Luau picnic celebrates cancer survivors

GOING ON: People whose lives were affected by disease, and caregivers offer show of support.

By Emily Frank
Correspondent

Photos by Jeff Earle

     When Bud Fischer of Thousand Oaks first received news of his skin cancer at age 40, he said the "c" word meant a death sentence. Still living with the cancer at age 76, Fischer noted that people do survive the disease.

     About 400 cancer survivors, patients, friends, family and cancer-related health-care professionals joined Fischer at the fifth annual luau picnic at The Wellness Community in Westlake Village on Saturday. They lined up for the barbecue provided by the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis Club.

     "They're looking for a little camaraderie and a little friendship to build up their spirit," Fischer said.

     The American Cancer Society and The Wellness Community in Westlake Village sponsored the event to kick off the 12th annual National Cancer Survivors Day today.

     "It's really a celebration of survivorship," said Madeline Sattler, director of the Conejo Valley chapter of the American Cancer Society. "It's for them to enjoy life and to celebrate."

      The afternoon featured speeches by cancer survivors, hula dancing, a clown and a disc jockey.

     Art and Blanche Silberberg of Thousand Oaks celebrated two lives at the picnic. Their son-in-law battled with Hodgkin's cancer and has been cancer-free for the past five years. Art survived non-Hodgkin's cancer and has been in remission for two years. He belonged to a support group at The Wellness Community and now serves there as an orientation leader.

     "Everybody needs a support group," Art Silberberg said. "It's just as important as the medical attention a person gets because you can't do without both to be a survivor."

     Gail Kolarik of Westlake Village, a 32-year survivor of breast cancer, knows the importance of support when living with cancer. She had a Halstead radical mastectomy at age 29 and then six weeks of Cobalt radiation. Soon after her diagnosis, Kolarik realized she had to stop worrying about dying and start living.

     Kolarik had another tumor three years ago, and she now has breast cancer in the lungs. In spite of her battle, Kolarik believes that helping other cancer patients is a rewarding experience. She has served as coordinator and trainer of the American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery Program for 14 years, in which she visits women who have had or are about to have surgery for breast cancer.

     "When you stop worrying about what you're going through and concentrate on someone whose needs are greater than your own - that's the best," Kolarik said.

     The picnic provided hope for cancer patients and acknowledged advancements in cancer treatment, ,,aid Marty Nason, program director at The Wellness Community. It enabled survivors to talk with o ther people who experienced the same things they went through.

     Donna Peddicord, a two-year ovarian cancer survivor from Calabasas, said keeping a positive attitude and receiving support and encouragement helped her beat cancer.

     "It gives us all the courage that we fought through this thing and are still fighting," Peddicord said. "This is the celebration of life."