Prescription for Cancer: Laughter, Faith

When JoAnne Rodarmel underwent chemotherapy last year, she felt alone and frightened until a nurse began to sing a soothing hymn with the words from Psalm 91.

“At that moment, I realized God was taking care of every detail, and I had nothing to fear,” said Rodarmel, whose condition was diagnosed as ovarian cancer a year and a half ago.

She scribbled that same Bible verse on a square piece of blue cloth Saturday as part of Cancer Survivor Day at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo. The inspirational message will be sewn into a cancer survivors quilt that will hang on the wall in the oncology unit.

More than 1,000 Orange County residents took part in festivities ranging from hula dancing in Fullerton to mural building in Santa Ana, but all the survivors, along with their families, doctors, nurses and friends, shared personal stories of triumph to push each other on in their fight for life.

In Mission Viejo, speakers encouraged positive attitudes among the 300-person audience, many of whom wore red buttons that read: “I’m a cancer survivor.” The survivors penciled in the number of years since the disease was diagnosed.

Trudy Grossman, told she had breast cancer 6 1/2 years ago, said laughter is the best cure for the disease. Though she had a breast removed, the 52-year-old Laguna Beach resident transformed half a green bra into a hat with rosettes on the sides, tulle hanging from the back and the shoulder strap under her chin.

“There are a lot of things you can do to take a situation that is not exactly wonderful and make a good thing out of it,” Grossman said, wearing the bra hat. “Be playful. Have a good time. We need to learn to laugh at ourselves and the situation.”

When Sharin Purdy’s hair was falling out from chemotherapy treatments, she decided to invite some friends over and have a “shave-the-head barbecue.” With Purdy’s head half shaved, the batteries in the razor went out. The group just grilled the burgers and finished the shaving later.

“My son would call me ‘Baldie’ and make fun of me, but that’s the way he handled it,” Purdy, 44, of Mission Viejo said.

Now, 2 1/2 years after her ovarian cancer was diagnosed, she took a friend to the “Celebration of Life” on Saturday to share in her lighthearted mood. The friend, 56-year-old Dean West of Mission Viejo, learned four months ago that he has prostate cancer.

“I didn’t want to come, but I’m really glad I did,” West said. “I can feel the positive energy. You see [survivor] badges that say 20, 40 years. I’m looking forward to wearing one of those.”

About 10 million Americans are surviving cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. But it takes faith, support and a cheery outlook, said Peter Bastone, who was found to have Hodgkin’s disease when he was 17 and is now the chief executive officer of Mission Hospital.

“You do it day by day,” Bastone said. “If you think you are going to die, you’re going to die quickly. You’ve got to fight. It’s emotional, but it makes you a better person.”

Grossman said she sees cancer as a blessing in her life. It put things in perspective, she said, and she makes sure she does one fun thing everyday, whether it is a walk on the beach or just a bubble bath.

“The word ‘cancer’ is a pretty scary word,” she said. “But once you get over the fear, the anger, the anxiety, it’s time to take control and fight it.”

She suggested that cancer survivors surround themselves with supportive people, watch funny movies and, most important, laugh. She passed out prescription bottles filled with M&M;’s that she called “positive attitude pills.”

Wearing a black cap to shade her bare head from the sun, Jeannette Egnew, 34, of Laguna Niguel said she didn’t need the “pills” but would give them to a friend.

“Losing my hair and losing a breast is nothing,” she said. “I’m alive, and I have so much to be thankful and grateful for.”