An ISU professor diagnosed with cancer last year said he has conquered the disease.

Steven Kawaler, professor of physics and astronomy, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma on July 23, 1999, and continued teaching during his treatments until a June 26, 2000, check-up detected no cancer.

“My prognosis is excellent,” Kawaler said. “For this type of cancer the survival rates are pretty good. Still, one is never cured, and it could come back later. One is never considered cured of cancer until you die of another cause. So, had I gotten hit by a bus on the way out of the clinic, I would have been cured.”

Kawaler said his chemotherapy started just before classes, so there wasn’t much time to adjust the teaching schedules for the astronomy professors. He said his form of treatment is often easily tolerated, allowing him to continue teaching a double lecture section for Astronomy 120 with the help of his colleagues.

“Professor Lavery took a lecture or two on lecture dates that followed a chemo treatment,” Kawaler said. “Knowing that I had Professor Lavery, a great lecturer and teacher, backing me up really eased any stress that might have otherwise come up.”

Alan Goldman, professor and chairman of physics and astronomy, said it is important for faculty members to be supported in such situations.

“We understand people have lives outside what they do in the department,” Goldman said. “Universities need to be nurturing places. We get together and make things work so [both faculty and students] can deal with it.”

Goldman said he believes Kawaler showed extraordinary courage and bravery through the whole process.

“At that period of time, Steve expressed a strong desire to just keep plugging away,” he said. “He always had a great deal of respect towards the students and has been one of the most outstanding teachers. During this period he was named a master teacher by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.”

Kawaler said he doesn’t think his illness affected the way he taught his classes.

“During the term, as my hair fell out, some students may have felt a bit uncomfortable; I don’t know,” Kawaler said. “My appearance did give me a chance for a few in-class jokes that wouldn’t have come up otherwise.”

Those who survive cancer and those who continue to fight often share feelings of heightened emotions and stress, Kawaler said.

“I must say I was lucky in several respects,” he said. “I made it through chemo without getting sick once … Of course the chemo does a number on the digestive system but that was a manageable side effect … considering that these treatments saved my life, most likely.”

While the experience has been difficult, Kawaler said he has learned some important lessons from it.

“You often discover how much friends mean to you and how some folks you barely know can really change your life,” he said. “It may sound corny, but I really do enjoy sunrises and sunsets more and frequently find myself really observing and enjoying the world more.”