Published Monday, September 30, 2002
to others
Herald Staff Writer
Little by little, the hall of Hempfield Station One started to light up as flames from candles held by cancer survivors brightened the dimmed room.
Over 400 cancer survivors, their family and friends celebrated National Cancer Survivors day with music, lunch, a candle ceremony, a guest motivational speaker and gifts of potted pansies Sunday afternoon.
"I'm here supporting my husband who is a two-and-a-half year cancer survivor," said Pegge DeAngelo of Clarks Mills. "This group is like a second family to him."
Most of the survivors were treated at Life Care Cancer Center in Stoneboro, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center at UPMC Horizon, and United Community Hospital, all of which sponsored the event.
"We came to meet the other people and hear what they had to say," said Stanford "Bud" Shipton, 72, Delaware Township, a prostate cancer survivor.
Shipton described his therapy which included the implantation of a radioactive "seed," the size of rice, concurrent with three weeks of radiation treatment and hormone shots to control testosterone levels.
"I had hot flashes all the time. After they do it, you can't even have a child sit on your lap" because of the toxicity of the radiation, the great-grandfather of four said. "Other people I know have been through real problems. I think I'm lucky. It's been a year," he said.
Mike Callander, 36, of Parker, Armstrong County, explained that youth and a clean health history doesn't necessarily mean no chance of cancer. Callander was diagnosed with colon cancer three years ago, and had no history of the disease in his family. He's beaten the colon cancer but now he's dealing with tumors discovered in his lungs.
"I thought I had a bleeding ulcer, and I was playing softball and getting so tired," said Callander, the father of two daughters. "It has made a lot of people aware. Several of my friends have gone for colonoscopies because now they are aware. Early detection is the best cure."
Shirley McKenzie, a Jamestown octogenarian, discovered, in 1991 that she had breast cancer. Though she found a lump, she waited to get a diagnosis because she was dealing with her husband's illness. "I almost didn't make it. My husband had been sick for a long time, which is why I wasn't paying attention to myself. It was pretty advanced by the time it was diagnosed," she said.
"Don't even ask" Mrs. McKenzie said when asked to describe her treatment, which included a radical mastectomy, three months of chemotherapy, one month of radiation, then another three months of radiation. "The last three months really got me down," she said, explaining that on top of her own poor health, her husband had passed away soon after her diagnosis.
After her ordeal, keeping busy and involved with people is a great help. "You meet them (survivors) all the time. I work at Good Shepherd Center in Greenville and you'd be surprised how many women have dealt with something of the sort," she said. "Its not a fun disease, especially when you're by yourself."
Mrs. McKenzie attended the event with a couple who both were survivors. Others who in attendance also found the support of fellow survivors necessary for their recovery.
"When you go through a dark place, God gives you many lights in the support of people who love you," said Mrs. DeAngelo, who came to support her husband who survived his bout with cancer. "My husband definitely runs with his light."