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Luzerne Borough lauds flower lady

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53 properties sold at Luzerne County tax auction

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Helen Hagenbaugh used to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day for 28 years.</p><p>When she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer at the age of 38, she knew she had to change her ways. Now, she&#8217;s proud to say she hasn&#8217;t picked up a cigarette in 15 years.</p><p>&#8220;It never occurred to me that I wouldn&#8217;t survive,&#8221; Hagenbaugh said.</p><p>She and many other cancer survivors, patients, caregivers and anyone else who has been affected by cancer came to share their stories and meet others who&#8217;ve been through the same predicament at the 25th annual Cancer Survivors Day gathering Saturday at Kirby Park. The event was hosted by the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute and featured an activity called &#8220;Circle of Survivors,&#8221; where the attendees gathered in a circle and took turns sharing a brief thought and a little bit about their own experience with cancer.</p><p>According to research by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, more than 2,000 residents of Luzerne County are diagnosed with cancer each year and approximately 833 of those diagnosed die from the disease. Each survivor was given a different colored ribbon to wear according to the type of cancer they had.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a way to network and find camaraderie in a low-key setting where there&#8217;s not a lot of pressure, but there is that support that you might not have known existed,&#8221; said Amanda Marchegiani, a representative from the Cancer Institute.</p><p>While there were some tears and emotional moments during the circle activity, there were also positive messages of prayer and hope. Hagenbaugh, who is from Lehman, was not a very spiritual person, but became so after her diagnosis.</p><p>&#8220;It changes your perspective when you come very very close to not living,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;I thank God for today, tomorrow.&#8221;</p><p>Charlene Good&#8217;s husband had lung cancer in 2006 and has suffered from kidney cancer since 2016. Half of his right lung had to be surgically removed. She also said that spirituality has been a big help for her. &#8220;I think God keeps us positive,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We&#8217;re pretty good with our faith.&#8221;</p><p>Richard Good came all the way from Northumberland just so he could meet other cancer patients who could understand what he&#8217;s going through. &#8220;I really enjoyed it,&#8221; he said about Saturday&#8217;s event. &#8220;I would definitely come again.&#8221;</p><p>Richard experiences shortness of breath and pain around his lungs at times. Charlene said the whole cancer experience can be very trying on the caregiver as well. She advises first-time caregivers to &#8220;have a lot of patience&#8221; with their loved one.</p><p>&#8220;It is stressful, I won&#8217;t lie,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But you have to be there to help.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A woman holds a bell that was given to her during Cancer Survivors Day at Kirby Park on Saturday. After each person introduced themselves and talked briefly about their history with cancer, they all rang a bell that they were given as a show of unity and support. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL100117CancerSurvivors3.jpg</photo0><caption0>A woman holds a bell that was given to her during Cancer Survivors Day at Kirby Park on Saturday. After each person introduced themselves and talked briefly about their history with cancer, they all rang a bell that they were given as a show of unity and support. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL100117CancerSurvivors2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Debbie Coy, of Dorrance, introduces herself to other cancer survivors during the Cancer Survivors Day event at Kirby Park on Saturday. Coy has been free of leukemia for five years now. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL100117CancerSurvivors2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Debbie Coy, of Dorrance, introduces herself to other cancer survivors during the Cancer Survivors Day event at Kirby Park on Saturday. Coy has been free of leukemia for five years now. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Kulsoom Khan</p><p>kkhan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Cancer survivors and caregivers find support in each other