Frank Anderson, Survivor

“I am a retired technology executive who has been an avid figure skater for most of my adult life. I have been involved with USFS on a local basis as a board member of different clubs for most of that time, and now serve as the president of the Ice in Paradise Figure Skating Club. I also teach figure skating on a part-time basis. I used to know Scott Hamilton when he lived in California and skated at the Oxnard rink, where I also skated with my children at the time. 

My family has been affected by cancer in multiple ways. Both of my parents died of cancer. My mother died in her 50s from lymphoma, and my father of pancreatic cancer. My father-in-law died of prostate cancer, and my mother-in-law had breast cancer. Many other relatives on both my side of the family as well as my wife’s side of the family have died of cancer.

My sister got her doctorate in genetics and immunology and became a career cancer researcher. She was on the team that first discovered the gene that predisposes women to breast cancer. She and her husband both continued their work in cancer research until their retirement a few years ago. Their research helped the understanding of the mechanisms that cause cells to become cancerous. 

I am also a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with ocular melanoma about 10 years ago. I received specialized treatment from an elite team of doctors at the UCLA Stein center. I believe I have beaten the cancer, but it has left me blind in one eye. I consider myself lucky to have received excellent care to beat this rare disease, and know that my successful outcome could not have happened without the support of money for research. 

I have decided to have my skating students donate their lesson fees to the Sk8 to Eliminate Cancer™ Ice in Paradise fundraiser prior to the 5K event in order to honor my family members and to promote further awareness of the efforts to eliminate these diseases.”

-Frank Anderson