Wearing a variety of pink hats, pins and ribbons, cancer survivors and their care givers gathered at the new Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center in Santa Clarita June 14 to celebrate life after cancer.

"This is the first of many annual Celebration of Life ceremonies here at our Valencia cancer center site," said Kerry Carmody, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center administrator.

Open since last November, the center located in the Santa Clarita Valley Medical Plaza at the intersection of McBean Parkway and Valencia Blvd. provides radiation oncology services and cancer specialists to this rapidly growing community.

"Comforting and curing cancer patients is a pure joy," said Dr. Helen Chen, one of the radiation oncologists at the center. "I'm forever impressed by the strength of my patients. Being survivors, you are the role models for the patients undergoing treatment now. They seek support from you, and, as survivors, you're the advocates for oncology organizations."

Five-year cancer survivor, Mary Ann Madden spoke about the importance of cancer patients keeping their spirits up. "Hope is the one thread that gets you through every day," said Madden. She encouraged patients to "turn your ribbon around" referring to the single-looped ribbons, often pink, worn by cancer patients.

"The bottom [of the ribbon] is a teardrop and that's in memory of those who've gone before us and paved the way. The top is a 'v' for victory --- victory over cancer," said Madden.

"Always choose hope if you're diagnosed with cancer," added Maria Falasca, a seven-and-a-half year breast cancer survivor. Falasca told The Tidings following the ceremony, which concluded with a release of doves, that she has tried to attend the Celebration of Life events held at Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center in Mission Hills every year to show her support to patients undergoing treatment.

Having been very happy with the "aggressive" treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, she received at the Providence Mission Hills facility, the Santa Clarita resident said she is pleased that Providence has opened a regional center in her hometown. Like Falasca, Madden has attended several life ceremonies at Providence Medical Centers.

A parishioner at St. Francis Xavier Church in Burbank, Madden said friends from the parish and her work at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank helped her get through her cancer ordeal.

"There's points in your treatment when you're flat on your back, you're sick as a dog and you just can't believe you're going to get better. Church members helped me tremendously," said Madden.

Chaplain Philip Abraham, who leads a support group at the Santa Clarita cancer center every other Wednesday in partnership with The American Cancer Society, agreed that maintaining supportive relationships is vital to a patient's recovery.

"The survivors here today have certainly fought a battle fiercely and courageously by trusting the people who care for them," declared Abraham. He ended his words with a prayer, "…Teach me, God, how to bend with life, how to repair what I cannot repair, how to live with my questions and how to rejoice in your wonders and to embrace the mysteries of life … Remind me that I am not alone, that I am needed, that I am heard, that I am loved. Remind me to celebrate life and enjoy the ride."