WMBCTV: Life Beyond Diagnosis: Cancer Survivors Mark the Month with Stories of Strength and Celebration

The American Cancer Society says survival rates are rising at record levels with 18.6 million people living with a history of cancer. Cancer Survivors Month is a national observance recognizing these survivors whether it’s ringing the bell after the final treatment or marking another year cancer free. Zoe was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer several years after her battle with ovarian cancer. While she says this was a long, exhausting fight, today she says she’s proud to be almost 13 years cancer-free. 

“Oh, I’m looking forward to a lot of fun times, you meet great people and I think it’s good because we need to find the joy in life because that keeps you focused on just taking one step forward so it’s a good thing,” Zoe said. “You know, you have your birthday but when you have a life-a-versary, you look at life differently so that life-a-versary is really important.”

In Bergen County, a local organization is gearing up to host its free Cancer Survivors Day Celebration at the New Milford YMCA in an effort to recognize not only the survivors, but also those currently undergoing treatment and the families who’ve stood by them. 

“Survivor’s day is June 1. Our event will be on June 29 and it’ll just be a celebration of life and there will be a DJ and a comedian and food and it’ll just be a great day,” said Charyn Ritvo, Program Director, Cancer Support Programs, Holy Name Medical Center. “This is for anyone touched by cancer, for patients, for people that have family members that have had cancer, loved ones that have passed away or friends so it’s anyone on their cancer journey.”

Cancer survivors in the community say they’re excited for the opportunity to come together to celebrate.

“It is very important to create a sense of community as a cancer survivor and to meet other cancer survivors,” Zoe said. “Some people have a hard time talking about it including myself when I was diagnosed in the beginning, but through the years, it’s really important to have groups, have fun times and just be able to talk to different people that have gone through their cancer journey or are still going through their cancer journey that the support is there.”

The American Cancer Society attributes the growing trend of survivors to improved screening, early detection and advances in cancer care and research. Despite this good news, they stress the importance of ongoing efforts to address the needs of survivors, whether it be emotional, physical or financial.

“I would say ‘the c word,’ I wouldn’t say ‘cancer,’” Zoe said. “My kids were young and I didn’t want to think about it. I just wanted to get better, fix me so I could just keep going on. Through the years, and it took me many years that I could say the word ‘cancer,’  I think it’s important to find the support to know that someone else went through it, has gone through it, is going through it. You find the support and you can lean on each other and learn about each other, because you’ve been there, you know it.”