WESTLAKE : 350 Gather to Honor Fight Against Cancer

Choosing to celebrate life over sickness and death, about 350 people from across Ventura County and the western San Fernando Valley gathered Sunday for a barbecue in honor of National Cancer Survivors Day.

Held on the Westlake grounds of the Valley / Ventura County Wellness Community offices, cancer patients, their friends, families and health care workers munched barbecued chicken dinners, drank pink lemonade and listened to a country music disc jockey. They also took time to reflect on their lives and struggles.

“The point of this event is to let people with cancer know they’re not alone,” said Marty Nason, a Wellness Community nurse who helped organize the event. “We also want to stress to members of the public that people do survive cancer and that they can and do lead meaningful lives.”

The free event was sponsored by community organizations and local corporations in recognition of the more than 8 million cancer survivors in the United States.

It was also planned to highlight the scientific advances in early detection, treatment and research.

Sporting a wide-brimmed straw hat, Barbara Beautz, 55, of Simi Valley was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988.

After completing chemotherapy, Beautz said Sunday that her cancer is in remission and that she feels well.

Getting the disease, she said, “wakes you up. Today and what goes on today is what is important. You learn very quickly not to worry about tomorrow.”

For Megan Dainty, 21, of Westlake Village, the swollen lymph node near her left shoulder told her that something was not right with her health.

Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in September, Dainty says she finished a grueling series of chemotherapy and radiation treatments last month.

“This gathering shows that having cancer is OK,” she said. “Yes, you can get sick a few days a month during the treatments, but you learn not to let that slow you down. Having cancer really teaches you what’s important in your life.”

Like Dainty, Ginny Baker, of Camarillo is also battling for her life.

Baker, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year, said she was depressed at first.

But she has since learned to deal with the disease head-on and not let it rule her life.

“Some days are tougher than others,” said Baker, 57. “But we’re fighting it. The nice thing about events like this one is that it shows we’re not alone, and there are people and groups ready to help.”