The Crowd

B.W. Cook

There are events, and then are there are events.

The 13th annual founder’s brunch of Circle 1000, supporting Hoag

Hospital’s Cancer Center, is one of the most special events in this

community. Some 500 local citizens filled the ballroom of the Four

Seasons Hotel, Newport Beach this week to declare war on cancer. A

remarkable $402,000 was raised.

Event chair Hyla Bertea beamed with confidence as she told the crowd

about the financial high water mark of the morning gathering.

“We did it,” added Circle 1000 founder and cancer survivor Sandy

Sewell, smiling and hugging family and friends in the audience of

survivors.

Actually, conquerors might be a more applicable word, for the crowd in

attendance was full of brave men and women who have not just survived

cancer of all kinds, but have conquered the attack on their bodies, minds

and souls. They had come to the Circle 1000 brunch to testify.

“I am here. I am better and stronger than ever. And I am a living

example that cancer can be beaten,” said one man who had taken off work

to be a part of the event that was largely attended by women.

Some of those were dedicated Circle 1000 founders committee members

Sheryl Anderson, Frances Applegate, Susan Bartlett, Patricia Cox,

Jacquelyn Beauregard Dillman, Arden Flamson, Betty Grazer, Jodi

Greenbaum, Stephanie Grody, Nora Jorgensen Johnson, Judy Steele and

Virginia Zenz.

Sewell introduced dignitaries from Hoag Hospital including Phil

Thompson, chairman of the Hoag Hospital Foundation, Dick Allen, chairman

of the Hoag Hospital Board, Michael Stephens, president and CEO of the

hospital, Robert Dillman, director of the Hoag Cancer Center, and Lincoln

Snyder, another member of the Hoag cancer team.

“I want you to meet Dr. Snyder,” Sewell told the crowd. “We are

donating today $250,000 to Hoag earmarked for use in the cell biology

lab, and $125,00 (toward a $500,000 pledge) to the breast imaging center

led by Dr. Snyder.

“Now don’t spend it all in one place, Dr. Snyder.”

Snyder shared recent developments in breast cancer treatment. Adding

to the excitement, Sewell shared with the crowd the progress on

fund-raising and planning for the proposed Hoag Women’s Health Center.

The eight-story medical tower will be a proud addition to the Hoag

Hospital center, advancing care in many areas for both women and men in

the community. The tower project is being led by community activists

Arden Flamson and Ginny Ueberroth.

The theme of the day, however, was conquering cancer.

Make no mistake, amid the fanciful introductions, salutations and

congratulations for a successful fund-raiser, just about everyone in the

room was simply thankful to be alive, to share in the blessing of another

day.

The emotion and the message was reemphasized by guest of honor,

actress Barbara Barrie. The co-star of NBC’s situation comedy “Suddenly

Susan,” featuring Brooke Shields in the title role, Barrie, an Academy

Award-nominated actress, is also a colon cancer survivor.

She has written a book about her experience titled, ‘Second Act: Life

After Colostomy and Other Adventures.”

Today, following successful treatment, including three surgeries,

chemotherapy, radiation and a permanent colostomy, Barrie said, “I feel

better than I’ve ever felt. Certainly better than I felt before

diagnosis.”

Barrie shared that she ignored the symptoms (including weight loss and

rectal bleeding) for years. Finally, when she sought medical attention,

the cancer required immediate and pervasive action.

“I am here today to tell you that it does not have to be that way for

any of you,” she said. “This cancer can be prevented and/or eliminated if

it is detected early enough. That means you must be tested, especially if

you are over 50 or have a family history of cancer.

“Furthermore, colon cancer is not just a man’s disease. In fact, the

rate of occurrence is just about 50-50 for men and women.”

Barrie, a slight woman with short silver hair, is in rehearsal for a

Broadway play with an opening set for later this month in New York, her

home town. She took two days off from the rigorous grind of rehearsal to

honor her scheduled appearance in Newport Beach for Circle 1000.

“Please don’t go home and tell your friends that you came to hear this

woman speak about cancer who had the most dreadful haircut,” Barrie

pleaded with her attentive audience.

“You see, I am playing this very liberal old grandmother in my play

and she will have this long braided ponytail which my hairdresser will

weave into my short hair, so I am on orders to let it grow,” she said,

pulling at the strands of her silver locks.

Actually, the hair story was both a follow-up and lead-in to Barrie’s

continuous comical and yet very generous praise of the Newport crowd.

“You see, I’ve toured the nation talking about colon cancer to just

about every city and every group you can imagine, and I have never seen

such a gorgeous gathering of cancer [fighting] advocates. I am absolutely

overwhelmed by your healthy and glamorous good looks. There are so many

blonds out there.

“And you are all dressed so well, wearing such lovely jewelry. We just

don’t look like you in New York.”

The crowd was charmed.

Perhaps it was Barrie’s method of grabbing the audience to deliver her

real message.

“You are your own health advocate,” she emphasized over and over in

her delivery. “Don’t let the doctor tell you that don’t need a test. Get

the test if you feel that you should, or find another doctor.”

Barrie went on to say that if a person is refused cancer screening for

any reason, they must demand it or find a way to fight for their right to

medical screening for cancer prevention.

“If you don’t fight, you are signing your own death warrant. There is

no room for excuses or passivity. And there is nobody else but you to

lead your own fight,” she added, sharing that she had recently been in

Washington, D.C. to testify before Congress at the behest of Sen. Ted

Kennedy (D- Massachusetts), chairman of the Council on Health Issues.

“No matter what your political persuasion, Kennedy is the man fighting

for your health in Washington,” Barrie said.

At this time he leads the campaign to sign a bill into law forbidding

HMOs and other health agencies from denying preventive treatment such as

the colon cancer screening test.

“Nobody wants to deal with this issue. At least not until after the

election in November,” Barrie stated. “But I assure you that Kennedy is

fighting for your best interest. He is your health advocate in Congress,

regardless of your political affiliation.”

Colon cancer, according to Barrie, has not been a subject discussed

openly.

“It’s not great dinner conversation,” she mused, using words such as

bowel, rectum, feces, colostomy and more to make her point.

“Charming words,” she said, moving into another forbidden territory --

sex after colostomy. “You know, I do get asked about sex frequently when

I speak, and I want to tell you that I lead a very active and healthy

life. I asked my husband if the the colostomy pouch bothered him, and his

response was a simple no. No, he said, adding, ‘in fact, I think it’s

kind of adorable.”’

There was an audible sigh in the ballroom. One woman said in a loud

whisper, “Now that’s a wonderful husband.”

Clearly, it was a very personal topic that reached out and touched

many people, who in the words of Barrie, looked gorgeous, yet shared

devastating life statistics because of their intimate involvement with

cancer and its resulting impact on lives.

The charming Hyla Bertea invited Marion Halfacre from Traditional

Jewelers, Fashion Island up to the podium to present Barrie with a fine

Lalique Bowl as a tribute from the store on behalf of Circle 1000

members.

Applauding Barrie and her message were Aileen Arenson, Julie Ball,

Ronna Shipman, Susan Moore, Priscilla Moore, Laurie Capello, Denise De

Santis, Gigi Spragins, Marilyn Wooten, Val Zwerling, Elizabeth Colyear

Vincent, Marilyn McIntyre and Billur Wallerich.

The program was dedicated to survivors of cancer, as is the tradition

of Circle 1000. In its 13-year existence, more than $3.5 million has been

raised to fight the fight.

“We do make a difference and we are proud of it,” Sewell said.

Next year there will be even more survivors in the crowd, with more

stories to share about the value of one life.

B.W. COOK’S column appears every Thursday and Saturday.