Riverside Community Hospital Honors Cancer Survivors at 13th Annual National Cancer Survivors Dinner

RIVERSIDE, AUGUST 22, 2016 –Riverside Community Hospital welcomed Cancer Survivors for a special dinner presentation on Wednesday, August 3rd. Over 100 Survivors joined the hospital’s Cancer Center for an elegant dinner with featured guest speaker, Lee Tomlinson, P.E.M., whose speech was titled, Patient Extraordinaire on a Mission, The Blessing of Cancer…Seriously!

The focus of the event is to bring awareness that life does go on and can be enjoyable after cancer diagnosis. Each year, the hospital has a different theme and invites a special guest speaker to share their personal experience with cancer and how they overcame their challenges.

Lee Tomlinson, who travels widely delivering his Keynote addresses and seminars on compassion, spoke to the group of survivors on remaining positive during times of distress caused by cancer. “I typically speak to physicians, nurses and medical providers, but as a previous cancer patient myself; it was an absolute honor to have a conversation with my fellow survivors and come together to celebrate our cancer successes. It was a great opportunity for me to share my experience and bring a little laughter to the room. Going through a life-changing experience such as cancer is not easy and is a challenging time for every patient, but my focus was to share my cancer success and hopefully in the process help others look for and find the many blessings that are there if we’re willing to look hard enough.” Tomlinson continued, “I’ve become a stronger person as a result of cancer. I’ve become more courageous, more willing to take risks, totally be myself and have more FUN! I hope my story inspires others to continue to know that life after cancer can in many ways be better than it was before it.”

Tomlinson’s speech brought laughter to the room and provided inspiration to cancer survivors and those in attendance. The event also gave past patients a chance to reconnect with the staff who treated them at RCH’s Cancer Center, “I didn’t know the Cancer Center was here, but to find a team who truly cares and shows so much compassion for their patients is amazing” said Yara Pacheco. She continued, “This was the best event I’ve ever attended!”

At the conclusion of the event, each survivor was given a certificate and gift symbolizing the celebration of life.

13th Annual National Cancer Survivors Dinner

13th Annual National Cancer Survivors Dinner

13th Annual National Cancer Survivors Dinner

13th Annual National Cancer Survivors Dinner

About the Cancer Center

The Cancer Center at Riverside Community Hospital is a milestone for the community. Providing diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, the Cancer Center offers residents superior cancer care close to home. Riverside Community Hospital is proud to offer the latest technology in cancer treatments with the CyberKnife Robotic Stereotactic Radiosurgery System, which is one of the most advanced forms of non-invasive treatments options for cancer patients. Being the only hospital in the Inland Empire with this technology, patients no longer have to travel long distances to access more advance treatments for cancer, offering patients new hope. This 8,200 square foot
facility gives local patients the benefit of Riverside Community's uncompromised dedication to the health of the community it serves. The Cancer Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons and received the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2008.

About Riverside Community Hospital

Founded in 1901, Riverside Community Hospital is a 373 licensed bed, full-service acute care hospital in the heart of the Inland Empire. RCH has been recognized as a Top Performing Hospital and has invested in a new campus expansion project that includes a new 7-story patient tower, 3-story medical office building, and a recently completed new 5-level, state-of-the-art parking garage. With over 500 physicians on staff, representing over 200 specialties and over 1,900 employees, Riverside Community Hospital is an Inland Empire leader in providing advanced, comprehensive health care to the Inland region. RCH houses one of the largest Emergency Room and Trauma Center in the Inland Empire at 50. RCH is the largest STEMI (heart attack) receiving centers and is a fully accredited Chest Pain Center. Centers of Excellence include the HeartCare Institute, offering invasive and non-invasive cardiac procedures, Center of Excellence for Surgical Weight Loss, the Transplant Program, the Cancer Center and a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Riverside Community Hospital is also committed to training the next generation of physicians through its Graduate Medical Education program.