Celebration of survivors

  • Shelly Webb
  • May 29, 2011
  • 259
                        
Summary--Whether you realize it or not, the first Sunday in June is a very special day. National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual event that is observed at that time. If you’re a cancer survivor or know a cancer survivor, then celebrate the day! Story--National Cancer Survivors Day is observed on the first Sunday in the month of June and is an annual, worldwide celebration of life. This special day is celebrated in many communities throughout the United States, Canada and other countries. This year on June 5, a sense of unity will be felt worldwide as many cancer survivors pause to consider their victory. The National Cancer Survivors Day was not founded by the American Cancer Society however the ACS also believes in celebrating all survivors every day. “National Cancer Survivor's Day is a great way to celebrate one of the 12 million American cancer survivors alive today,” shared Wendy Simpkins, local director of media relations for the ACS. “The American Cancer Society is proud to help work to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. We celebrate survivors at each one of our Relay For Life events, in addition to remembering those we have lost to cancer, and fighting back against the disease. We invite local survivors to participate in a relay for life survivor's celebration by locating an event near you at www.relayforlife.org.” Simpkins said that she is “inspired everyday by the passion and zest for life of cancer survivors and volunteers”. She is pleased there is a National Cancer Survivors Day being celebrated and hopes to see it grow and evolve. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, the organization that officially started National Cancer Survivors Day, defines a "survivor" as anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life. According to Simpkins, every year, 118 people in Holmes County are newly diagnosed with cancer. “All of these individuals can find free help from the American Cancer Society,” Simpkins added. “They can talk to a trained cancer information specialist at 1-800-227-2345 anytime, day or night and receive a free Personal Health Manager to organize their test results, appointments, and information. We also offer help with learning to manage side effects of cancer treatment such as hair loss and skin changes through the ‘Look Good...Feel Better’ classes. Our goal is to be there for every single cancer patient in any way possible.” The good news about cancer is that in many cases, it is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Preventing cancer can be as simple as adopting some new lifestyles. While genetics do play an important role in cancer, eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, fruits and vegetables has been proven to make an impact on cancer prevention. Also regular exercise and controlling stress are two other areas that have been studied by researchers. Most findings document the benefits of exercise and stress reduction when it comes to cancer prevention. Protecting yourself against the environment is also a simple way to prevent cancer, wearing sunscreen and UV strength sunglasses are both big recommendations from the ACS. Early screenings are also a great tool in diagnosing cancers early when they are more easily treated. Seeing your physician on a regular basis and utilizing screening measures such as PAP tests, Mammograms, PSA blood test and routine colonoscopies can help discover cancers in their very first stages and make the outcome more positive. Thanks to research and medical advancements, cancers today are more treatable and have better outcomes than at any other time in history. Education and awareness has also played a huge role in helping individuals learn how to prevent cancer and what risk factors to be consider in their own health. This is the twenty-fourth annual celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day. If you are a cancer survivor or know someone that has survived cancer, make sure you take some time this Sunday, June 5 to celebrate in a special and personal way.


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