Help us defeat cancer in Louisiana

I feel a personal responsibility and passion to advocate and educate our community about cancer. Everyone seems to be touched in some way by cancer. They need to learn about the LCRC as a research vehicle for eliminating this dreaded disease.

For me, the battle against cancer is truly a personal one. I lost my mother, sister and husband to cancer. Now my three children are fighting genetic wars due to mutations inherited from my husband. Already one of my kids has had cancer, and one has had precancerous cells. Too many family members and dear friends have suffered and succumbed. We MUST find the cure and eradicate this horrid disease.

As a registered nurse for over 40 years, I understand why the LCRC is so important. My personal commitment to making a difference in cancer research and in our community-at-large was crystalized over 20 years ago when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Having had professional experience with pharmaceutical clinical trials of analgesic studies, I realized that without funding for research, progress in cancer treatment would stagnate.

Now, as a supporter, I have the opportunity to educate people about the importance of research and the value of funding to help propel our local research scientists to achieve their next goal - opening clinical trials and then obtaining FDA approval of treatments.  A personal highlight of mine was facilitating a $50,000 gift to the LCRC. It gave me increased momentum to continue with my passion to serve mankind, make a difference, and have fun along the way.

Carroll Suggs is inspired by the courage of those battling cancer.  She was deeply moved by a family friend who valiantly fought breast cancer for fifteen years before it claimed her life.  Carroll’s proud and defiant friend raised three children in the face of cancer and admonished her doctors: “Don’t tell me what is the matter with me. Tell me what I have to do.”

Inspired by that determination, Carroll Suggs knew what she had to do – support cancer research.  “I  believe in cancer research and I know the difference that it has made in the lives of so many people,” she says.  “When a person dies, you can send flowers or a gift but supporting cancer research is a living gift,” Carroll says.  “The Louisiana Cancer Research Center is making cancer clinical trials accessible to more patients every day.  We need to make the investment in research that allows LCRC researchers to  test the human engine.  It is so important.”