From brat pack to cancer warrior
Former West Wing star Rob Lowe has taken on a new role: passionate supporter of cancer education.

As Sam Seaborn on the award-winning television drama series West Wing, actor Rob Lowe played an idealistic White House deputy communications director who challenged his government to find a cure for cancer in 10 years. Today, off screen and beyond West Wing--he left the show early last year--Rob is still campaigning for cancer awareness. The boyishly handsome member of the popular Brat Pack of the 80s (among them Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore and Judd Nelson) learned the importance of cancer education the hard way.

Rob's grandmother battled cancer for nearly 20 years. His grandfather fought by her side and showed amazing patience and support. Rob draws inspiration from their dogged determination to live full lives.

The great equalizer
In 1991, Rob's father Chuck Lowe, a lawyer, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The news took the family off guard. They were in disbelief.

"I think it's always surreal for anyone who gets that call," Rob says. "To make matters even more surreal, I was in Israel shooting a movie and they were handing out gas masks to us, because at that point, Saddam Hussein was threatening to launch biological weapons on Tel Aviv ... I remember when the phone rang, the layout of the room and how the sun was coming through the window, and all those details, and yet, I don't remember any of the conversation because it was too uncomfortable, sad and shocking."

After the initial shock, Rob's instinct was to go home and be with his dad, but his stepmother stopped him. On hindsight, he admits, "It might have been good for me to go, but not necessarily good for him because he didn't want me there, seeing him have his treatment."

"Cancer doesn't play favorites, and it is sort of the great equalizer," Rob says. "Anyone fighting cancer, or anyone living with or loving someone fighting cancer, it's just the same for me as anybody else. We all want new information, we all want strength and hope."

Learning the hard way
Cancer awareness wasn't big back in the early 90s. Rob and his family had to learn everything the hard way. For one, they didn't know that apart from hair loss and nausea, chemotherapy could also cause dangerous infections that could be as fatal as the disease itself. They also realized how important it was for cancer patients to have an effective support network.

Fortunately, Rob's dad survived cancer. Rob attributes the success of his father's treatment to three things: a great team of doctors, effective medicine and their family having as much information as possible. The old cliché is true, says Rob. Knowledge is power. Today, to help other cancer patients and their families get all the information they need, the actor is actively involved in various organizations, helping to raise the level of cancer awareness in America.