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NEWS
| JAN. 29
More than Surviving
Rollin Phipps, cancer survivor
and teacher, adds a book to his list of accomplishments.
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| The Shorthorn: Brandon Wade |
| Rollin Phipps, continuing education
program coordinator, was diagnosed with throat cancer
in June 2002 with a 10 to 30 percent chance of survival.
After 40 radiation treatments and four chemotherapy sessions,
no trace of the cancer is left. |
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By Ryan
Robinson
Contributor to The Shorthorn
Rollin Phipps sits upright in his office chair at a round table
scattered with papers and articles ranging from continuing education
projects to detailed designs of Egyptian architecture. His white
hair is thinning — a result of recent chemotherapy. It contrasts
the look of sheer delight on his face as he talks about his personal
and professional experiences.
After 22 years of state service, months of cancer treatments, a
history with the continuing education department and a penchant
for ancient Egypt, the 57-year-old said he still knows how to enjoy
life. Phipps is currently the department’s training program
coordinator.
“I started in Foreign Languages at UTA,” Phipps said.
“Now I’m teaching a class on ancient Egyptian burial scripts.”
The amateur Egyptologist received his bachelor’s in sociology
from Austin College in Sherman. He then traveled around North Texas
and made his way here.
He started his graduate studies at UTA once he had enough money.
His coursework led him in unexpected directions, but he eventually
found himself employed in continuing education.
Phipps is currently completing his first book, Egypt and the Greeks:
A History of Alexandria.
“It starts with Alexander the Great and leads all the way through
Cleopatra,” he said.
He explains that his book is not just a scholarly evaluation of
historical facts but an analysis of the entire culture. The book
is based on his first-hand experience and research in Egypt.
“Of all the ancient civilizations, Ancient Egypt never fails
to fascinate me,” Phipps said. “I can go to Egypt and
be enthralled.”
The room where he sits looks more like a museum than an office.
His Egyptian paintings, pots and ceremonial “power scepter”
clutter the room, creating a perceptual time-warp.
Phipps’ newest class, to begin in February, will focus on ancient
burial practices and the beliefs behind them. But Phipps said his
greatest challenge wasn’t wading through volumes of text to
create a course from nothing — it was surviving cancer.
In June 2002, doctors diagnosed Phipps with a fast-growing tumor
in the back of his throat.
“It started just as a sore throat that wouldn’t go away,”
Phipps said. “I didn’t think it would become so serious.”
This type of cancer typically affects those who smoke and drink
alcohol, but he does neither.
“I went through cancer therapy, which included a biopsy, 40
radiation therapy treatments as well as four painful chemotherapy
treatments,” he said. “Chemo is a poison put into the
body. It kills the good cells as well as the bad.”
Phipps explained that after the first week of treatment, his disease
resistance dropped dramatically.
“I had to avoid all places that were rampant with germs,”
he said. “I was weak and irritable at times. Chemo blurs your
vision and eats away at your muscle mass.”
One might believe such an experience could quell his fire for life,
but Phipps is the antithesis of a burnout.
“Despite all the challenges that Rollin had to deal with, he
continues to keep a positive outlook, which is admired by all of
us,” said Mary Lou Rosas, the department’s customer service
associate.
Program Director Diane M. Warren said Phipps’ enthusiasm sometimes
got the better of him.
“Rollin was amazing. He would have a serious surgery and be
back at work that afternoon,” she said. “We would have
to tell him to go home.”
Doctors were concerned with his overall recovery, but his lighthearted,
determined attitude got him through it quickly.
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but you see
the smile on my face? That’s a part of why it wasn’t,”
he said, now in total remission. “I have the attitude that
no matter what is going to happen, I am going to be positive and
prepared for everything.”
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