Celebrating Cancer Survivors

National Cancer Survivor's Day will be observed on Sunday.  On Friday, cancer patients met at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Tulsa to celebrate their five-year survivor marks and to give new patients encouragement

"Every year we celebrate out five-year survivors, and today we created a new tradition called Hope Rounds. One of the important things about our hospital is that we have created a lot of opportunities for our patients to interact with one another. One cancer patient supporting another cancer patient, they can do for one another things that care providers and hospital folks can't do for patients," said CEO Steve Mackin of Cancer Treatment Center of America.

"No one should have to go through this," said Tammy Pallares, a five-year cancer survivor.  "The people that I've talked to have blessed my heart incredibly.  They're strong.  They're strong. You see the concern in their eyes, the worry, the fear."

Pam Loeffler was diagnosed with cancer the day after Mother's Day and seeing all of the people winning their battle with cancer gave her hope and courage for the battle she faces.

"I know that I'm going to be having six weeks of chemo and radiation," said Pam Loeffler.  "It's pretty amazing to see that there are people making it five years and longer.  That gives me a great deal of hope."

For Pam, survivor stories like Tammy Palleres' prove there is life after cancer.

"I'm so glad I met her.  She's like a little angel from heaven that came down," said Pam Loeffler.  "I know that it's going to be scary and there are side-effects, but I know I'll get through it."

"You see calmness in their eyes.  A relief that they're here and they know they are going to be taken care of.  It's OK, you don't have to walk it alone," said Tammy Pallares.