Archive: Around Town

Tompkins County’s 3000 cancer survivors will join America’s 12 million cancer survivors who in turn  join survivors around the world in observing the 22nd annual National Cancer Survivors Day  on Sunday, June 7.

Hundreds of communities throughout North America will host events on this day to celebrate life and demonstrate that cancer is not an automatic death sentence. The contributions of the families, friends, researchers, and healthcare providers who support cancer survivors will also be recognized.

NCSD will commence with greetings from Washington DC:  President Barack Obama and John E. Niederhuber, M.D., director of the National Cancer Institute.

“NCSD is the world’s largest and fastest growing cancer survivor event” says Ann Carter, Director of Wellness and Survivor programs at the Cancer Resource Center. “Having started in the United States, it is now observed in countries as far away as Australia, Italy, and Malaysia.  Its primary mission is to educate the public on the issues of cancer survivorship in order to better the quality of life for cancer survivors.”

“A ‘survivor’ is anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life,” added Shawn Galbreath, Executive Director of the Cancer Resource Center. Cancer survivors often face challenges such as barriers to access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments, inadequate or no insurance, financial hardships, employment problems and psychological struggles. But despite these difficulties, cancer survivors can live active, productive lives,” says Galbreath.

The Cancer Resource Center has developed a community of survivors for mutual support, and we have also started wellness programs such as yoga and gentle water exercise to support full recovery. The goal is to  improve the quality of life of cancer survivors,” says Carter. “The benefit of spending time with others who have been in your shoes is so beneficial. This is evident in the ever growing number of people participating.  Addressing the poorly understood needs of these survivors is becoming a formidable challenge.”

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