By Rebecca Henely
As more than 3,000 cancer survivors gathered Saturday at North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Monter Cancer Center in Lake Success, L.I., a well-known face from the world of sports showed up to explain how he shared in their struggle.
Darryl Strawberry, the former New York Mets and Yankees pitcher and four-time World Series champion, spoke candidly about his two bouts of colon cancer, at one point tearing up when talking about the May diagnosis of his fellow former Met, Gary Carter, who has four malignant brain tumors.
“I was a very lucky man,” Strawberry said of his fight. “I shouldn’t be standing here today.”
The occasion for the athlete’s visit was the fifth-annual Cancer Survivor’s Day at LIJ’s Monter Cancer Center, at 450 Lakeville Road. Thousands of cancer survivors enjoyed a fun Saturday afternoon under a white tent with blue and white balloons, dancing to music and hearing others speak about their battle against the disease.
Before Strawberry spoke, Long Island residents Jeff Dena, of Commack, and Jaqueline Burris, of Great Neck, described their experiences with cancer. Dena had cancer of the throat and Burris uterine cancer.
“It’s fair to say a lot of us are here today because we passed God’s test,” Dena said.
Strawberry, who now lives in Missouri but owns a restaurant in Douglaston, said his mother had died of breast cancer when she was 55. When he became ill in 1998 and was diagnosed with colon cancer, he believed he was next.
“When I realized cancer had stricken me, I was truly devastated,” Strawberry said.
He said he received great treatment at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan for what he described as a grapefruit-sized tumor, but in a short time he learned his fight was not over when his cancer reoccurred in 2000.
“I didn’t want to face it again,” Strawberry said. “I didn’t want to go through the same situation again because chemotherapy is no fun.”
Strawberry said it was his three children who got him through another round of treatments, which at one point necessitated the removal of his left kidney near the tumor. But he has now been cancer free for 11 years. He said his survival and the survival of those at the event give hope to those going through cancer. Strawberry also asked those at the event to keep Carter in their thoughts.
“I know the challenge that he has,” Strawberry said.
Burris said she found Strawberry personable and was glad he acknowledged the struggle she and Dena have had.
“I think he was very scared by what happened to him,” she said.
Burris said it also felt wonderful to be able to speak at LIJ’s event.
“I’m really happy for the people here because they’re survivors,” Burris said.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
