Rudy and Beverly Bess established the Hope Light Project in July 2005 to help people recognize cancer symptoms, take early action and save lives. 

Since the age of 36, Beverly has been battling cancer and winning.  She had three types of cancer, i.e., two types of breast cancer in 1983 and 1996 and more recently ovarian cancer in 2003.  It became obvious from Bev’s personal experiences in fighting cancer and from her discussions with other cancer victims that not enough attention was afforded to early awareness of cancer symptoms.

With early awareness of cancer symptoms vs causes, self-exams and screening tests, cancer could be detected while it remains in the organ of origin.  If immediate action is taken at the first sign of cancer to seek medical help, cancer can be treated before it spreads to adjacent tissues or to other organs.   

The Hope Light Project is focusing on communicating the importance of early awareness and detection within the "Alpha Zone" as depicted in the following illustration. 

The key to fighting cancer in the "Alpha Zone" is to deploy an aggressive nation-wide campaign to communicate critical awareness information and educate individuals of all-cancer symptoms before cancer is ever suspected to exist. 

With advanced knowledge, individuals will be able to better recognize signals the body is beginning to transmit that may indicate the presence of cancer.  This is a critical time to listen and to take action. 

The "Alpha Zone" is often overlooked by cancer advocacy/awareness organizations due to their focusing on cancer specific symptoms vs those for all cancers.  Additionally, individuals have a tendency to neither recognize the potential presence of cancer nor seek knowledge on symptoms and causes until minor discomforts become painful problems.  By then, the cancer could have progressed to an advanced stage with little or no hope for a cure.

Screening tests can detect the presence of cancer before symptoms occur and, in some cases, before the formation of a tumor that could result in a cancer cure. 

Self-exams can detect the presence of a tumor in some cases before it spreads from the organ of origin to adjacent tissue or another organ that could also result in a cancer cure. 

Regular checkups with a medical professional are extremely important in early detection of cancer.

According to the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention; "Fifty percent of all cancer is preventable."  Practicing cancer prevention is much easier and more effective than cancer treatment.