Hundreds of people gathered for National Cancer Survivors’ Day on June 5 at the Double Tree Hotel in Tarrytown. Many at the celebration were cancer survivors, including White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach.
Also present were many doctors and nurses from the White Plains hospital, with White Plains Hospital Chief of Surgery and Surgical Director of the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center Mark Gordon, among them.
“We’re very fortunate to work in a center where there are so many talented individuals. We’re just lucky to have such a facility in Westchester," Gordon said.
The keynote speaker was prostate cancer survivor Alan Lowenfels, who spoke to the audience about his battle with and victory over cancer. He spoke of the five most important things that helped him overcome his illness: accepting the diagnosis, understanding the diagnosis, planning for recovery, visualization of recovery and giving back to the community through counseling cancer patients.
His speech concluded with a standing ovation.
The event ended with an invitation for people to share their personal stories about cancer. Those who spoke offered words of inspiration and hope and a message to celebrate life.
