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Yale Cancer Center Cancer Survivors Day 2009
Dr. Mel Goldstein interviews Dr. Thomas Lynch, Jr., Director of Yale Cancer Center.
On June 3rd, Yale Cancer Center held its annual Cancer Survivors Day at Yale’s West Campus in Orange. It was a day of celebration and empowerment hosted by WTNH meteorologist Dr. Mel Goldstein, a long time multiple myeloma survivor. The event provided a place for survivors to come and receive information on cancer survivorship, and to interact with other survivors.
Dr. Thomas J. Lynch Jr., director of Yale Cancer Center and physician-in-chief of the new Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, spoke at the event on the importance of the survivorship movement, and the direction in which he hopes to take it with the new Cancer Hospital. “The survivorship movement is important because it addresses social, physical and emotional needs of patients. It informs patients and their families of therapies that could cure them or prolong life. We need ways to support the full patient, with exercise and spirituality,” said Dr. Lynch.
The keynote speaker at the event was Dr. David Katz, Associate Professor of Public Health and director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale School of Medicine. His address was entitled “Feeding Your Recovery: We are What we Eat, Even after Cancer.” Dr. Katz covered topics such as the issue of vitamin supplements, nutrition, and exercise, and answered several questions from the audience. The day also included talks from experts in the fields of prevention and research, and concluded with a discussion with members of the Connecticut Challenge Survivorship Clinic at Yale Cancer Center.
Many local cancer organizations were also in attendance and available for people to ask questions and were handing out information about their organization. The Wellness Community of Southern Connecticut, The Connecticut Challenge, and CANCERcare, were among several of the groups that attended.
The message for the day was made clear in Dr. Mel Goldstein’s welcoming remarks. “People should look at each day that comes and be thankful for life and all the great medical expertise Yale has to offer. There may not be a good time to have cancer, but this isn’t a bad time, with all the strides that have been made.” This was a special day for cancer survivors meant to provide hope and guidance for the future.