THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503150131
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
They survived cancer and are living to tell about it.
On Friday they will meet one another and compare notes on how they did it at the second annual Cancer Survivors Reception. The informal ceremony, sponsored by the American Cancer Society and Obici Hospital, will be at 12:30 p.m. in the hospital lobby. Eight million people who have a history of cancer are alive, according to American Cancer Society literature. Five million were diagnosed five or more years ago, and most of them are considered cured.
Regular checkups are recommended by medical professionals and by cancer survivors.
Joeanna Russell, a 63-year-old Riddick Circle resident who survived cancer of the uterus and breast, said, ``Everybody should look out for their own bodies.''
She attended the 1994 gathering to talk to people with similar problems. ``You talk to other survivors, and it makes you feel good,'' she said.
``It was wonderful (last year) to see how good people looked and to hear about how good they feel,'' said Diane Mathias, 50, a breast cancer survivor. ``It's a joy to see how everybody is doing.''
Mathias, who looks forward to becoming a grandmother in the summer, also attends breast cancer support meetings.
This year's reception will feature the sale of daffodils, the flower of hope. Anyone can come to the hospital lobby during the reception and buy some.
The public also is invited to get free cancer screenings April 23-26 in the Medical Office Building, next to Obici. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Diane Mathias, left, a survivor of breast cancer, chats with Susan
Stone, Obici Hospital's marketing director, about the upcoming
reception.
by CNB