Hundreds of cancer survivors and their loved ones celebrated their medical and personal successes over a disease that kills more than 500,000 Americans each year.

The Sunday event at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore City titled “You’re a Star!” honored current and former patients of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenbaum Cancer Center.

“It’s really a chance to thank the many patients who’ve been through so much with cancer,” said center Director Dr. Kevin Cullen, who added that the number of people in attendance was a testament to recent advances in treating cancer.

The celebration drew survivors of many stages and forms of the disease — some of whom were recently diagnosed, others who have outlasted it for 20 or more years.

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Mark Kolman, a member of the center’s board of advisers who was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia in 1986, said treating all who have suffered from the disease as survivors is important, not just those who have been out of the woods for many years.

“As each one of you knows, if you wake up the next morning, you’re a survivor,” Kolman said at the opening ceremony.

After a performance by students from the Morton Street Dance Center, guests flooded into the lobby for refreshments and discussion.

“I think it’s a wonderful celebration of survival and life,” said Anna Stock, who attended the event with her son, Carlo Gerstenfeld, who was diagnosed and treated for a brain tumor last year.

Edward Nicoli, 76, was diagnosed with tongue cancer in January 2006. As part of his treatment, Nicoli underwent 39 consecutive days of radiation therapy and nine sessions of chemotherapy.

“It’s good to see a lot of survivors,” Nicoli said. “A lot of people have gone through hell to be here.”

jdavisson@baltimoreexaminer.com