Celebration of Life 2001

Cancer Survivors Day Celebration, Monday, June 4, 2001

On Monday June 4, 2001, The Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson joined communities across the nation in celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day. Over 200 Cancer Survivors, their families, friends, and Jefferson employees took part in this 2nd Annual Celebration of Life. Attendees browsed an exhibit of art and poetry created by cancer survivors, enjoyed music and food, and heard the inspirational messages of cancer survivors who spoke. The art and poetry, the stories of the survivors, and the people who attended showed that cancer crosses all boundaries and affects people of every age, ethnicity and gender.

Cancer Survivors are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, artists, poets, musicians-even physicians. Dr. Bruce Boman,MD, PhD, Director of Medical Oncology and Medical Genetics for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, spoke of his own diagnosis of prostate cancer in January of this year. He spoke also of the changes that have come in his life since that diagnosis, including a greater understanding of what is truly important in life-a sentiment that was repeated by the other survivors who spoke. 

Elena Sheehan, Sandy Fingerman, John Conway, and Norman Wexler, all cancer survivors treated at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, spoke of their individual journies to cancer survivorship, and of their participation in the Kimmel Cancer Center’s Buddy program-a unique support program in which cancer survivors provide short term support to individuals newly diagnosed with cancer. All four spoke of the healing power that can come when survivors join together, and the very important fact that there is life-often a fuller and richer life-after a diagnosis of cancer. 

Dr. Richard Wender, MD, Vice Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine, continued this theme in his very lively discussion about the healing power of humor. In a presentation that had the audience roaring with laughter at times and included a juggling routine, he spoke very eloquently of the importance of keeping it simple, taking one day at a time, and finding humor even when facing unfamiliar and frightening territory that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

This program was made possible by through the generous support of Amgen, Berlex, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Lilly Oncology, Ortho Biotech Oncology, and the Women’s Board of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.