Hockey Fights Cancer Month Spotlight: Christa Kasapis
Blashill's family friend has inspired the Red Wings' coach with courage through cancer battle
That message rings especially true for Northville resident Christa Kasapis, who is in remission because of early detection, and she urges everyone during Hockey Fights Cancer Month in November--and throughout the whole year--to get screened and check themselves for abnormalities.
"Your health is No. 1. If you have any concerns at all or any abnormalities or anything that feels off, don't hesitate," Kasapis said. "That's what our medical professionals are there for. Definitely always follow up, make it a priority."
Kasapis, who is a close family friend of Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill and his wife, Erica, is one of the many cancer patients, survivors and caretakers the Red Wings are honoring as part of Hockey Fights Cancer Month throughout November, in partnership with the American Cancer Society and Comerica Bank.
In August 2019, after being mostly healthy her entire life, Kasapis felt that something was wrong. She visited her doctor, who found tumors from multiple scans and bloodwork. She immediately underwent aggressive surgery and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with low-grade ovarian carcinoma stage 3B.
Jeff and Erica Blashill's son, Teddy, has played hockey with Kasapis' son, Alex, since Kindergarten, and Erica Blashill said the news of her friend's diagnosis was a complete shock and was a revelation that cancer can affect even the healthiest of people.
"She's our age, she's our friend, she has a similar lifestyle to us. She's busy with her kids and sports and activities, and then all of a sudden, it comes to a screeching halt," Erica Blashill said. "It makes you realize it can happen to anyone. She was perfectly healthy otherwise, started having a couple issues and then found out it was this big situation that had to get taken care of right away with surgery and treatment.
"Anytime something like that happens and you can relate it to your own life, it's jarring because you realize it could happen to anyone, but also, the fact that she's a good friend. That part impacted us because you're worried for them and their family."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Cancer Society reports that there's been a major decline in cancer screenings and procedures for early detection.
This past spring, the ACS saw an 87-percent decline in mammogram screenings, and the number of colonoscopies and biopsies performed dropped nearly 90 percent by mid-April compared to the same period in 2019.
And the director of the U.S. National Cancer Institute also warned in a
June editorial
that delayed diagnoses could lead to as many as 10,000 extra deaths over 10 years in breast and colorectal cancer.
The Blashills stressed how important it is, especially during a pandemic, to be vigilant about early detection.
"It's so important," Erica Blashill said emphatically. "Christa is by far my most on-it friend as far as healthcare and all her checkups with her and kids and herself. At the first sign of any issue, she was right at the doctor and didn't let it rest. She knew something was going on, and she kept going back and got it figured out. Her vigilance helped her."
Kasapis echoed the importance of getting screened.
"Do not ignore signs, especially during the pandemic," she said. "Don't be afraid to get in touch with doctors and be your own biggest advocate. I found it myself. There were abnormalities, so I reached out immediately and I was able to get it under control because of it."
With the help of an indefinite oral medication--because her diagnosis is chemo-resistant--Kasapis has been in remission for more than a year.
Kasapis said the support she received from the Blashills during her cancer battle was incredible.
"They're the nicest people, they mean the world to me. And it's people like them that really got me through my battle last year," she said. "The numerous amount of phone calls, the gifts at my front door, Jeff supporting me with Hockey Fights Cancer meant the world to me. I know there were a lot of prayers said in my honor, which really meant the world."
Last season during Hockey Fights Cancer Night on November 8, Jeff Blashill joined the 19,515 fans in attendance at Little Caesars Arena by holding up an "I Fight For" card for Kasapis.
"I've had an opportunity to raise a card for Christa, for my father, for my brother's wife's parents-and it hits home on a personal level," Jeff Blashill said. "When you see the cards raised throughout the arena, it's an extremely powerful moment. It shows how cancer, unfortunately, touches so many lives and how it's a battle that we have to continue to stay vigilant with."
The Wings' coach said he was impressed with Kasapis' strength upon learning of her diagnosis and throughout her battle with ovarian cancer.
"To see the strength that she has had, that her husband has had, that their daughter and son have had, just to see that strength has been really impressive," Jeff Blashill said. "They've continued to forge on with their day-to-day lives, as we have to, but still dealing with the stress and anxiety and the physical effects from treatment."
Jeff Blashill said he's extremely happy to be involved in the Red Wings' joint initiative with the NHL to fight cancer and raise awareness every year.
"Cancer affects everybody in some fashion, it really does," he said. "It's a disease that has no boundary whatsoever and it can instantaneously change lives.
"I think the work that the Red Wings do and the work the NHL does to continue to raise awareness, to continue to fight this disease--and even when we're fighting a pandemic--it's still critically important to recognize how deadly cancer is and how important it is for all of us to do everything we can to make sure when cancer rears its head that we can have early detection and give ourselves the best chance for success. I think that's a critical part of it and I think the NHL and the Red Wings have done a great job of bringing these situations to the forefront."
Kasapis said the Red Wings' and the NHL's promotion of cancer awareness makes a huge impact for patients and survivors.
"I think it's fantastic. It's a battle that cancer patients will fight their entire lives," she said. "Whether you're in remission or not, it's something that's always in your head. It means a tremendous amount to people like me to have support from the athletes and coaches and the whole organization."
While the Red Wings can't honor cancer patients, survivors and caretakers in person this month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL has announced that the league's U.S. teams will officially recognize the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative nationally on Thursday, November 19, and the Wings will host a Hockey Fights Cancer-themed home game at some point this season.
And while the Blashills can't be at Little Caesars Arena this month to raise cancer awareness, they said even the littlest acts of support can go a long way for people dealing with this dreaded disease.
"Honestly, just love them and care about them as much as possible," Jeff Blashill said. "If you can support in ways to raise money, if you can support in ways to help their day-to-day lives, if you can support in ways to make sure there's a lot of love out there for them, I think all of those are powerful things."
Erica Blashill agreed with her husband about how simple it can be to support cancer patients and survivors. "I think the friendship and the love and support, just letting them know you're there for them in any way they need is powerful," she said. "It's helpful to just know other people are in their corner and thinking of them."
To learn more about the Red Wings' Hockey Fights Cancer initiatives and how you can get involved, visit
DetroitRedWings.com/HockeyFightsCancer
.
