Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCF on January 31, 2026 , Win , 65, to, 52
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Women's Basketball
65
UCF
52
Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Face Personal Struggles with Breast Cancer
02.08.2008 | Women's Basketball
AMES, Iowa ? Breast cancer is newly diagnosed every three minutes in the United States and continually changes the lives of hundreds of thousands of women, their families and their friends every day. Nearly everyone has been influenced by the effects of breast cancer in some way, whether that influence has been direct, indirect, big or small. The members of the Iowa State women's basketball team are no exception; several squad members have been impacted by breast cancer through the struggles of relatives.
Anna Florzak, a sophomore on the Iowa State women's basketball team, knows first-hand how breast cancer can affect a family. Florzak's mother, Acey Lampe, lost her own mother to the disease at a young age.
Lampe's mother was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32. She conquered the disease a first time, but just after Lampe's mother was given her five-year clearance, she was diagnosed again. She passed away just after her 40th birthday.
“I grew up wondering if I was going to die before I was 40,” Lampe said. “I wondered what chance I had to live a full life.”
Lampe's worries were intensified when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the tender age of 16. The diagnosis initially left Lampe feeling helpless.
“At that time I was sure I was never going to live past 40,” said Lampe. “I was sure that since my mother didn't, I wouldn't.”
Because Lampe was unsure how much time the cancer would leave her, she became committed to living each day to its utmost potential. The attitude helped her overcome a first bout with thyroid cancer, but doctors discovered the cancer a second time when Lampe was 32. The setback didn't stop her, however, as she continues to maintain healthy lifestyle not only for herself, but for her family. Because cancer is a genetic disease, she wanted her daughter to do everything she could to stay cancer-free, even as a young girl.
“Anna learned at a young age that breast cancer is genetic, so cancer is a strong possibility in her life,” said Lampe. “She was told that bad habits like smoking can increase her already raised risk. Staying healthy is the best way to fight it.”
Though it is an important step, educating her daughter is not the only way Lampe is committed to the fight against breast cancer. Lampe is also a participant in the University of Kansas' genetic breast cancer testing. Each year Lampe undergoes a series of tests to help researchers better understand the genetic and environmental links in cancer. Lampe is currently volunteering for an ongoing study that is investigating the relationship between thyroid and breast cancer.
“I wanted to give back to help science find a cure,” Lampe said. “I can always write a check, but researchers could learn so much more from my body.”
It was through the tests at the University of Kansas that Lampe learned that she is not a genetic carrier of breast cancer. It was good news for both Lampe and her daughter Florzak.
“It was a huge relief for both of us,” said Lampe.
Florzak is not the only Cyclone whose family has been impacted by breast cancer. Denae Stuckey's aunt was diagnosed with the disease last month. Stuckey, who is in her first year with the Iowa State women's basketball team, was scared when she first heard the news.
“I was scared because cancer scares everyone,” said Stuckey. “But my aunt took her first chemo treatment very well. She didn't get sick like most people.”
Though it is hard for Stuckey to be away from her family while her aunt battles the disease, she knows her aunt has plenty of family support.
“My mom sounds worried when she talks about it, but I know my cousins are spending lots of time at my aunt's side, so it helps that my aunt is getting so much support,” Stuckey said.
It was because of countless similar tales from student-athletes throughout the NCAA that the “Think Pink” initiative began in 2007. The initiative was created by the Women's Basketball Association to unite coaches, student-athletes and fans in an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer. In the inaugural year of the “Think Pink” campaign, 120 schools participated in the event, but this year the number of schools uniting for the event has surpassed 800.
Lampe believes the “Think Pink” initiative is the kind of positive exposure that will help people become aware of the disease without being afraid.
“Cancer can be scary and normally people would associate it with dark and drab colors,” Lampe said. “But pink makes you think of life and it makes you smile. Cancer isn't something to smile about, but the possibility of finding a cure in our lifetime or finding a way to enhance the quality of life for people with cancer is a very good reason to smile.”
Stuckey knows the “Think Pink” initiative is also important for the survivors and sufferers of the disease.
“It's so important because the people with the disease can see the support,” said Stuckey. “I know people like my aunt really appreciate the encouragement they get from events like these.”
In addition to the “Think Pink” initiative, the WBCA also recognizes the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund in its determination to curb cancer. The Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund was established in December 2007 as an organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against cancer through raising money for scientific research.
The initiative was named after Kay Yow, legendary North Carolina State head women's basketball coach and breast cancer survivor. Yow, who is one of only six Division I head women's basketball coaches to record 700 career victories, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987.
Though Yow won the first battle with breast cancer and then a second, she is currently fighting the disease for a third time. During the 2006-07 season, the breast cancer forced Yow to take a break from her coaching duties at North Carolina State. After a 16 game absence, however, Yow returned to the hardwood and led the Pack to 10 wins in their next 11 games, a streak that included her 700th career victory.
Yow's personal determination to overcome breast cancer lit a spark in her squad. The Pack recorded victories over No. 2 North Carolina and the unbeaten and top-ranked Duke Blue Devils after Yow's return to her courtside post. Yow's unwavering spirit continued to inspire her team as they earned the team's 11th trip to the “Sweet 16.”
Yow is walking (and coaching) proof that the disease can be beaten, and beaten multiple times. Though she is still dealing with her third bout of breast cancer, Yow is determined to live her life to the fullest, never letting the disease get the best of her. Her positive spirit mirrors the spirits of thousands of breast cancer survivors, sufferers and their families across the country, including the spirits of those on the Iowa State women's basketball team. It is an encouraging spirit that the “Think Pink” and Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund initiatives both wish to capture.
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