The 'Lexus' of Cancer Treatment - One Man's Inspiring Drive to Survive

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It's not very uncommon for a
fundraising event to raffle a luxury car, but the Lexus being raffled Saturday
night at the 23rd annual Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Gala has a story
behind it that exemplifies the drive to survive.

In October of 2006, Suseel Kanagaratnam was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal
cancer and he would begin a fight for his life. Stage IV means the cancer had
spread to other organs internally leaving Suseel with a poor prognosis. After
learning of his cancer diagnosis, his doctor delivered devastating news -- he
had less than six months to live.

Suseel took the grim news to his employer, Washington Area Lexus Dealers, to
let them know he'd not be returning to work in favor of spending his remaining
time with his family and friends. There, he received advice that changed his
life once more. "The dealership has been involved with Lombardi for seven
years. So, when I shared my news with my boss, General Manager Garry Whipkey,
he strongly encouraged me to go to Lombardi for a second opinion because he
wanted me to seek the best treatment possible," says Suseel.

Suseel took his boss's advice and made an appointment at Lombardi with Dr.
John Marshall, director of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal
Cancers. Lombardi's unique status as an NCI designated-Comprehensive Cancer
Center meant Suseel had access to the most advanced treatments including a
cancer vaccine still in clinical trials. Suseel now had the "Lexus" of cancer
treatment teams: Lombardi, Dr. Marshall, a cutting-edge therapy, and his own
will to live.

"God always will choose strong ones for his Test then he makes the miracles,
so it can be the reminder to others. He will never give me more than I can
handle," says Suseel of his diagnosis.

Suseel's treatment involved arduous doses of chemotheraphy and radiation
followed by surgery. After surgery, he enrolled in the vaccine study with Dr.
Marshall. The hope was that the vaccine would boost Suseel's immune system
and allow it to attack the remaining cancer cells or any others that would
come up. It appears, that's exactly what happened and to his colleagues'
delight, he will be able to attend the Lombardi Gala with his co-workers and
friends. "It's been three years since my diagnosis," says Suseel. "And, I'm
thriving thanks in part to the clinical trials underway at Lombardi."

Suseel will join many others as they "Celebrate Lombardi" through survivorship
and recognize those who have fought and are fighting this ravaging disease.

The 23rd Lombardi Gala, "Celebrate Lombardi", co-chaired by Howard B. Adler
and Tanya Potter Adler, will be held at the Hilton Washington, at 1919
Connecticut Avenue NW, on Saturday November 7, 2009. The event includes a
silent auction featuring more than 250 fine items.

The dinner and presentation will start at 8:00 pm in the International
Ballroom, along with a raffle of a 2010 Lexus IS 250C courtesy of the
Washington Area Lexus Dealers. Lexus is the exclusive automotive sponsor
including Lindsay Lexus of Alexandria, Lexus of Rockville, Lexus of Silver
Spring and Pohanka Lexus of Chantilly. American Airlines is the Official
Airlines; Diageo the Champagne & Wine Sponsor; and Washington Life is the
media sponsor.

Media are invited to attend but must RSVP to Tressa Iris Kirby at 202-687-8865
or Tk275@georgetown.edu. For corporate sponsorship information and tickets
starting at $400, contact Elena Jeannotte at Georgetown, 202-687-3866, or
ej48@georgetown.edu.

About Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University
Medical Center and Georgetown University Hospital, seeks to improve the
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and
clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the
training of cancer specialists of the future. Lombardi is one of only 40
comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National
Cancer Institute, and the only one in the Washington, DC, area. For more
information, go to http://lombardi.georgetown.edu.

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic
medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient
care (through Georgetown's affiliation with MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is
carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the
Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole
person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of
Nursing and Health Studies, both nationally ranked, the world-renowned
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Biomedical Graduate Research
Organization (BGRO), home to 60 percent of the university's sponsored research
funding.

SOURCE Georgetown University Medical Center

Tressa Iris Kirby of the Georgetown University Medical Center,
+1-202-687-8865, Tk275@georgetown.edu