Alex Parra: Athlete, Thriver, Advocate, Inspiration

Q+A with Alex

Why is cancer research important?

AP: Cancer research is important because it’s something that I feel everyone is affected by. As time goes by there’s more research that goes into it and that can potentially save someone’s life. When I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, I thought that there was no form of treatment. That all changed because of a new treatment other than chemotherapy that saved my life.

How do you hope to inspire others in their cancer battles by sharing your story?

AP: I have always wanted my videos to reach the person that I never had when I was going through cancer. When I was diagnosed, it felt like no one truly understood what I was going through; I had all of these questions, or experiences that I felt I couldn’t voice. So, after I beat Stage 4, I wanted to share my story with hopes that someone could relate to it in some sort of way. I never would have imagined that it would reach so many people that have gone through the same thing.

What would Victory Over Cancer look like to you?

AP: Beating cancer has been the dream for the past eight years now ever since I was diagnosed the first time with osteosarcoma. I’ve always wanted it to end. The scans, the anxiety if the cancer would come back, all of those doctor visits. It truly would just mean the world to finally be done with cancer.