thisissue...

CommunityParticipationThe art of healing...

pg. 2

SurvivorshipHighlights from the12th annualSurvivors Celebration!

pgs. 3-6

CommunityEducation &OutreachIN their own words...

A message from one ofthe “Faces ofColorectal Cancer”

pg. 7

Allied Services/John Heinz Institute Community Medical Center Marian Community HospitalMercy Health Partners Moses Taylor Hospital/Mid-Valley Hospital

Wyoming Valley Health Care System

A PUBLICATION

OF THE

NORTHEAST

REGIONAL

CANCER INSTITUTE

SUMMER 2004

The Northeast Regional Cancer Institutehas received $100,000 from the U.S.Centers for Disease Control to sup-

port the colorectal cancer research and aware-ness programs. U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), Chairman ofthe SenateRepublicanConference, visitedthe Cancer Instituteon June 29 to pre-sent the ceremonialcheck for $100,000in funding that hesecured through theFY 2004 OmnibusAppropriationsBill.

The funds willbe used to research the causes of higher inci-dences of colorectal cancer in NortheasternPennsylvania and to educate the public aboutprevention and signs and symptoms of thedisease.

“Colorectal cancer is a devastating diseasethat claims the lives of more and morePennsylvanians every day,” said Sen.Santorum. “I am pleased that the NortheastRegional Cancer Institute will receive thisfunding, crucial to understanding whyNortheast Pennsylvania is afflicted with someof the highest rates in the nation.”

According to research conducted by theCancer Institute, colorectal cancer was themost frequently diagnosed form of cancer inLackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Wyoming,Susquehanna and Pike Counties between 1996

and 2000. Cancer Institute Board members, as well as

local colon cancer survivors and CancerInstitute spokespeople Bob Lamson andLackawanna County Judge Carmen Minora,

joined CancerInstitute representa-tives Bob Durkin,President, andSamuel Lesko, MD,MPH, Director ofResearch, in greet-ing Sen. Santorum.

“On behalf ofthe thousands ofNortheasternPennsylvaniansfaced with the chal-lenges of colorectal

cancer, I want to thank Sen. Santorum forsecuring these funds,” Durkin said. “If thecommunity and researchers work together, wewill have the best chance at discovering thecause of the high rates.”

“This grant will allow investigators at theCancer Institute to gather data from a popula-tion-based sample of newly diagnosed colonand rectal cancer patients. The CancerInstitute will also be able to identify support-ive care in the region for patients at variousstages of the illness,” said Sen. Santorum.

Since January, 87 colorectal cancer patientshave been interviewed. The Cancer Institutehopes to conduct a total of 500 interviewswith colorectal cancer patients nd another 500interviews of people without the disease with-in the next year.

Colorectal Cancer ProgramsReceive Federal Funding

U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum presented a check in the amount of$100,000 to Bob Durkin, Cancer Institute president, in support ofthe colorectal cancer research and awareness program.

2

Community Participation

Cancer Information Resources:

Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute

1-800-4-CANCERwww.cancer.gov

(570) 941-7984www.cancernepa.org

1-877-NCCS-YES www.canceradvocacy.org/

1-800-ACS-2345www.cancer.org

The Art of Healing

“Stay Happy.”“Never Give Up.”“Anything’s Possible.”

It’s hard to imagine that thesebright and uplifting messages werewritten by people affected by cancer.

These words, accompanied byinspirational works of art, are just afew examples of the more than 650ceramic tiles that have been hand-painted by cancer patients fromthroughout NortheasternPennsylvania, as well asfrom destinations as far asArizona and Florida.

The words and works ofart of cancer survivors filleight spires in the CancerInstitute’s Cancer Survivors Parkat McDade Park. They will also fillyour heart with hope.

The diverse images and messageson the tiles are united by a commontheme of hope and inspiration. Theceramic tiles have been created bycancer patients through an art thera-py program directed by SharonDeNault, a 23-year cancer survivorand a Board-certified art therapist.

“The ability of patients toexpress their emotions can beinstrumental in healing - not neces-sarily in a physical way, but in a spiri-tual way,” says Sharon.

She refers to art therapy as aform of “self-expression,” and, formany, a way to “leave amessage that they're OK.”

It’s a powerful form ofhealing for children andadults, and patients andtheir families, as Sharonpoints out.

One young girl hasbeen hand-painting ceramictiles at SurvivorsCelebration for severalyears. Her uplifting andspiritually-focused worksprovide a source ofinspiration, even for a

seasoned art therapist likeSharon DeNault.

“There’s a wisdom andmaturity that shinesthrough the work of thisyoung cancer patient,” shesays.

“Many cancerpatients feel compelledto leave a message through a workof art,” says Sharon.

One such person was a masonwho had helped install some of theceramic tiles on the spires in CancerSurvivors Park. In his final stages ofcancer, when he didn't have thestrength for physical therapy, he

would spend hours in art therapy tocreate a lasting message in the formof a ceramic tile.

Color - especially brightand pastel colors - isimportant in the works ofart therapy patients.

“We go through a lot ofred paint,” says Sharon.Black, on the other hand, isused sparingly.

One of the other things that theceramic tile project makes good useof is volunteers. “The whole com-munity gets involved - from themasons who put up the tiles, to thevolunteers who help me with theglazing,” says Sharon.

She sums up the significance ofart therapy using a story about the

parents of a cancer victim.In his final stages of

leukemia, a young boy paint-ed a ceramic tile through the

Cancer Institute’s art therapyprogram. After his passing,

the parents said that seeing thetile on display in Cancer SurvivorsPark is a positive permanentreminder of their son's life and spir-it.

Art therapy. Some would call it the art of

healing.

Special Thanks to our Newsletter Sponsor

Survivorship

There’s strength innumbers. United bythe spirit of Survivorship,

more than 1,500people gathered tocelebrate life duringthe NortheastRegional CancerInstitute’s SurvivorsCelebration on June13 at MontageMountain.

For its own part,the Cancer Institutehad a number tocelebrate, as itmarked the 12thanniversary ofSurvivors Celebration.

The theme forthis year’s event, “Unity: Together We Can,”depicted the strength that comes from thesupport of families, friends and volunteers.To signify this unity among such a largenumber of people, attendees of Survivors

Celebration were invited to gather for a groupphoto.

Cancer survivors Maureen Besancon, amedical records transcriptionist at WyomingValley Health Care System, and Bob

Vanderheyden ofOldies 92&100were the featuredspeakers. FrankAndrews ofWYOU-TVserved as emceefor the event.

Cancer sur-vivors, their fami-lies, caregiversand friendsenjoyed live musicvia Oldies 92 &100 live broad-cast, as well asfrom three

bands Pearl, Moonbagg and Doug Smith’sDixieland All-Stars Band and KathyElgaway. Jugglers and clowns, face painting,children’s games, caricatures, food andrefreshments rounded out the activities.

Survivorship

Joyce TresslerJoyce Tresslerand Curt Stevensand Curt Stevens

marked theirmarked their10th and 5th10th and 5th

years, respectiveyears, respective--ly, as co-chairs ofly, as co-chairs of

SurvivorsSurvivorsCelebrationCelebration ..

Cancer survivorCancer survivorKaren Reid (thirdKaren Reid (third

from left) wasfrom left) wasjoined by Karl andjoined by Karl andLois Fritz, grandLois Fritz, grand--children Matthew,children Matthew,Alex, and CatlyneAlex, and CatlyneCalvey, and herCalvey, and herhusband, Jim.husband, Jim.

BobBobVanderheyden ofVanderheyden ofOldies 92 & 100Oldies 92 & 100was one of thewas one of thefeatured speakfeatured speak--

ers for the event. ers for the event.

Balloon-Balloon-tying wastying waspopularpopularwith thewith the

young andyoung andthe youngthe youngat heart.at heart.

Board MemberBoard MemberDr. LisaDr. Lisa

Thomas enjoysThomas enjoyssome of thesome of theafternoon’safternoon’s

activities whichactivities whichincluded faceincluded facepainting andpainting andcaricatures.caricatures.

own are someown are someof the 25 of the 25 committee committee embers whoembers who

orked to planorked to planthe event. the event.

The “Family ofThe “Family ofSurvivors” Survivors”

features four features four generations.generations.

Clockwise, fromClockwise, fromback: Rev. Reesback: Rev. ReesWarring, SusanWarring, Susan

Anderson,Anderson,Dorothy Warring,Dorothy Warring,

and Emilyand EmilyAnderson.Anderson.

2004 Survivors Celebration SponsorsUnderwriter ($2,500)Penn Security Bank & Trust

Co.

Gold Sponsors ($1,000)Aventis PasteurDr. & Mrs. Phillip BoccagnoCommunity Medical Center

Healthcare SystemPeter & Laura FriederHematology & Oncology

Associates of NEPA, PCMoses Taylor Health Care

SystemMcCole Foundation Northeast Radiation Oncology

Center Northeastern Eye Institute G.R. Noto Electrical ConstructionScranton Hematology & Oncology

- Martin Hyzinski, MD The Tressler FamilyViewmont Medical ServicesWyoming Valley Health Care

System

Silver Sponsors ($500)Blue Cross of NEPA Burkavage Design Associates, Inc.Chamberlin & Reinheimer, Ins., Inc.Clinical Laboratories, Inc.Delta Medix, PC Employees of Gertrude Hawk

Chocolates Golden Care of NEPA, Inc.Highland AssociatesKane Is AbleKaufmann's, A Division of the May

Department Stores Co.Marian Community HospitalMcGrail Merkel Quinn &

AssociatesMercy Health PartnersMurray Insurance Agency

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

Vincent & Joan RiggThe Stevens FamilyUfberg Tressler & SileoUnited Gilsonite LaboratoriesG. Weinberger Co.

Bronze Sponsors ($250)Biogen IDEC sBMC Desks, Etc. sCitizens Savings Association sCocaCola Enterprises - Pittston SalesCenter sCommunity Bank & TrustCo. sConnor-Helring Associates, Inc.sRobert C. Cordaro, Esq. sCraftOil Corporation sCVS PharmacysFidelity Bank sFirst Liberty Bank& Trust sFirst National CommunityBank sFlorey Homes sFoley LawFirm sGastrointestinal Consultantsof NEPA, PC sMr. & Mrs. WilliamGilchrist sHealthcare ManagementResources sDavid & Carol Howell sMichael & Dolores Insalaco s Jerry'sSport Center, Inc. sLackawannaAmbulance, Inc. sMercy ImagingAssociates sAnn & Leo MoskovitzMOZIP sNortheast ImagingConsultants, PC sNortheast Penna.Imaging Center sNE RehabilitationAssociates, PC & The Healing ArtsCenter sNovartis Medical NutritionPDQ Print Center s Pennstar BankPNC Bank sSanofi-SynthelaboOncology sSchiff's Cash & CarryScranton Kiwanis Foundation sThatSpecial Woman sThe Bender-Hudacek Team Fund of the LuzerneFoundation sThe Center forIntegrative Medicine at InnerHarmony, PC sThe Perry Law FirmThe Quandel Group, Inc. sTheScranton Times sTimes LeadersT-R Associates, Inc.

Special Friends ($15-249)Anonymous sBedwick Foods, Inc.Marge Black sPeter & Sally BohlinCook's Pharmacy of Kingston sRon &Joan Davis sMark H. DeStefanoDiamond K sDiversified InformationTechnologies, Inc sAlfred & MitziEdelsohn sFacing Cancer TogetherSupport Group sDr. Vincent & MarleneGrattolino sTom & Judie HardingKnowles Associates sLackawannaMobile X-Ray, Inc. sJames & MurielLoughlin s The MONY GroupMatheson Transfer Co. sMary E.McDonald sJohn Ryan, State FarmInsurance sScranton Central LaborUnion sSurgical Specialists ofWyoming Valley, PC sThe AlbertFamily sLarry & Joan Theilgard sLearVon Koch, MD & Associates sWaverlyWomen's Club

Special ThanksAAA North Penn sKarl & MaureenBesancon sBest Western GenettiHotel & Conference CenterCommissioner Robert CordaroCommissioner A.J. MunchakCommissioner Randy CastellaniDagwood Deli sEndless MountainWater Co. LTD sGuardian WarrantyHilton Scranton & Conference CenterJC Penney sJCPenney CatalogCustomer Service Center Lackawanna Ambulance CompanyLynch Bus Service sBob Kollar,McDonald's sMartz Motor CoachMoonbagg sMichael Neff sPatsel'sPearl sWilliam Rosenstein & Sons Co.Russell's Restaurant sSt. Mary's St.Casimir's & All Saints Youth GroupKaren Viccica, Buttons The ClownVictoria Inn sRob Walsh sDianeWitko

For additional information about the Cancer Institute or Survivors Celebration, please contact: Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, 334 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510

Phone (570) 941-7984 sWebsite www.cancernepa.org

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and I face my final treatment.I looked back to the first Valentine’s Day when we first met.You gave me a ring that had two gold hearts with a diamond set.

Tomorrow the first battle is over, but I fear the war is not won.And I know whatever the future holds, I will not be alone.

I know you will help me calm my fears.I look forward to sharing a long life together for many, many years.

I pray every day that this is what God has in store for us.Raising our kids, and fulfilling our dreams, is an absolute must!

Growing old together and holding our grandchildren, I pray.I love you more than ever, as we share this Valentine’s Day.

Community Education & Outreach

7

Intheir own wordsAn unforgettable valentine EDITOR’S NOTE:

“IN their own words…”features a letter, storyor poem written by amember of the Family ofSurvivors.

This is an excerpt of apoem written onValentine’s Day byBarbara Stangline forher husband, David.Barbara, a breast cancerpatient, died in June.

To share your story withour readers, please call(570) 941-7984.

A powerful message about colorectal cancer

In his days a newscaster forWYOU-TV, Derry Bird waswell-known as a reporter

throughout NortheasternPennsylvania. People throughout theregion counted on Derry to deliverthe latest news and an occasionalweather forecast.

Today, the retired newscastercontinues to deliver a powerful mes-sage to the people of NortheasternPennsylvania as one of the “Facesof Colorectal Cancer” in a mediacampaign sponsored by the CancerInstitute.

Unlike the other individuals fea-tured in the ads and public serviceannouncements sponsored by theCancer Institute, Derry is not a can-

cer survivor. However, he does havefirsthand experience with the dis-ease. Several of Derry’s family mem-bers have had cancer; some diedfrom the disease.

While none of his family’s expe-riences involved colorectal cancer,Derry knows that it is one of theeasiest forms of cancer to detectand prevent through screening. Itwas a story that the former news-caster wanted to tell.

In the ads sponsored by theCancer Institute, Derry offers thefollowing advice. “Don't be mistak-en and think you’re bulletproofwhen it comes to colorectal cancer.Get screened!”

Derry is one of an increasing

number ofpeoplethroughoutthe regionwho areheeding thisadvice.

CancerInstitute sta-tistics showthat 41 percent of adults 50 yearsand older have been screened forcolorectal cancer this year. Thiscompares to an average screeningrate of 32 percent for the past fiveyears.

For screening information, con-tact your physician or the CancerInstitute at (570) 941-7984.

Bird

PCT Fall ClassicSeptember 13, 2004Huntsville Golf Club

Golf tournament to promote prostate cancer awareness

Sponsorship packages available$250 per player

For info, call 947-7446.

Family of Survivors ProgramOctober 2, 200410:30 am - 12 pm

Cancer Survivors Park, McDade ParkGathering of the Family of Survivors

Free and open to the publicFor info, call 941-7984.

It's all in the game!November 11, 2004

6 - 9 pmRadisson Lackawanna Station Hotel

An evening of fun, food and gamesProceeds benefit Cancer Institute

programmingFor info, call 941-7984.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael M. CostelloChairman

Judge Terrence R. NealonVice Chairman

Kathleen C. GraffTreasurer

Sr. Jean Coughlin, IHMSecretary

Harold Anderson Charles J. Bannon, MD

Susan S. Belin Barbara Bossi

James L. Brady Harmar D. Brereton, MD

Jackie Brozena Thomas Campbell, DO Jane M. Carlonas, Esq.

Denise S. Cesare Charles T. Curtin, MD

Mary Erwine, RN, MSN C. Richard Hartman, MD

William R. Host, MD Sue Kluger

Kenneth Lee, Esq. James May

Senator Robert J. Mellow Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn

Evelyn Rafalko McNulty Paula Roos

William W. Scranton, III Nayan Shah, MD Curtis N. Stevens

Lisa C. Thomas, MD Robert E. Wright, MD

NortheastRegionalCancerInstituteEasing the burdenof cancer inNortheasternPennsylvania

Partner HealthcareFacilitiesAllied ServicesScrantonCommunity MedicalCenter, ScrantonJohn Heinz Institute, Wilkes-BarreMarian CommunityHospital, CarbondaleMercy Health PartnersScranton & Wilkes-BarreMid-Valley Hospital, PeckvilleMoses TaylorHospital, ScrantonWyoming Valley Health Care System, Wilkes-Barre

Financial support forthe Cancer Institute’seducational programs andservices is provided by theHarry and JeanetteWeinberg Foundationand the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Health.

If you would like to receiveInsights and are not on ourmailing list, or have receivedthis in error, please call (570) 941-7984, or email editor@nrci.org.

UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON CAMPUS334 JEFFERSON AVENUESCRANTON, PA18510-4501

PHONE(570) 941-7984

WEB SITEwww.cancernepa.org

The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute is a non-profitcommunity-based agency working to ease the burden of cancer inNortheastern Pennsylvania. Focusing on research, education,and survivorship, the Cancer Institute is the only local cancerorganization that invests all of its resources in this region.

The four main components of the Cancer Institute are theEpidemiology Research Program, the Regional Cancer Registry,the Cancer Risk Program, and Community Education andSupport.

Partnering with the Cancer Institute to achieve its goals arecommunity leaders, volunteers, healthcare professionals, and acooperative network of nine partner organizations in NortheasternPennsylvania.

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSCRANTON, PAPERMIT NO. 347