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CELEBRATE LIFE Ladies Cancer Support Group Sara Benson, 941-575-6765, saraben918@earthlink.net

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May 3 was our last “official” meeting of the year. It feels weird to say that, as we usually end the
year in June with a great big gab session. We’ve found that many of our ladies are on their way by
the end of May and we don’t get a chance to say “see ya later” because it’s too late. So, we
decided to make May the last one before summer, go to one of our favorite places for lunch, and
say our goodbyes while we’re still all together.

We also ended our year on a very high note. Dr.
Nazanin Khakpour was our much anticipated
speaker and she lived up to everything we had
heard about her. Not only is she a fine breast cancer surgeon, but she
was recognized as one of
America’s top cancer
doctors in 2015, 2016
and 2017, and also one
of America’s most
compassionate and
caring doctors. It wasn’t
much of a surprise that
we had a lot of visitors
who wanted to listen to
Dr. Khakpour speak, as
so many of them were her patients. It was almost like old home week with
all the smiles and hugs going around the room. Our group wants to thank
Dr. Khakpour for taking the time to come all the way from Tampa to meet
with us. For those of us who had never met her, we could definitely
understand why the ladies who were at the meeting have spoken so
highly of her.

We ended our time together by having a great lunch at Hurricane Charley’s. There were sixteen of us and it always
amazes me what good friends we’ve become. Each one of us has experienced what the lady sitting next to us felt when
she was diagnosed and heard those three nasty words “you have Cancer”. She knows what it’s like to have radiation or
chemo the first time. She knows what it’s like when little children poke their moms and point and ask why you’re bald.
She also knows what it’s like to “hope”. Some
of these women have been talking to each
other for years and others are new at this thing
called cancer. It doesn’t matter. They all have
one thing in common and that’s the “C” word.
However, that’s not all we talk about. Most of
us have children and grandchildren, and in
some cases, “greats”. Many of us have had
interesting careers and others have been
stay-at-home moms. Some travel to the north
for the summer and the rest of us remain in
sunny Southwest Florida. Some play mah
jongg or bridge; a few are boaters and a
handful play golf. But in the long run, whoever
we are or whatever we do, we are the ladies of
‘Celebrate Life’ and that’s what we’re doing
every day…celebrating.

We’ll be meeting for lunch on the first
Wednesday of June, July and August. Why
don’t you think about joining us? Just give me
a call and I’ll be glad to let you know where
we’re going to be. My first experience with
‘Celebrate Life’ was at lunch during the summer. I didn’t know a soul when I walked into the restaurant, but by the time I
left, I knew I was in the right place and I would keep on coming back. It’s now been 11 years. Come on, give us a try.

Our next regular meeting will be September 6. I’ll be around during the summer and you can be sure that I’ll remind you
before that date.

See you soon.
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