70th Anniversary

Finally, a chance to reflect on yesterday's luncheon at the Fairmount Royal York. It was a lovely lunch attended by donors to the Cancer Society- I am one of those people- not able to donate incredible amounts but longevity counts in terms of these things and I have been giving long enough to be invited; drivers- saints- people who drive cancer patients to their treatment sessions; researchers-there was one researcher at each table (I was at table 51) and staff members of the cancer society. Apparently, 70 years ago, a number of doctors from 9 provinces (Newfoundland had not joined Canada) met at the Royal York and established the Canadian Cancer Society with the goal of curing cancer. During the intervening years, cancer has not been cured but the survival rate has risen dramatically. The fact that I have friends who are cancer survivors speaks volumes about the work that has been done and continues to be done and 60% of cancer patients survive. I hope to hear at a future luncheon that all cancer patients are survivors.