North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow will soon take a leave of absence so she can fight breast cancer -- for the third time.Yow, 64, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. The cancer returned two years ago, and she was treated with hormone therapy and radiation. Just recently, doctors discovered the cancer was progressing. And they have already started treatment with chemotherapy and new targeted biologic therapies.
This is Yow's 32nd season as the head coach of the Wolfpack women's team. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, Yow also coached the U.S. women's team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The team took home the gold medal.
Associate head coach Stephanie Glance will serve as interim coach while Yow takes on her cancer opponent. "I have every confidence in my coaching staff to continue the development of this outstanding group of young women," Yow said.
In 2006, 174,470 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States. About 92,700 men and 81,770 women will develop the disease -- the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. 
