Runner races against cancer

Paul Sibley was worried about a family history of colon cancer when cancer hit him from a different direction.

What he thought would be a minor procedure on Jan. 9, 2006, to remove some squamous cells in his face turned out to be 12 hours of surgery to remove skin cancer.

"You need to manage it and be very aggressive because it's a very aggressive disease. You have to be out there and fight it hard, and you win. No matter what the outcome, you win." Paul Sibley / Cancer survivor

A recurrence the following month was treated with radiation therapy. "They had removed as much of my face as they could," he said.

In January 2007, six months after his last treatment, Sibley finished the H.U.R.T. (Hawaiian Ultra Running Team) 100-mile endurance run, which he had done once before.

He said he pushed through the pain from one aid station to another just as he did the surgery and treatment for his cancer, supported by wife Courtney, 3-year-old-son Aidan and friends.

Sibley is the luminaria chairman for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Kailua July 12 and 13. He is participating to show "you don't have to succumb to the fact that it (cancer) is going to take over your life.

"You need to manage it and be very aggressive because it's a very aggressive disease. You have to be out there and fight it hard, and you win. No matter what the outcome, you win."

The relays, scheduled statewide through October, raised nearly $2 million last year for ACS cancer programs, education and research, and the goal is $2.3 million this year.

Fire Chief Kenneth Silva participated in the Magic Island event last year with off-duty firefighters and is organizing a team for the 24-hour event July 12-13.

"We have members whose family members have had cancer, or some themselves, so we're supporting the Relay for Life," said Capt. Terry Seeling, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman.

"Chief Silva went down with some executive chiefs (last year), and it's kind of grown and it's kind of neat. It came from the firefighters' level, the grass roots." The overnight relays, usually held at a school or park, are like an all-night party with people participating from throughout the community. Cancer survivors walk the first lap.

Relay for Life events Sign up a team, a cancer survivor or caregiver for one of the 24-hour events at (800) 227-2345. For more information on how to form a team or volunteer, call the American Cancer Society at 595-7500 or a local cancer society office. » Central Oahu, today, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Mililani High athletic field » Waimanalo, June 13, 5 p.m.-7 a.m., Waimanalo Beach Park » Kona, June 21, 6 p.m.-6 a.m., Old Kona Airport Baseball Field » Kailua, July 12, noon-7 a.m., Kailua Beach Park » Magic Island, July 12, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Magic Island-Ala Moana Beach » South Maui, July 12, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Kenolio Park, Kihei » Hilo, July 19, 6 p.m.-6 a.m., Francis Wong Stadium » Central Maui, July 19, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., War Memorial Stadium » Molokai, Aug. 8, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Kaunakakai Ball Park » West Maui, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Lahaina Recreation Center » Kamehameha Schools, Aug. 23, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Kunuiakea Stadium, Kapalama » Kohala, Sept. 20, 6 p.m.-6 a.m., Kamehameha Park » Waimea (Big Island), Oct. 25, 6 p.m. -6 a.m., Waimea Park

Sibley said his family "is pretty much riddled with colon cancer," but he has been free of it. His grandfather and father both died of complications related to the disease, and his father's twin brother and another brother have had surgery for it.

He said he has had multiple polyps removed in colonoscopies, and he follows a low-sodium, high-fiber diet heavy with fruits and vegetables. "I exercise too much and avoid processed (foods) as much as possible," he said.

He said he contacted the American Cancer Society after his cancer diagnosis, organized a charity event and raised money for the cancer society through his 100-mile run in January 2007.

He started jogging in the summer of 2006 to get back in shape and ran the Honolulu Marathon that December, he said. He was 30 pounds below his normal weight from the cancer treatments, which helped him to finish the 100-mile run, he said. He also has run 62.5 miles three times -- an option to finishing the H.U.R.T. run.

Sibley is manager of special projects at the Hawaii Medical Service Association and said he has started a company on the side with friends to sell sun protection products.

However, he said his skin cancer was not related to sun exposure. "I always wore long sleeves, sunblock and a hat. I don't have any blemishes that relate to heavy sun exposure."

After his cancer, he said, friends and people he did not even know "came out of nowhere to our doorstep with words of encouragement."

"The beautiful thing about Hawaii is the community. Everyone talks about ohana. There is a lot of bad press at times about people getting mugged and accidents that happen, but when you need the community, Hawaii is definitely the place to be."