Cancer survivors celebrate and inspire others

Jayne Laytin celebrated two anniversaries Saturday: 30 years of marriage, and her 12th year in remission from cancer.

Laytin, 56, of New Hyde Park, a breast cancer survivor, was at the annual Cancer Survivors' Day held by North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, with her husband, Mark, and daughter, Tanya. The event was held at North Shore/LIJ's Center for Advanced Care in Lake Success.

"It's a very emotional day because it brings back the memories of everything you've been through," Laytin said.

She said she also came to visit with hospital staff members who she said had nursed her back to health.

"Today is celebrating another day. I thank my lucky star," she said. "It's really a celebration of life."

More than 2,800 people attended the event, said Meredith Feinberg, vice president for cancer services administration for the hospital. Doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and their families were also invited, free.

"The most inspiring thing is to look around the room and see the survivors who come with such strength and enthusiasm," Feinberg said.

Melvin Cramer, 80, of Port Washington, was one of those enthusiastic participants. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008. Through treatment, he has been cancer-free for a year and half.

"I deserve to come here because I survived cancer," he said with a smile. "I feel great. God was with me 100 percent of the way."

Olympic gold-medalist skater Scott Hamilton was the keynote speaker. He beat testicular cancer in 1997 and brain cancer in 2004 and is now fighting another form of brain cancer.

"So much about cancer is creating a positive frame of mind and a powerful platform or foundation to better fight the disease," Hamilton said.

"Survivor celebrations like this serve an incredible purpose of giving people hope by surrounding themselves with others who have faced the disease, the treatment and the recovery," he said. "It's like a rally."