Talk to several cancer survivors and you’ll find that no two stories are alike. For as much as their experiences have in common, they have as many differences. Each one is unique. Each one deserves to be recognized.
Hence the idea behind National Cancer Survivors Day, observed annually on the first Sunday in June to honor those who are surviving cancer and to provide inspiration for those who have recently been diagnosed. Now in its 33rd year, National Cancer Survivors Day in 2020 falls on June 7.
You’d be hard pressed to find a person who is not affected by cancer—if they aren’t battling it or haven’t battled it themselves, they know at least one family member or friend who has. Last year, the American Cancer Society reported that there are 17 million cancer survivors living in the United States, and that number is expected to increase to 22.1 million by 2030.
For many of those who are fighting the battle, every day is worth celebrating. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship uses the term cancerversary to mark the passage of time—weeks, months, years—for survivors since their first diagnosis, their first day of treatment, their last treatment, and even their first year or first decade of survival.
In addition to the struggle of fighting a disease, people with cancer have to overcome many other obstacles. There’s the financial burden from health care costs and time taken off work; there’s the emotional struggle as they deal with fears and worries; there’s the effort it takes to rebuild a life, after cancer has changed so many aspects of the one they knew.
For these and many other reasons, the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation encourages friends and loved ones to pay tribute on June 7. While many hospitals and support groups will hold events to bring groups of people together, you can find your own ways to honor the survivor in your life. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate—sometimes the simplest gestures mean the most.
For more ideas on how to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day or how to organize an event, visit ncsd.org.
