Atlantic General Hospital Celebrates National Cancer Survivor’s Day

BERLIN, Md. – For people like Valerie Williams, who battled a rare form of cancer in the last year, being able to celebrate six months of remission on National Cancer Survivors’ Day feels like a blessing, especially with the hospital.

“It’s great because the people here have been so nice taking care of us. And for them to do this, this shows that they still care. Even after they may have finished with their medical support, they’re still with us in a supportive way. So I think that’s great,” says Williams.

Atlantic Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Manoj Jain says that in addition to celebrating those who’ve won their battle with cancer, they want to uplift those still struggling.

Dr. Jain tells us, “I think our patients who have been treated for cancer are a great support for patients who are currently being treated with cancer. It gives them a sense of hope. It gives them a sense of relief to know that there are better days ahead for them,”

And you can take the word of Jean Kagel that those better days will come for those struggling with cancer as Jean herself has had on and off bouts with it for more than 20 years, but she doesn’t give up hope.

“I want everybody to see what a 24 year survivor looks like. And, you know, I just want to give them hope and that more discoveries, more more drugs, more treatments are being discovered every day. And we can survive,” says Kagel.

Both Atlantic General Hospital and the cancer survivors we spoke to say the best way to stop cancer is still early detection.