Celebrate Life on National Cancer Survivors Day

June 7 is National Cancer Survivors Day

National Cancer Survivors Day

Sunday, June 7, 2015, is the 28^th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day, created by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. Communities all over the world will be celebrating life and raising awareness of the issues of cancer survivorship. This day offers an opportunity for all people living with a history of cancer – including America’s more than 14 million cancer survivors – to connect with each other, celebrate milestones and those who have supported them along their journey. It is also a time to reveal the ongoing challenges of cancer survivorship to show the need for more resources, research and survivorship legislation to improve each cancer survivor's quality of life.

After cancer treatment, it is important that survivors start follow-up care to develop a wellness plan that includes ways a patient can take care of their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Many cancer survivors find that after treatment is a good time to make general lifestyle choices, as well as find a trusted therapist or counseling program that helps a patient cope with how cancer has affected their lives mentally.   

Why UAB?

UAB’s Supportive Care and Survivorship Clinic specializes in long-term/follow-up care after cancer.  This clinic is dedicated to planning for your survivorship and helping you make it through treatment as a whole person the day you are diagnosed. Our team includes doctors, physician assistants and nurses who have expertise in pain and symptom management, psychologists, therapists, dieticians, massage therapists, movement therapists and others. Services include: 

·         Couples Counseling

·         Faith or Spiritual Counseling

·         Family Support Programs

·         Genetic Counseling

·         Home Care Services

·         Individual Counseling

·         Nutritionist/Dietitian Consulting

·         Occupational Therapy  

The Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program focuses its research efforts on an improved understanding of the unique needs of childhood cancer survivors. UAB was one of the first 10 institutions nationwide to focus on childhood cancer survivorship as an initial participant in the National Cancer Institute funded Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. The Taking on Life After Cancer (TLC) Clinic focuses on improving the health and well-being of childhood cancer survivors, and is the only clinic of its kind in Alabama. 

To make an appointment with the Supportive Care and Survivorship Clinic, please contact us at (205) 801-8624. Visit our website for more information. Your support is greatly appreciated! To donate, click here.

Celebrating Survivors, Celebrating Life

Tomorrow, June 4, 2011, we at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center - along with several other cancer-related organizations across Birmingham - will celebrate Cancer Survivors Day. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a "survivor" as anyone living with a history of cancer, from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

When I first start treating cancer patients 30 years ago, a cancer diagnosis was one of the most devastating things a patient could hear. At that time, the five-year survival rate was only 45 percent - meaning that less than half of people diagnosed with cancer would still be alive five years later.

Fortunately, advances in research and improved treatments have caused that number to steadily increase over the years. Today, the five-year survival rate across all cancers is 65 percent. Statistics have also shown that since 1991, every day approximately 350 people become cancer survivors who would have died of the disease in years prior. Of course, we are still working to raise those numbers, but this is a long way from where we once were.

Cancer Survivors Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the more than 11 million Americans who are survivors thanks to the hard work of scientists, physicians, nurses and other health care professionals across the nation. If you are a survivor, or if you're family has been touched by cancer, I invite you to come celebrate with us at the Pepper Place Saturday Market, beginning at 7 a.m. We will have live music, dancing, children's activities, cooking demonstrations, educational activities and much more.

Someone diagnosed with cancer today is much more likely to survive than die of the disease, and if that's not a reason to celebrate, I don't know what is! I hope you'll join us to Celebrate Life!

-Ed Partridge, M.D.