With nearly 17 million people living with and beyond cancer in the United States today, almost everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer.
Today we are celebrating those survivors – from those who have just started treatment to those who have been in remission for years and everyone in between.
As part of this, we wanted to show you some of the beautiful faces and words from our participants, who demonstrate every day that community is stronger than cancer:
Cancer didn’t define my life. Cancer empowered me to appreciate my world. To love more deeply, smile more often, and breathe life into every moment of everyday. Today is is first day of the rest of my life. Shout from the top of the world! I AM A SURVIVOR! – Heidi
Believe the diagnosis but not the prognosis. – Sandi
You are not in this alone. Reach out and receive the love, help, and support of your community. Trust in yourself and in your medical team. We are all here for you. – Patricia
There is so much love and beauty in our community. – Scott
My broken heart was quickly filled back up with love from countless people, some of whom I had not spoken to since I was a little girl or grade school or college, and some who have been with me my entire life. – Rachel
Soon after I was diagnosed, I bought a sign that said: “I Can. I Will. End of Story.” I hung it across from my bed. It was the first thing I saw in the morning and the last thing I saw at night. It became my mantra. – Elyse
Celebrate everything. I celebrated scrambling eggs. I celebrated dragging a heavy garden hose and keeping my garden alive. – Starla
Family and friends can be so important, and we often leave them out thinking we are helping or protecting them. They need to know what is going on and be allowed in to share. – Rich
Humor helps with healing – no lie. – Cindy
Remember, regardless of all the bad statistics you might be hearing, you’ve been healthy your whole life and your body wants that again. – Cory
On this Survivors Day, CSCAZ is launching a peer program to help our newly diagnosed participants with navigating their cancer journey. Our support groups, social events and workshops are designed to ensure that no-one has to face cancer alone. Sometimes, however, navigating the cancer journey requires one-on-one support from someone who cares because they’ve been there. That’s where the peer mentorship program comes in, offering newly diagnosed participants the chance to be matched with a trained mentor who understands what they are going through on a very personal level. For the mentors, this program is an opportunity to give back to our statewide cancer community.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a peer mentor, click here.
If you have been newly diagnosed and would like to learn more about being partnered with a mentor, click here: