St. Mary’s Hospital’s Regional Cancer Center will host a look at cancer from its closest observers today — from the physicians, nurses and technicians who treat it and the patients who suffer from, and survive it.
Displays from around the world and from the Grand Valley will be on exhibit from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through June 13 at the center in the hospital’s advanced-medicine pavilion, 750 Wellington Ave. Visitors should use entrance 25.
Art from oncologists and patients from around the world are included in “Expressions of a Cancer Journey,” which is on tour, and works from western Colorado people, “Art from the Heart,” will be shown.
The displays let people see cancer from a different perspective, said Debra Hesse of the center, which sees 1,200 new cancer patients each year.
The displays are part of LiveStrong Day, the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s one-day initiative to raise awareness and funds for the cancer fight.
Armstrong, an American cyclist, survived cancer to win the Tour de France a record six times.
Oncologists and people with cancer won’t be the only ones at the center’s display.
Redlands Middle School counselor Kirk Golba will take three students whose lives have been touched by cancer to the event. Involving young people in such events is important because it can change the way disease is perceived, Golba said.
“So much of cancer can be beat,” he said. “But we have 180,000 people a year who could have been saved.
“It doesn’t have to be a death sentence.”
A survivors’ photo studio that had been planned won’t be available, but all other activities are set to go forward, Hesse said.
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E-mail Gary Harmon at gharmon@gjds.com.
