SURVIVORS CELEBRATE LIFE; PAST AND PRESENT CANCER PATIENTS COME TOGETHER ACROSS NATION.

Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer

Cancer survivor.

There was a time when that was a contradiction in terms and cancer was thought of as an inevitably terminal illness.

But on Sunday, cancer survivors around the county and from coast to coast celebrated life during the 12th annual National Cancer Survivors Day.

Last year, for the first time, cancer-related deaths declined in the United States, said Helen Beebe, a Simi Valley woman who conquered breast cancer 37 years ago.

``We're getting people in for early detection, and our research is paying off,'' Beebe said during a celebration at Simi Valley Hospital. ``And we're treating it better and faster. We have to get people over being scared to find out.''

Diagnosed with brain cancer 13 years ago, Simi Valley's Mike O'Connor has seen a shift in attitudes toward a more open discussion of the disease. Unlike in some countries, public education campaigns are steadily eroding the taboo surrounding cancer.

``Now that cancer is in the forefront, people aren't afraid to talk about it,'' said O'Connor, who was among cancer survivors recognized for their successful struggles against the disease. ``I stay involved because I want to show people that they can make it.''

For LaJuana Burnside and Birgit Rossiter, it was an afternoon to enjoy a picnic lunch and savor life in the company of others in their cancer support group.

``This is to celebrate life,'' Rossiter said. ``Not only do we do that when we wake up and thank God for each day, but this is a celebration with friends.''

The support, friendship and understanding from fellow cancer survivors was critical to her recovery, she said as she lunched with Burnside, who was diagnosed with cancer of the blood nine years ago.

``I feel very lucky that I survived it,'' Burnside said. ``But there are a lot who didn't.''

Dr. Dan Takeda, vice president of medical staff affairs at Simi Valley Hospital, noted that half of all men and one-third of women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetimes.

``But regardless of the statistics,'' Takeda said, ``there are 8 million cancer survivors alive today.''

The Wellness Community in Westlake Village and at the Ventura County Medical Center held similar celebrations.

National Cancer Survivors Day was started by Richard Block, co-founder of H&R Block tax service, and his wife, Annette. The celebration is aimed at honoring cancer survivors and increasing public awareness that cancer is no longer an automatic death sentence.

For more information, call the National Cancer Information Hotline at [phone].

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Photo

PHOTO (Color) LaJuana Burnside, second from left, and her friends Stephanie and Stan Boland, right, attended the cancer survivors' celebration.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News