The Cancer Community Mourns the Passing of Selma Schimmel
The cancer community is mourning the death of Selma Schimmel who passed away on May 21, 2014, from malignant psoas syndrome, a complication of ovarian cancer. Ms. Schimmel died at Providence Tarzana Medical Center near her home in Los Angeles, California. She was 59.
A tireless and fierce advocate for cancer survivors around the world, Ms. Schimmel enriched the lives of thousands of patients, caregivers, and physicians impacted by cancer through Vital Options (now Vital Options International), a cancer communications organization she launched in 1983, following a diagnosis of breast cancer.
In 1996, Ms. Schimmel launched The Group Room, a cancer talk call-in radio show and produced educational programs about the disease. Ms. Schimmel later turned The Group Room into a video-only platform, featuring discussions with the world’s leading oncologists and cancer researchers to facilitate a global dialogue on cancer. She filmed interviews with cancer experts and moderated panel discussions at every major oncology conference, including ASCO’s Annual Meeting, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, and the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress.
Ms. Schimmel was also involved in projects with the Institute of Medicine, National Research Council, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship. She was a founding member of the LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance steering committee and an advisory member of C-Change’s Assuring Value in Cancer Care committee. Ms. Schimmel was recently honored with C-Change’s prestigious 2014 George H.W. and Barbara Bush Collaboration Award.
Transitioning to Palliative Care
Ms. Schimmel was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 28, and genetic testing in 1999 showed she was positive for the BRCA gene mutation. Eleven years ago, hoping to escape her genetic fate, Ms. Schimmel decided to have a prophylactic oophorectomy but, unfortunately, she was too late. When she awoke from the surgery, she was given the news that she already had very early-stage ovarian cancer.
Two years ago, the cancer metastasized to her lungs. Last year, Ms. Schimmel went public about her cancer recurrence in The ASCO Post, because, she wrote, “I felt an obligation to help other cancer survivors as well as physicians understand that the transition to palliative care does not mean surrender. My experience is proof that patients can live with advanced disease and still be a vital force, maintaining control of their lives.”
Celebrating a Life Well Lived
Ms. Schimmel was the daughter of Rabbi Meier and Rebbetzin Rochelle Schimmel and is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Debby and Ken Bitticks, four nieces, Shari, Michelle, Lynn, and Sandi, and their husbands, and eight grandnieces and grandnephews.
A private service is being held in Los Angeles. A public memorial ceremony celebrating Ms. Schimmel’s life is planned for this summer. In lieu of flowers, Ms. Schimmel’s family is requesting that donations be sent to Vital Options International.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
