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500 Cancer Survivors, Family And Friends Attend Mercy's National Cancer Survivors Day Observance On June 7th

On National Cancer Survivors Day, Sunday, June 7, 2009, internationally renowned surgical oncologist Dr. Armando Sardi, Director, The Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy Medical Center, convened his annual reunion of patients who have received HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraoperative Peritoneal Chemotherapy) treatment, as well as their families and friends. The event took place from noon till 1:30 p.m. at Pisces on the 15th floor of the Hyatt Regency Baltimore which offered spectacular waterfront views.

Guest speaker was Dr. Thomas McAvoy, whose first wife, Jessie, was a patient of Dr. Sardi's. Since Jessie's death from peritoneal cancer in 2004, he has been a major force behind much of the research being conducted into the causes and treatment for peritoneal cancer. Dr. McAvoy attended the luncheon with his wife, Susan, and his family. In all, 40 patients and their families attended the reunion. Approximately 500 cancer survivors, their families and friends attended the Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy 'ss annual "Celebration of Life," recognizing National Cancer Survivors Day, 2 p.m. in the hotel’s ballroom. The program included inspiring music, prayer and reflection and lighthearted entertainment. All luncheon guests were invited to stay for the celebration that followed.

Dr. Sardi one of the select few surgical oncologists in the world who employs leading edge procedures such as HIPEC to treat advanced stages of abdominal cancers. HIPEC is an aggressive surgical treatment reserved for patients with peritoneal surface malignancies. The procedure, which can take up to 15 hours to perform, combines the extensive removal of cancerous tumors with a highly concentrated dose of heated chemotherapy applied directly to the peritoneal cavity.

40 patients of Dr. Armando Sardi and their families gathered on National Cancer Survivors Day for a special reunion at the Hyatt Regency.
Karolyn and Jerry Lewandowski	Deborah Harris-Cates and Bonnie Frank
Kayla, Kelly and Judith Fields, with Cleda Brown
Tom and Susan McAvoy, Dr. Armando Sardi