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A Beautiful Night for Paying Homage |
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Written by Diana Sevanian
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Treating cancer effectively is more involved than comprehending cell biology, prescribing chemotherapy, and anticipating outcomes. It also takes heartfelt compassion and unwavering devotion to ending the suffering that cancer creates.
On Sunday, August 2 at the Tournament Players Club in Valencia, the
American Cancer Society - Santa Clarita Valley Unit will honor three
hematologist-oncologists who possess these attributes and have helped
hundreds of families within this community: Dr. John Barstis and Dr.
Alexander Black of the UCLA/ SCV Cancer Center in Valencia, and Dr.
Shamel Sanani of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.
 A distinguished inaugural gala, La Bella Vida (The Beautiful Life in
Italian), will be an elegant, Tuscan-inspired gala, featuring sumptuous
Northern Italian cuisine, fine wines, and live entertainment. It will
also celebrate ACS research and support the hope for the beautiful life
that a cancer-free future would bring.
Voices of Experience
Attorney Rick Patterson knows the devastation of hearing your wife has
breast cancer. He also understands the benefits of placing her care in
excellent hands, such as those guiding the UCLA Cancer Center.
“Bad news can feel like suffocating darkness. Good news can bring the
light, brightness and hope that chases darkness away,” Patterson said.
“My loving wife, Ann and I are grateful that Dr. Barstis and Dr. Black
will be honored for their devotion to the practice of medicine and
their dedication to serving patients. They’re a credit to our community
and the medical profession.”
Heather Warrick, ACS SCV Unit Health Programs Manager praised Barstis
and Black for longtime ACS advisory leadership, and annual Relay For
Life and Daffodil Days sponsorships and participation.
“Thanks to their patient referrals, the UCLA Cancer Center has allowed
us to connect with more patients and survivors in providing free ACS
programs and services and that’s what our mission is about, improving
the quality of life of patients, survivors, and caregivers,” said
Warrick, a multiple-recurrence metastatic breast cancer survivor.
 Donna Nuzzi, who is co-chairing the event with ACS SCV Unit president
Candy Spahr, said her father, John, survived 15 years beyond his first
cancer diagnosis, thanks to his oncologists (primarily, Dr. Barstis)
being part of the UCLA network.
“This is a teaching hospital, a research institution, and they have
access to the latest and greatest therapies, which can make all the
difference,” Nuzzi said.
Radio station KHTS AM 1220 co-owner, Jeri Seratti-Goldman first met Dr.
Sanani when her mother, Jean Seratti, was suffering with late stage
cancer and thought to be mere days from passing.Under Sanani’s
personalized program, her mom survived three and a half years, the
grateful daughter recalled.“Dr. Sanani and his staff had every kind of
support system a person could need. Every question was answered
directly and honestly, and concepts thoroughly explained,”
Seratti-Goldman said. “He guided us through tough times with
compassion, love and understanding, and truly is an angel to many.
There are countless people who have told me they owe their lives to Dr.
Sanani’s incredible care.”
SCV Support Sought
A nationwide voluntary health organization, the ACS is dedicated to
eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer,
saving lives, and diminishing suffering through research, education,
advocacy, and service.
Candy Spahr, whose husband and daughter-in-law are cancer survivors,
encourages the community to support La Bella Vida, which in turn
supports ACS efforts. “Please join us August 2 as we honor these
exceptional doctors for their patient care services and dedication to
the battle against cancer,” Spahr said. Event tickets are $100 each and
opportunities for sponsorships, underwriting, volunteering and
donations are available.
 For further information contact Tameka Payne at the American Cancer
Society at 661-298-0886, option 3 or e-mail
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
.
Tournament Players Club is located at 26550 Heritage View Lane,
Valencia.
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