About National Cancer Survivors Day

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On International Cancer Survivors Day, cancer survivors across the globe will unite to show the world what life after cancer looks like. Thousands of people in hundreds of communities across the US and abroad will hold celebrations on this day to honor cancer survivors and to show that there is life after a cancer diagnosis – and it's something to celebrate.

National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual worldwide Celebration of Life. It is the one day each year that we unite to honor everyone with a history of cancer—including America's 14 million cancer survivors. "A survivor is anyone living with a history of cancer—from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life," according to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, administrator for the celebration.

NCSD allows cancer survivors to connect with other survivors, celebrate milestones, and recognize the healthcare providers, family, and friends who have supported them. It is a day for cancer survivors to stand together and show the world what life after cancer looks like.

"Sometimes people have very negative ideas of what life after cancer looks like," says Foundation spokesperson Laura Shipp. "But the reality is that more people are living longer and better quality lives after cancer than ever before. These survivors show us that life after cancer can be meaningful, exciting, and joyful.

"National Cancer Survivors Day is an opportunity for cancer survivors to come together and celebrate this new reality in cancer survivorship. There is life after cancer. It may not be the same as before cancer, but it can be beautiful, rewarding, and sometimes even better than before. And that's something to celebrate."

NCSD activities will be as diverse as the communities where the events are being held and will include parades, carnivals, walks, races, art exhibits, health fairs, inspirational programs, and more. There will be laughter and tears, shouts of joy and moments of quiet reflection, hope for the future and strength to endure today, and maybe even a little music and dancing.

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation encourages everyone to participate in their community's events. To locate the nearest one, check with your local cancer treatment center, hospital, or American Cancer Society office. Or you can host an event of your own. The NCSD website, ncsd.org, has everything you need to plan a successful NCSD celebration.

NCSD started in the United States in 1987 and is now celebrated worldwide in countries including Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, Greece, Great Britain, Spain, and Nigeria, according to Shipp.

The nonprofit National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation provides free guidance, education, and support to hundreds of hospitals, support groups, and other cancer-related organizations that host National Cancer Survivors Day events in their communities. The Foundation's primary mission is to bring awareness to cancer survivorship issues to better the quality of life for cancer survivors.

Cancer survivors may face physical, emotional, social, and financial challenges due to their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Many have limited access to specialists, a lack of information about promising new treatments, inadequate or no insurance, difficulty finding employment, and psychosocial struggles.

"To say that cancer is challenging is an understatement," says Shipp. "But it is a challenge that millions of people – 14 million in the US alone – are overcoming. The NCSD Foundation hopes that through National Cancer Survivors Day, we can not only bring awareness to the issues survivors face but also honor for the courage and strength of all those who are living with a history of cancer."

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation is encouraging a greater commitment to resolving quality-of-life issues for cancer survivors. "More resources, research, and increased public awareness are needed to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors," says Shipp. "Because of advances in modern medicine, cancer survivors are now living much longer after diagnosis. However, long-term survivorship poses its own unique challenges. We need to do a better job of addressing the hardships survivors face beyond treatment."

Leading up to the event, the Foundation urges everyone—cancer survivors and supporters alike—to show the world what life after cancer looks like.