Local Cancer Survivor Raises Awareness for World Cancer Day

Jan. 31, 2013 - PRLog -- PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Lung cancer survivor Harvey “Smooth” Davenport, 61, is sharing his personal story of early detection and lifestyle changes for World Cancer Day, hoping to encourage other Tampa Bay-area residents to get regular checkups. In 2013, World Cancer Day is observed on Feb. 4, as a global effort to raise awareness and dispel common myths about cancer.

After joining the Air Force in 1969, 18-year-old Davenport was deployed to the Philippines, and traveled across the U.S. He began smoking during the war and continued through his civilian life, working in construction and roofing. Finally, at age 57, Davenport noticed he was waking up at night to coughing fits and hot flashes.

“I never thought cancer would happen to me,” says Davenport. “My wife kept insisting that I go to my doctor, but I never had any health problems before.”

A CT scan discovered stage III lung cancer in his left lung. Davenport received surgery with the Bay Pines V.A. Hospital to remove the tumor, then radiation therapy with WellSpring Oncology.

“When I was diagnosed, I thought the world would end,” Davenport shares. “But WellSpring Oncology saved my life. From my first day, I was so impressed by the way they treat patients, calling everyone by their first name like family. They treated me physically and mentally; going into detail to explain the benefits and risks of treatment, putting my mind at ease. It helps with the healing process and really made me feel better.”

World Cancer Day focuses on the advances in care technology being made and the myths surrounding cancer to bring awareness to prevention and early detection. Many like Mr. Davenport consider cancer to be a death sentence. But with advances in care modalities, many cancers can now be cured and for many more people, their cancer can be treated effectively.

Advances in treatment have led to higher rates of lung and other cancers being achieved. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivered using TomoTherapy can reduce radiation-induced side effects and increase the accuracy of irradiation.

“There was a time where I just took life for granted and made some poor decisions. I just felt as if I’d live forever,” says Davenport. “Since my diagnosis, I learned the frailty of life and how it can be gone just that quick. I’ve grown closer to my kids and made healthy lifestyle changes. I’ve never felt so well. Yes, I had cancer, but through WellSpring Oncology, I learned to take my recovery one day at a time and live life to the fullest.”

For more information or to make an appointment, contact WellSpring Oncology at (727) 343-0600 or visit them online at http://www.WellSpringOncology.org. For more information on World Cancer Day, visit http://www.worldcancerday.org.

About WellSpring Oncology:
Doctors Robert Miller, Zucel Solc and Frank Franzese opened the doors of WellSpring Oncology in the spring of 2008 to provide high-end treatment in a more personal and caring environment. The doctors at WellSpring Oncology have been practicing innovative radiation therapy since the 1970’s and developed the center to ensure patients have access to the latest technology available in the treatment of cancer. WellSpring Oncology’s physicians are all Board Certified in radiation oncology and received their training at the top centers in the country, including MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering and the University of California, San Francisco. WellSpring Oncology is located at 6600 Sixty Sixth Street North in Pinellas Park, Florida.