CancerConnections

'Making a Difference' Focus of National Cancer Survivors Day at IU Cancer Center

Bruce Hetrick, whose life has been indelibly touched by cancer, will present the keynote address in May at the 2007 Celebration of Life at the Indiana University Cancer Center. A cancer survivor, father of a cancer survivor and widower of a cancer victim, Hetrick is making his mark in the fight against the disease in more ways than one.

The Indianapolis communications and marketing executive has had more contact with cancer than most people can ever imagine. Both Hetrick and one of his sons were successfully treated for cancer and his wife, Pam Klein, was a nonsmoker who died of lung cancer nearly 3 years ago. By publicly sharing this cancer journey, Hetrick brings cancer to a new level of awareness. His emotional testimony and poignant newspaper accounts of Klein’s illness and death were instrumental in the passage of smoking bans in Indianapolis and communities throughout the state.

Hetrick, who is chairman and CEO of Hetrick Communications, will serve as honorary chair of cancer survivorship activities hosted by the cancer center’s CompleteLife program.

“Survivorship is a genuine celebration for everyone touched by cancer – the patient, family and friends, and the caregiver team,” said Caroline Carney Doebbeling, M.D., director of the CompleteLife program and an associate professor of psychiatry and of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine.  “We invite everyone who has been part of the IU Cancer Center program to participate in this event.”

The survivorship event, “Celebration of Life,” is May 29 and 30 in the atrium of the Indiana Cancer Pavilion. It is among hundreds planned across the country in recognition of National Cancer Survivors Day.  Activities will include a health fair featuring a variety of cancer agencies, education displays and creative activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. 

Hetrick will deliver the event’s keynote address at noon May 30 which will precede a cancer-survivors panel discussion. The panel includes Hetrick, Josh Brown, Vickki Marconi and Jeanie Neal, all of central Indiana. 

The IU Cancer Center’s annual Torchbearer Awards, which recognize individuals associated with the IU Cancer Center, will be presented May 30 at 5 p.m. The award is presented to an exemplary patient or family or a faculty or staff member who “has transcended the experience of cancer, making a positive contribution to others with cancer in their life.” Positive contributions may include advocacy, education, philanthropy or clinical research.

This year nominations will be accepted from the general public in recognition that many individuals throughout the Indianapolis area have experiences with the IU Simon Cancer Center.

Nominations may be submitted by filling out a form available at cancer.iu.edu/ncsd and writing an accompanying narrative of 500 words or less that describe how the nominee best exemplifies the award.  Deadline for nominations is May 11, 2007.

For more information about “Celebration of Life,” visit www.cancer.iu.edu/ncsd or call 1-888-600-4822. RSVPs are recommended for both the keynote address and Torchbearer Award Ceremony.