Five-Year Cancer Survivors Celebrate Life® at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® at Midwestern Regional Medical Center

Each honored with a red-carpet welcome, symbolic tree plantings and dove release

ZION, Ill., June 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) in Zion, IL rolled out the red carpet today to greet nearly 100 five-year cancer survivors honored in an inspirational and unique celebration -- Celebrate Life® 2012.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090612/CTCALOGO)

Twenty-three celebrants from Illinois joined 58 from 36 other states around the country including Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, New York and Texas to celebrate five precious years of survival and personal triumph over cancer.  It marked the 24th year that CTCA at Midwestern has hosted the event to recognize and celebrate its cancer survivors.  

During the Celebrate Life event, each five-year survivor was honored with the planting of a tree in their names to symbolize their fighting spirit and hope for years to come. The trees were added to what has fast become a forest planted over the years in honor of five-year cancer survivors at CTCA at Midwestern.  Each celebrant's name was also added to the "Tree of Life" wall located in the lobby at CTCA at Midwestern, which offers inspiration and hope to all of those just beginning their cancer journey at CTCA at Midwestern.

The event also included the release of white doves to symbolize each celebrant's fighting survival, and a luncheon and reception at which they enjoyed delicious gourmet offerings of natural and organic foods, some of which came directly from the CTCA-created Wholesome Temptation cookbook, that are a critical part of the CTCA patient treatment protocol.

Malignant melanoma survivor Rodger Scott, 47, of Silvas, IL recalled how he was inspired to be part of Celebrate Life 2012.  "Four years ago, my wife, Cindy, and I were back at CTCA at Midwestern for a check-up.  It just so happens that we were there while a Celebrate Life ceremony was taking place.  Cindy and I sat toward the back of the big tent listening to the speakers and watching the people celebrate. Cindy leaned over to me and said, 'Don't worry, when you reach your five years, you'll be here celebrating your life.'  I'm not sure I believed her at that time, but here I am," he said.

"We're extremely proud of our celebrants, and we're especially honored to acknowledge and celebrate their journey and continued success at Celebrate Life," said Anne Meisner, president and CEO at CTCA at Midwestern.  "At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we empower our patients and help them take control of their cancer.  Our team, which is committed to treating the whole person, provides state-of-the-art treatment protocols with fully integrated complementary therapies," she adds. "Each and every patient is treated as though they are a member of our own family."

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a network of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Washington – with a future location in Atlanta, Georgia.  CTCA provides a comprehensive, patient-centered treatment model that fully integrates conventional, state-of-the-art medical treatments with scientifically-supported complementary therapies such as nutrition, naturopathic medicine, psychological counseling, physical therapy and spiritual support to meet the special, whole-person needs of cancer patients with complex and advanced-stage disease. CTCA encourages patients and their families to participate in treatment decisions through its Patient Empowerment Medicine(SM) model.  For more information about Cancer Treatment Centers of America, go to cancercenter.com.

SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center