Cancer survivors rejoice at life itself

WELLNESS: Day of celebration is marked worldwide by people who have kicked cancer.

By S.L Salamone
Correspondent

Staff photo by Matt McClain

LAUGHTER HELPS: Mr. Blue, a clown from Camarillo, shares a chuckle with three women during the National Cancer Survivors Day picnic at the Wellness Community center in Thousand Oaks on Saturday. From left, they are cancer survivor Joan Wyckoff, 80, Rozina Cipko, 80, and cancer survivor Irene Smolak, 74. Three hundred people attended the event.

     It was a beautiful, cool and cloudy Saturday afternoon for about 300 people on the lawns of the Wellness Community on Hampshire Road.

     Beautiful, because they were alive.

     They turned out in recognition of National Cancer Survivors Day 2001.

     Given less than six months to live after she was diagnosed with stomach cancer, Greta Hellendoorn, 59, of Simi Valley said her doctors entered her hospital room telling her to make a video for her family and take a cruise because there wasn't much hope.

     "I told them to get out. I was sad and angry, but I wasn't ready to give up," Hellendoorn said.

     Surgery to remove the cancer took away 65 percent of her stomach and left the other cancer-riddled 35 percent for a few rounds of chemotherapy.

     Fast forward four years.

     Looking healthy, with a hearty if small appetite, Hellendoorn was making quick work of her barbecue lunch under grey skies.

     "I'm in remission and I take one beautiful day at a time," she said.

     "Nothing is guaranteed. I would tell people diagnosed today to not give up, ever."

     Organized by the American Cancer Society, the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis Club and the Wellness Community, the get-together Saturday was part of the world's largest cancer survivor event.

     The Wellness Community is a national, nonprofit organization that helps people with cancer and their families by providing professional programs of emotional support, education and hope.

     Oxnard oncologist Rosemary McIntyre noted that strides have been made in cancer research.

     "It's a very exciting time in cancer research," McIntyre said. "Twenty years ago we never dreamed of what we can do today, but I think we need to look at cancer in a different light.

     "It's a disease we are learning to manage. We are living longer and there is less suffering, but I don't think it is something we can eradicate."

     Cancer-free for almost five years, Gail Smith, 30, of Thousand Oaks was 22 and attending graduate school when her leukemia was diagnosed.

     "It's like I had to pull over for eight years while the rest of the world kept going," Smith said. "And now, most people my age can't relate to anything I went through. And all the friends I lost: It's been hard getting back on track."

     Back at graduate school, she attends California State University, Northridge, studying speech therapy and working with young children.

     "You survive cancer and you just don't look at life the same way ever again," she said. "Every day is precious. Every day is beautiful."

Cancer studies

     Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center have launched several studies of treatments for advanced breast and colorectal cancers that attempt to starve tumors by cutting off the blood supply they need to grow.

     The studies are open at the UCLA campus and at more than 60 affiliated cancer network oncology offices, including ones in Oxnard and Thousand Oaks.

     Hundreds of patients are being sought to take part in three clinical trials to study the experimental anti-VEGF antibody in combination with chemotherapy on advanced breast and colorectal cancers. "This is a new and exciting therapy and we're getting real results in early studies," said Dr. Dennis Slamon, director of Clinical and Translational Research at the Jonsson Cancer Center.

     For more information on the three studies, patients should call UCLA toll-free clinical trial hot line at (888) 798-0719.