The Survivor Circle Award was created this year as a way to recognize a cancer survivor in the metropolitan Denver area who has dedicated his or her time and energy to helping others in the local community. Mr. Anduri was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 1975 at the age of 22. He took this difficult diagnosis and turned it into a wonderful effort to help others who are suffering. He volunteers for CanSurmount, where he makes home and hospital visits to newly diagnosed cancer patients and their families to offer them support, insight and encouragement. He is also very active with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship in Denver as well as the American Cancer Society's Denver Chapter.
"It is refreshing to see someone take the difficult diagnosis of cancer and turn it into an opportunity to help those who are going through the same thing," said Prabhakar Tripuraneni, M.D., ASTRO President. "Mr. Anduri is a 30 year cancer survivor who has shown that good can come out of such an experience. His volunteerism is a testament his generous spirit."
The Survivor Circle was established in 2003 as a way for ASTRO to give back to the cities visited during the Society's Annual Meeting. Each year, ASTRO partners with two local organizations to build relationships between patient advocacy organizations and radiation oncologists as well as raise money to support the work these groups do to help people living with cancer and their families. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised through the Survivor Circle are given to the groups. This year the ASTRO has partnered with Gilda's Club Denver and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver, Inc.
The ASTRO Annual Meeting is considered the premier scientific meeting in radiation oncology and attracts oncologists of all disciplines, physicists, nurses, biologists and other health care professionals from throughout the world. The theme of this year's meeting is "Expanding the Horizons of Radiation Therapy" and the program will highlight emerging and innovative technologies, biological modifiers and systemic targeted radiotherapy with practical applications affecting the lives of cancer patients both today and tomorrow.
For more information on Survivor Circle, the Survivor Circle Award or ASTRO's 47th Annual Meeting, please visit http://www.astro.org/annual_meeting/index.htm. For more information on radiation therapy, visit www.rtanswers.org.
ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 8,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.