Ramsley named to Dean’s List at WPIWorcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced that

Christopher Ramsley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Ramsleyof Ashland, a junior majoring in Interactive Media & GameDevelopment, was named to the university’s Dean’s List foracademic excellence for the Fall 2008 semester.

Ashland students make the grade at UMassDartmouth

The following students were named to the Dean’s List atUMass Dartmouth for earning a grade point average of 3.2 orhigher: Samantha J. Provencal, Elise J. Stucchi, Nina MarieGreel, Kimberly A. Fox, Matthew Thomas Landers and GinaElizabeth Guidi.

Ashland students named to Dean’s List atAssumption

Leandra D. D'Eramo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Antonino G.D'Eramo, Alyssa A. McHale, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. PatrickT. McHale, and Cristina Roffo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fer-nando Roffo, were named to the Dean’s List at AssumptionCollege for the Fall 2008 semester. Students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher to be named to the list.

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

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QUESTION & ANSWER WITH BOB HEBDEN

Bob Hebden’s dad, Charles,worked at the old Nyanza dyefactory. As a child, Hebdenremembers playing in the tintedlagoons near the now-infamousplant.

Years later, a state study foundelevated cancer rates in peoplewho played in or near water pol-luted by chemical waste fromNyanza. Though he has no proof,Hebden, now 70, thinks thatprobably contributed to hisfather’s death from pancreaticcancer. His mother, Annie, diedof colon cancer.

And at 59, Hebden foughtcolon cancer himself. Aftersurgery to remove 18 inches ofhis colon, Hebden has been can-cer-free for 11 years and wants totell his story to highlight theimportance of prevention andearly detection for Colon CancerAwareness Month.

The American Cancer Societyrecommends yearly screeningfor men and women aged 50 andover, and that those at higherthan average risk should starttesting even earlier. More than

half of colon cancer deaths couldbe prevented if everyone whoshould get screened did so, theCancer Society says.

Q:Can you tell the story ofhow you were diagnosed?

A: I was diagnosed after ask-ing my primary care physi-

cian four years in a row for acolonoscopy, due to the fact thatmy mother died of colon cancerat age 71. At the time, I was 51and overdue. He continued to tellme that it was not necessary.

On year five of my annualphysical, my wife came with meand said to my doctor, “Either hegets a colonoscopy or a new pri-mary care doctor.” He reluctant-ly agreed and I was diagnosedwith colon cancer from that test.

Q:What was your surgerylike? Was there a long

recovery period and do you thinkit would have been shorter ifyour doctor caught the cancersooner?

A:The surgery was rough.However, I was one of

lucky ones. The recovery wentwell, and I did not needchemotherapy.

Q:What would you like oth-ers to take away from your

story?

A:Be your own advocate.There are generally no

symptoms. Follow the Ameri-can Cancer Society guidelines.

Q:You've been cancer-freefor 11 years. How often do

you get check-ups to make sureyou're still healthy?

A: I started out with every sixmonths and now I am at

every three years.

Q:What made you decide tohelp the American Cancer

Society try to raise awareness ofcolon cancer?

A:Losing my mom to thisnumber three killer of men

and women in America, and let-ting people know that earlydetection is the key to survival.

— David Riley/Staff writer

After cancer battle, Ashland man tries to raise awareness

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY ART ILLMAN

Bob Hebden stands at Old Mill Pond in 2006, the year the state released a study linking cancer rates topeople 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 andAshland 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 ’