Cancer Survivors, Local Communities to Celebrate 30th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day® on Sunday, June 4

As part of the 30^th annual National Cancer Survivors Day®, cancer survivors and supporters in communities around the world will unite on Sunday, June 4, 2017, to celebrate life and raise awareness of the challenges faced by cancer survivors.

Cancer affects everyone. With more than 15.5 million people living with and beyond cancer in the U.S. today – and more than 32 million cancer survivors worldwide – everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer. On Sunday, June 4, 2017, communities around the world will gather to recognize these cancer survivors as part of the 30th annual National Cancer Survivors Day®.

National Cancer Survivors Day® is an annual worldwide Celebration of Life that is held on the first Sunday in June. Hundreds of cities across the U.S. and abroad will hold celebrations on this day to acknowledge the cancer survivors in their community, to raise awareness of the ongoing challenges cancer survivors face because of their disease, and – most importantly – to celebrate life.

According to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, administrator for the celebration, “A ‘survivor’ is anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.”

“Life after cancer is about more than just surviving. It’s about living well. It’s celebrating milestones and thriving in spite of adversity,” says Foundation spokesperson, Laura Shipp. “National Cancer Survivors Day® is an opportunity for cancer survivors – and those who support them – to come together and celebrate life, celebrate the fact that, for the majority of survivors, cancer isn’t the death sentence that it once was.

“Over the last few decades, we’ve made great progress when it comes to cancer survival. And that’s absolutely something to celebrate. However, as many survivors will tell you, the effects of cancer don’t end when treatment does. Cancer survivors face ongoing, often long-lasting, hardships because of their disease. On National Cancer Survivors Day®, we want to raise awareness of the many challenges of cancer survivorship and advocate for further research, more resources, and increased public awareness to improve the lives of cancer survivors.”

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation is encouraging everyone – cancer survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, family members, and friends – to join their community’s NCSD celebration. To find the one nearest you, check with your local cancer treatment center, hospital, or American Cancer Society office. Or you can host an event of your own using the resources available through the National Cancer Survivors Day® website, ncsd.org.

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

Because of the great strides researchers have made in preventing, detecting, and treating cancer, more people are surviving and living longer after cancer than ever before. However, many survivors face limited access to healthcare specialists, inadequate or no insurance, difficulty finding employment, and psychosocial struggles. Once active treatment ends, cancer survivors still must cope with the long-term effects of cancer, which can include ongoing physical and emotional side effects, increased risk for second primary cancers and other health problems, and potentially devastating financial setbacks.

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, along with NCSD 2017 national supporters Coping with Cancer magazine, Elekta, Genentech, Janssen, Seattle Genetics, and Teva Oncology, is encouraging citizens across the globe to stand with these survivors on National Cancer Survivors Day® and make a commitment to addressing the challenges of cancer survival.

“The progress researchers are making in cancer treatment is amazing to witness,” says Shipp. “And we’re also starting to see more efforts being made to address the challenges cancer survivors face beyond treatment. But, now more than ever, it is vital that we work to ensure cancer survivors are not forgotten once active treatment ends.”

Leading up to the 30^th annual National Cancer Survivors Day®, the NCSD Foundation urges everyone to spread the message that life after cancer is about more than just surviving. It is about living well.

On Facebook: Life after cancer is about more than just surviving. It’s about living well. Now is the time to address the challenges of cancer survival. Join us as we #CelebrateLife and raise awareness on National Cancer Survivors Day, June 4. #NCSD2017

On Twitter: Life after cancer is about more than just surviving. #CelebrateLife, raise awareness on National Cancer Survivors Day, June 4. #NCSD2017

Free graphics are also available for download to share on social media sites to show support for National Cancer Survivors Day®.

About the Foundation

The nonprofit National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation offers free guidance, education, networking resources, and assistance 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 the issues of cancer survivorship in order to better the quality of life for cancer survivors.

National Cancer Survivors Day® is an annual, treasured Celebration of Life that is held in hundreds of communities nationwide, and around the world, on the first Sunday in June. On National Cancer Survivors Day®, thousands gather across the globe to honor cancer survivors and to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding, and even inspiring. NCSD offers an opportunity for all people living with a history of cancer – including America’s 15.5 million cancer survivors – to connect with each other, celebrate milestones, and recognize those who have supported them along the way. It is also a day to draw attention to the ongoing challenges of cancer survivorship in order to promote more resources, research, and survivor-friendly legislation to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.