June 2nd is National Cancer Survivor’s Day!
According to the official website of the National Cancer Survivor’s Day (NCSD), cancer survivorship is described as “A celebration for those who have survived, an inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and an outreach to the community” (NCSD, 2017). This day is used to provide education and support to cancer survivors and anyone else affected by cancer. Please visit http://www.ncsd.org/index.htm to learn how you can be apart of National Cancer Survivor’s Day, whether you are an organization wanting to plan an event or a cancer survivor wanting to celebrate and come together with others.
Survivorship Statistics (ASCO, 2017)
- Today there are more than 15.5 million cancer survivors
- Nearly half (47%) of survivors are 70 or older
- About 67% of today’s cancer survivors were diagnosed 5 or more years ago and about 17% of all cancer survivors were diagnosed 20 or more years ago
Breakdown of cancer survivors by cancer type:
- breast cancer at 23%
- prostate cancer at 21%
- colorectal cancer at 9%
- cervical, uterine, or ovarian cancer at 8%
- melanoma at 8%
Survival rates have increased due to the following:
- Earlier detection because of an increase in screening tests such as mammograms, prostate specific antigen tests, colonoscopies, and pap tests
- Medical advancements in cancer treatments and management of side effects
The transition back to life before cancer can be very challenging when adjusting to a new way of living and dealing with feelings, problems, and emotions. Although relieved that the worst is over, getting back to your normal daily routine such as work and family responsibilities can seem overwhelming. You may view the world in a different way than before and support through these mixed emotions can be very comforting. Support should not always end with treatment for many and is important that it continue for anyone who may need it.
References
American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO (2017). About Survivorship. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.net/survivorship/about-survivorship
National Cancer Institute (2017). Survivorship. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/survivorship
National Cancer Survivor’s Day (2017). About National Cancer Survivor’s Day. Retrieved from http://www.ncsd.org/about-us
