Brewer - Jeff's Catering in Brewer was the venue for a kind of, adult story time on Friday. The narrators, cancer survivors, like Linda Milenkovic, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer almost 4 and a half years ago.



"It doesn't ask questions, it basically kills you. And at the 3 and a half year post surgery mark, it looks like we've made it," said Milenkovic.

Joining her Friday, was Diane Van Deuson. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006.

" When I was diagnosed, it was like you make an acute right hand turn. You don't do the things you used to," said Van Deuson.

What Van Deuson does now, is try to bridge the gap between doctors and patients, to make sure everyone is talking about the risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer. She's traveling the state in her car, with a trailer, named Gumby, attached. And Gumby is what she wants you to pay attention to.

"It has ovarian cancer signs that I've made put on it, and it introduces the two websites, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance," said Van Deuson.

As for Milenkovic, she does her part too. She has started support groups, and calls patients to tell her stories and listen to theirs.

" It's amazing how many people you start to find have cancer. And they pass on a phone number and say can you call this person... You bet you can, " said Milenkovic.

More than 100 people joined Milenkovic and Van Deuson Friday.

"They're part of this family of cancer. It's a brutal family, but it's a wonderful thing that we're all working together," said Milenkovic.

And it's family that hopes to all come together again, next year, at the same conference. To tell new stories, add new members, and continue to support one another.