BY EARLENE WARD - FOR THE SIERRA STAR
The Madera County
Board of Supervisors has issued a proclamation designating May 15,
2004 as cancer survivor day in conjunction with the fifth annual
American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Eastern Madera County.
Cancer survivors will be special guests at the Relay which will
be held from 9 a.m. Saturday, May 15, until 9 a.m. Sunday, May 16
at Wasuma Elementary School in Ahwahnee. District 5 Supervisor Gary
Gilbert will present the proclamation to ACS officials and Relay
chairmen at the Relay May 15. The proclamation notes that cancer
can strike at any age and it kills more children from birth to age
14 in California than any other disease. Among adults it occurs
more frequently with advancing age.
About 15 million Californians now living will eventually be diagnosed
with cancer, about two in five, according to present rates. Over
the years, cancer will strike approximately three of four families.
In 2004, about 138,045 Californians will be diagnosed as having
cancer; 515 of these patients will live in Madera County.
In the 1900s, few cancer patients had any hope of long-term survival.
In the 1930s, less than one in five was alive at least five years
after treatment. In the 1940s it was one in four, and in the 1960s
it was one in three. Today, more than 90,000 Californians who get
cancer will be alive five years after diagnosis.
The proclamation further notes that cancer is a large group of diseases
characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
If the spread is not controlled or checked, it results in death.
However, many cancers can be cured if detected and treated promptly,
and many others can be prevented by lifestyle changes, especially
avoidance of tobacco.
Through the proclamation, the Madera County Board of Supervisors
recognizes all cancer survivors for their courage and bravery. All
survivors are invited to participate in the Relay For Life as special
guests. Survivor registration begins at 7 a.m. May 15 at Wasuma
Elementary School in Ahwahnee. There will be a cancer survivors
victory lap at 9 a.m. A special survivors breakfast and gift giveaway
will be held at 9:30 a.m. Dinner for survivors and participants
will be from 5-6:30 p.m.
The luminaria ceremony, honoring survivors and remembering those
who have lost their battle with cancer, will begin at dusk.
As guests at the Relay, survivors will receive an event survivor
shirt, cancer survivor lapel pin and all meals. For more information,
call Ruby Clark, survivorship chair, (559) 683-0237.
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