Five-Year Cancer Survivor from Upper Marlboro Celebrates Life

James Landen, a leukemia cancer survivor from Upper Marlboro, joined more than 100 five-year cancer survivors on June 6 to celebrate five years of cancer survivorship.

Landen also took part in a tree-planting ceremony, symbolizing the wonder of life and growth. The activities were all part of the annual Celebrate Life event held at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center in suburban Chicago, a time for cancer survivors to come together to rejoice in their personal milestones and to support one another as they continue their cancer survivorship journey.

The 2014 Celebrate Life event marks the 26th year that a tree has been planted in honor of each five-year survivor, providing the nation with a thriving forest of life-giving trees representing cancer survivorship. Participants honored represented 41 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Island. 

“In the past five years, I’ve enjoyed being with my family who supports me and brought me to CTCA. I’ve also learned to be more patient and understanding,” said Landen. “Being a five-year survivor means that I have been given another chance in life and I am very thankful for role CTCA played in my care.”

The 2014 Celebrate Life event also included a gourmet luncheon with natural and organic foods prepared by the culinary team from the Wholesome Bistro, the CTCA in-hospital restaurant. Each celebrant was honored with an engraved gold leaf, which is displayed on one of three ever-growing “trees of life” located within the hospital.

Before the day concluded, many of the five-year survivors walked through the hospital to offer comfort and support to other patients and family members who are battling cancer.

For more information on Celebrate Life or CTCA at Midwestern visit www.cancercenter.com/midwestern.