Visit Jim Hall's blog: Rapid Assessment Visit Janet Marshall's blog: In Moderation

New program brings cancer survivors together RANKINGS

Mary Washington Hospital will sponsor a new program for cancer survivors

Date published: 1/8/2009

BY JIM HALL

A new program begins this month that is designed to offer cancer patients a way to learn about the disease and to meet other survivors.

The Survivors' Symposium begins Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room at the Mary Washington Home Health office in Massaponax.

Dr. Sudeep Menachery, a Fredericksburg hematologist and oncologist, will speak on the long-term effects of chemotherapy. The program is free and open to the public.

The program is sponsored by the Oncology Resources Services division at Mary Washington Hospital and its cancer-navigator program.

Organizers met with cancer survivors in October to measure their interest in a program and to see which topics might interest them.

They hope to sponsor quarterly sessions that differ from a support group by combining an educational component with a chance for survivors to interact with each other.

"People do want to get together, and they want more information," said Messina Corder, cancer-program coordinator.

The Fredericksburg area is home to thousands of cancer survivors. Each year more than 1,000 people receive a cancer diagnosis, according to hospital figures. The number increases each year with the growing population.

For more information about the symposium, call 540/741-7765.

Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
Email: jhall@freelancestar.com

TOP FIVE CANCERS In 2007, 1,340 people in the Fredericksburg area were diagnosed with cancers of all types. The five most frequently occurring types of cancer were: TYPE 2007 2006 Breast 252 237 Lung 178 177 Prostate 171 159 Colorectal 130 117 Bladder 51 46 Cancer Program Annual Report, Mary Washington Hospital

Follow us on

Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 1/8/2009