Jon B. Schandler
Photo credit: Staff

On June 3, a record gathering of more than 500 cancer survivors, their families, friends, and caregivers attended the 12th Annual White Plains Hospital Center National Cancer Survivors Day celebration. It’s hard to believe that our first Cancer Survivors Day was held in the hospital cafeteria. Now, it takes a large hotel conference hall to accommodate the outpouring of celebrants—many traveling long distances—to express their shared experience of fighting cancer and reaffirm their deep appreciation for life.

The remarkable expansion of our Cancer Survivors Day celebration is great news because it dramatically underscores how the significant advances by the medical profession in detecting and treating cancer have led to greater survival rates for many in our community and elsewhere. Thanks to new and exciting breakthroughs in sophisticated procedures, patients are living longer and many are cancer free.

We also take encouragement from the American Cancer Society’s recent data showing a decrease in the number of cancer-related deaths. This trend should improve as the public increasingly follows the Society’s recommendations to lower the risk of cancer by undergoing timely screening tests, making healthy food choices, keeping fit, and not smoking.

This year’s celebration coincided with the announcement that our hospital’s top-ranked cancer program—which has been accredited since 1993—won the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Our hospital was one of only 31 nationwide and the only one in Westchester or the New York metropolitan area to be recognized for the prestigious award.

The hospital received the award as a result of on-site accreditation surveys that the American College of Surgeons performed last December. That survey demonstrated an extremely high level of compliance with key standards representing the full scope of the hospital’s cancer program. The survey also reaccredited the hospital’s cancer program for an additional three years with commendation—the highest designation possible for a community hospital. The hospital’s broad-based cancer program includes the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center, open since 1999 and the only freestanding outpatient cancer center in Westchester. The Center boasts a radiation oncology department that is accredited by the American College of Radiology and has the newest linear accelerator; the Lowenthal Infusion Center, which offers transfusions and chemotherapy; the Cancer Genetics Program; and physician offices. The Dickstein Center also offers complementary therapies such as yoga and art therapy. These programs work in tandem with other cancer program services, which include the most advanced diagnostic radiology services in the area and a busy robotic surgery program.

But, there is another measure of the cancer program’s success that is much harder to quantify, yet is very real for those of us who have had the good fortune to attend the annual Cancer Survivors Day celebrations. Being together with this remarkable group of individuals is an uplifting experience. It’s equally inspiring to hear the personal experience of a keynote speaker who has battled cancer. This year, Louise Ciero of White Plains told us how she has embraced life more fully since 2002, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has not only volunteered more of her time to help others—including patients at our hospital—but at 57, she has taken up rollerblading and has pursued new ventures like parasailing, jet skiing, and snorkeling.

At the close of her comments, she asked all of the members of the hospital’s cancer program—the physicians, nurses, technicians, and other staffers—to stand up and be recognized for their expertise and compassionate care. She declared:  “All of them deserve our applause because none of us would be survivors without this wonderful team.” That was quite a round of applause. We at the hospital wish to return the favor and applaud once again the hundreds of cancer survivors like Louise for their bravery and their families and friends for being there for them. They are an inspiration to all of us.  

Jon B. Schandler is president and CEO of White Plains Hospital Center. He can be reached at jschandler@wphospital.org.