Feb. 16, 2004

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Shirlee Manoogian performs the same routine before each race. She steps onto the blocks, repeating the name of the event over and over in her head. "Fifty free," she says. "Fifty free."

The water is Manoogian's safe haven. Here, nothing else matters but competition. The world extends to the end of the pool and back.

Here, repetition is the only thing that drowns out the noise of her life outside the chlorine-filled waves. Manoogian was diagnosed with cervical cancer this past summer. Soon after, she was told she had three herniated discs in her back. She also has a visual processing learning disability.

Manoogian, a sophomore math major, has set 12 school records for Stony Brook University this season.

The former Sachem standout collected three state titles in the 100-yard freestyle, was a four-time All-American and received an athletic scholarship to Maryland. But her condition, coupled with homesickness, convinced her to transfer to SBU in September.

Manoogian has school records in the 50 through 500 freestyle and the 100 and 200 butterfly. She also set records in the 200 and 400 individual medley.

A call from her doctor in July notified Manoogian of abnormal cells. A biopsy Aug. 21 showed the cells were cancerous. It proved Manoogian, 19, did have cervical cancer - a condition rare among women under 25. She had surgery to remove the cells Sept. 18.

The next test to check if cancerous cells have resurfaced came five months later. That was Feb. 6. Manoogian finds out the results Friday, the start of the America East championships. "I don't know if I want to know then," she said, hoping to avoid radiation therapy. "I'm supposed to call [the doctor]. I don't know if I'll wait until Monday or call on Friday . . . Tell me [after the championships], then I can really [celebrate]." Manoogian's father, Charlie, was diagnosed with skin cancer more than a year ago but has fully recovered.

Forced to take two weeks off in September because of the surgery, Manoogian later returned to cross-training. She began to feel pain in her back.

"When the doctor and the trainers turned on the light for the X-ray machine, they all said, 'Ewww,'" she said.

Richard Cherney, the team doctor, initially thought she may have had one herniated disc. He found three. "I live in my own little world," Manoogian said. "I have these things hanging over my head but I chose not to look at them."

She sometimes practices with shooting pain down her legs and numbness in her toes. She takes 1,500 milligrams of Tylenol daily. She also sees a chiropractor twice a week. She has practiced twice a day, once on Saturday.

Manoogian's back tightened during the 400 medley relay against St. John's. "She took off in the butterfly and you could see that something was wrong," said coach Dave Alexander, who has known her since she was a 10-and-under member of the North Shore Swim Club. Manoogian could barely move her legs. "She muscled it through with her arms," Alexander said.

The team still managed a school-record 4:03.70. "I watched Shirlee for so long that nothing she does surprises me," Alexander said. "Sheer determination, that's what she is."

Where many people would delve into facts about their illness, Manoogian focuses on anything but. She said laughter is the best cure. Asked if she has given thought to a positive test, Manoogian said: "No. It's going to come back negative."