wife’s shoulder. He told his story of survival during Pike County Relay for Life’s survivor’s banquet, which was sponsored by Pikeville Medical Center at the Mark V on Tuesday night.
Damron, a Korean War veteran, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when he worked as a carpenter in the U.S. Air Force in 1949.
The cancer first appeared as a growth on his neck. He lost seven pounds in seven days.
The air force sent him to Florida to a cancer treatment facility that was — at the time — the closest cancer center to his home.
There, he had surgery to remove part of his thyroid and radium treatment that continued for two months.
He walked away with difficulty swallowing and talking, problems that still bother him today, but he walked away.
Damron eventually moved back to Kentucky, where he obtained a degree in industrial technology at Morehead State University.
Before retiring, he served as an instructor of industrial arts at Feds Creek High School and Mullins High School for 32 years.
In April 2005, Damron caught a fever and experienced pain in his stomach. His doctor discovered that he had bile duct cancer.
Again, he had surgery. Again, he walked away, cancer-free.
Over the years, Damron said he has also suffered with melanoma and various skin cancers at different times of his life.
Dr. Ronald Hall, a dermatologist at Pikeville Medical Center, has treated Ross for years.
When a person is dealing with cancer, it’s difficult to think positively, especially if he or she has pain, Damron said, but “you have to tune yourself into thinking positive.”
“You have to think positive,” he said, about surviving cancer. “Have faith in your doctors and faith in your Lord. If you don’t think positive, you’ll defeat yourself. I’ve known patients who didn’t do that and they died along the way.”
Damron said another key in walking away from cancer is staying active.
“You have to always manage to be active and do work,” he said.
“You can’t ever give up.”
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