National Cancer Survivors Day - June 5, 2022
On June 5th each year, we commemorate National Cancer Survivors Day. NCSD is the day each year that we pause to honor those who are living with a history of cancer for their strength and courage. It is also a day to acknowledge the contributions of their families, friends, and healthcare providers, as well as those engaged in cancer research.
As we recognize all of our friends and family impacted by cancer, join us in raising awareness about the importance of early detection, prevention, and education regarding cancer treatment options.
2022: A Celebration of Life
This year, the NCSD Foundation bills this holiday as “A Celebration of Life”, where survivors, described as anyone who has a history of the disease – gather with friends, family, and supporters to raise awareness, spread information, provide services, and honor other survivors, all to show that life after a cancer diagnosis can be full and fruitful.
History of National Cancer Survivors Day
The first celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day was held on June 5, 1988. The style of commemoration has always been that of an open network, with local municipalities, hospitals, and other groups all staging such festivities as parades and rallies, individually but concurrently.
According to the NCSD website, anyone can register for an event and gain the support of a wider organization. The organization offers a range of resources, including a roster of speakers — medical professionals, major and minor celebrities, authors, and more — who are available to help host events in their respective towns and cities.
NCSD celebrations have also included art exhibits, carnivals, contests, and testimonies by high-profile survivors. In 2008, the fanfare included a commencement by U.S. President George W. Bush side-by-side with the director of the National Cancer Institute.
Generally, official coverage of National Cancer Survivors Day is provided by the magazine “Coping with Cancer.” During the 2020 celebration, as the magazine reported, many events were canceled or changed to online-only or socially distanced versions, but the day still included a drive-through ‘red carpet’ celebration in Louisville, Kentucky with vehicles all decked out in pink and red; pink corsets and plumage donned in a parade by the New Orleans Pussyfooters in that city; a virtual Ribbon Walk in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and many more unique instances of coming together in solidarity with survivors.
Cancer Survivorship Issues
Thanks to advances in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up care, more people than ever before are surviving the disease. In America alone, more than 16.9 million people are alive today after being diagnosed with cancer.
However, surviving cancer can leave a host of problems in its wake. Physical, emotional, and financial hardships often persist for years after diagnosis and treatment. Cancer survivors are also at greater risk for developing second cancers and other health conditions.
Cancer survivors may face numerous challenges during and after treatment:
- Limited access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments
- Denial of health insurance and life insurance coverage
- Difficulty finding jobs
- Economic burdens due to mounting medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced productivity
Add to that emotional struggles, strains on personal relationships, and the profound fear of cancer recurrence. The effects of cancer don’t simply end when treatment does.
The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation believes that more resources, research, and survivor-friendly legislation are needed to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors – during and after treatment. We urge everyone who participates in National Cancer Survivors Day® celebrations to not only recognize those who are living with a history of cancer but also raise awareness of the hardships cancer survivors face beyond treatment.
Cancer: At A Glance
According to the National Cancer Institute, breast, lung and bronchus, prostate, and colorectal cancers account for almost 50% of all new cancer cases in the United States. Lung and bronchus, colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers are responsible for nearly 50% of all deaths.
How Many People Are Diagnosed with Cancer Each Year?
In 2022, roughly 1.9 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States. An estimated 287,850 women and 2,710 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, which makes it the most common cancer diagnosis. Prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis among men and the second most common diagnosis overall with 268,490 expected cases. Lung and bronchus cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosis with an estimated 236,740 new cases.
The top 12 most common cancer sites, shown below, will account for more than three quarters of all new cancer cases.
How Many People Die of Cancer Each Year?
In 2022, an estimated 609,360 people will die of cancer in the United States. Lung and bronchus cancer is responsible for the most deaths with 130,180 people expected to die from this disease. That is nearly three times the 52,580 deaths due to colorectal cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer death. Pancreatic cancer is the third deadliest cancer, causing 49,830 deaths.
The eight deadliest cancer sites, shown below, will account for almost two-thirds of all expected cancer deaths.
How Does Cancer Compare to Other Causes of Death?
Cancer caused 21.0% of all deaths in the United States in 2019. Deaths due to heart disease and cancer caused nearly half of all deaths in the United States. Cancer is the leading cause of death for those under 65 years of age.
What Are the U.S. Death Rates?
In the United States, heart disease death rates have decreased for people of all ages. In 1975, heart disease among those less than 65 caused 26% of deaths, compared to 17% in 2019. In those over 65, heart disease caused 44% of deaths in 1975, compared to 25% in 2019.
Neoplasms have slightly increased for people of all ages. In 1975, neoplasms for those less than 65 accounted for 22% of deaths in the United States, compared to 22% in 2019. In those over 65, neoplasms caused 18% of deaths in 1975, compared to 21% in 2019.
Cancer Survivorship Resources
The NCSD Foundation encourages a greater commitment to resolving the issues of cancer survivorship through public education and awareness. We’ve put together this list of resources to help you learn more about the challenges cancer survivors face.
- Survivorship Information from Cancer.Net
- National Cancer Institute’s Survivorship Resources
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Helps Guide Life After Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
- Cancer Survival Toolbox
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Section on Cancer Survivorship Care Plans
- Post-Treatment Survivorship Resources from CancerCare
- Cancer Support Community – Living with Cancer
- Coping Magazine’s Cancer Survivors Guide
- Oncolife Survivorship Care Plan
- Triage Cancer – Cancer Finances: A Toolkit for Navigating Finances After Cancer
- Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition
- Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
- American Cancer Society’s Survivorship Care Plans
Observing National Cancer Survivors Day
Attend an event
Chances are, on National Cancer Survivors Day, there will be one or more themed events in or near your town. Go out and show your support!
Register and host an event of your own design
Especially if you’re honoring a friend or family member that has been diagnosed in their life, creating a brand-new event is a very honorable way of celebrating this important day.
Spread the word on social media
It’s always a good idea to raise awareness online. Perhaps search for an in-depth article and share it with the hashtag, #NationalCancerSurvivorsDay.
Sources:
https://ncsd.org/cancer-survivorship-issues/
https://www.cancer.gov/research/progress/annual-report-nation
https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/facts-and-figures-2022.html