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"I found it myself. I lucked out, I guess," she said, noting that she has been keeping a close watch on her health since that time 18 years ago and urging others to be vigilant too, whether cancer has affected their family or not.
"You've got to be aware [of your own health]," said Mrs. Hallecks, who is employed in food services in the New Milford public school district.
The 11th annual New Milford Relay for Life, which benefits the American Cancer Society, will be held overnight June 27 and 28 at Sarah Noble School in town, where teams of walkers will converge to raise money for cancer research, promote awareness of the insidious disease and celebrate those who have survived it.
The honorary chairwomen are Karen Pavlik, a New Milford "American Idol" contestant, and Valerie Walsh, a cancer survivor.
Mrs. Hallecks has been a participant "as a survivor all of these years," she said, and a member of the relay committee for five.
"I will celebrate my 18th year as a survivor in July, and I never take it for granted," she said.
"Cancer's always at least in the back of my mind because of my life's history," said Eric Seigel, an area resident who is also helping to organize the New Milford relay.
"There are so many thoughts-so many things I've learned about dealing with it, and I don't mind sharing it all the time," he said.
Mr. Seigel, who used to work with I-95 radio, was first diagnosed with colon cancer when he was 29. He has battled it successfully twice and is hoping to do so again.
"This is the third go-round. I just take it a day at a time," he said.
He too stresses the need to be proactive in monitoring one's personal health and seeking medical opinion.
"All of my symptoms were saying a urinary tract infection originally. Then the doctors thought, "maybe colitis," and they found it completely by accident.
He was originally treated at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport and then, after moving to Boston, needed to have his condition followed up at Massachusetts General Hospital.
"It was never a problem there. I was fine for seven or eight years, and then I was rediagnosed about three and a half years ago and sent to New Milford Hospital. I had a little bit of pain in my right side that kept nagging me. The CAT scan showed it-in the abdominal muscle wall. All the other pictures were showing nothing in the colon."
"There were cancers in my family, but not this particular type," he said. "I never thought it could happen to me-I was way too young and there was no history of this kind of cancer in my family. No one would have thought of it."
Mr. Seigel has been undergoing treatment regularly.
"I still feel completely lost mentally," he said, "but I'm very open about it. If my talking about it will help someone else, that's what is important."
Mrs. Hallecks was treated at New Milford Hospital "way back when, before it had this cancer center," and said she had received "wonderful care there."
She pointed out that people who are battling cancer now are survivors. "They're here with us today," she said, "and the Relay for Life celebrates them"-their courage and their motivation to help others.
"Back when I was diagnosed, it was like being handed a death sentence," said Mrs. Hallecks. "It's different now. There are a lot more survivors.
"I'm involved in the Relay for Life because if it weren't for the funds raised by it there wouldn't be as many survivors. In the past several years I've seen amazing things happen as a result of early diagnosis and new treatments.
"The relay is also about celebrating the lives of the survivors. We're all about bringing a message of hope to others that cancer can be battled successfully," she said.
People are being told they've got to take more responsibility for their health, and the American Cancer Society takes a proactive stance promoting that message.
A kickoff celebration for the New Milford Relay for Life was held last Saturday at the Bank Street Theater in town.
Other area Relays for Life include the Shepaug Valley one in Washington for residents in the towns of Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington.
The Shepaug event will kick off May 29 at Washington Primary School in Washington Depot, and volunteers and team members are needed to make it a successful fund-raiser.
"It's hard to set a target figure in this economy, knowing how hard it is for people to make ends meet, but we'll do the best we can," said Mrs. Hallecks. "The Relay for Life does matter. In addition to raising money for the American Cancer Society for research and the support programs it offers, the Relay for Life offers hope. It brings survivors out, and they show that what that means."
For more information about the area Relays for Life, contact Kristen Alldredge of the American Cancer Society at 203-563-1537 or Kristen.alldredge@cancer.org.
