The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology has selected Debra DeMella as the recipient of the 2008 Survivor Circle Award. Ms. DeMella will receive her award and a $1,000 check to be given to the charity of her choice Monday, September 22, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. during ASTRO's 50th Annual Meeting, which will take place September 21-25, 2008, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
The Survivor Circle Award recognizes a person living with cancer in the Boston metropolitan area who has devoted his or her time to helping others who are living with cancer in their community. Ms. DeMella was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 1991 and underwent two surgeries and stereotactic radiation between 1991 and 2000 to treat her cancer.
After her diagnosis, Ms. DeMella, a registered nurse, decided to further her education and became a registered polarity practitioner, a Reiki master, and a Realizing Your Sublime Energies practitioner. She used these healing therapies at Merrimack Valley Hospice in Lawrence, Mass., where she volunteered to treat patients who requested complementary healing therapies. She also co-facilitated presentations at The New England Hospice and Palliative Care Education Conference on anticipatory grief.
"Volunteering is important to me because what we leave behind is our legacy," Ms. DeMella said. "With a diagnosis like [brain cancer] everything changes."
In 2003, Ms. DeMella founded Brainstormers, a brain tumor survivor support group in North Andover, Mass., for brain tumor patients, their families and their caregivers. She also served on the board for The Healing Exchange Brain Trust, a nonprofit organization that's mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with brain tumors and related conditions.
Last year, Ms. DeMella joined The Center for Cancer Support and Education (CCSE) in Arlington, Mass., as a wellness facilitator offering polarity sessions and demonstrations on promoting wellness. She also founded an advanced cancer support group at The CCSE for patients with advanced and metastatic cancer.
"The fact that Ms. DeMella used a devastating diagnosis like brain cancer as an opportunity to reach out to others who are living and coping with cancer is truly inspiring," Patricia Eifel, M.D., FASTRO, ASTRO president and a professor of radiation oncology at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson CancerCenter in Houston, said. "ASTRO is honored to have her representing the Survivor Circle this year."
The Survivor Circle was established in 2003 as a way for ASTRO to give back to the cities that it visits during its Annual Meeting. Each year, ASTRO partners with two local organizations to establish relationships with patient advocacy organizations and radiation oncologists and to raise money to support these groups in their work to help people living with cancer and their loved ones. This year ASTRO has partnered with The Kenneth B. Schwartz Center and The Wellness Community – Greater Boston.
The ASTRO Annual Meeting is the premier scientific meeting in radiation oncology and attracts more than 11,000 attendees of various disciplines, including oncologists, physicists, biologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals from all over the world. The theme of this year's meeting is "50 Years of Learning, Caring and Collaboration in the Treatment of Cancer Patients" and the program will highlight the accomplishments of ASTRO's past, while addressing lessons learned in radiation oncology and goals for the future of the specialty.
For more information on Survivor Circle, the Survivor Circle Award or ASTRO's 50th Annual Meeting, please visit www.astro.org. For more information on radiation therapy, please visit www.rtanswers.org.
If you would like an interview with Ms. DeMella please contact Beth Bukata at 703-839-7332 before September 19 or on site at 617-954-3377.
ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 9,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy.