Still Standing Up to Cancer
Every first Sunday in June, we celebrate a group of individuals who wanted no part of what we are celebrating.
These are the more than 18 million Americans who survived cancer, honored annually on National Cancer Survivors Day, which falls on June 1 this year. This special day celebrates the bravery, strength, and inspiration of the 5% of our population who persevered when facing the biggest challenge of their lives.
Cancer is still the second-leading cause of death in our country (heart disease is the top cause), despite the billions of dollars our nation pours into cancer research and treatment. Surviving the disease is truly a lifetime achievement.
On this pink/blue-ribbon day, Southwestern Medical Center congratulates the survivors, offers treatment and support to the recently diagnosed, and encourages the community to join the fight against the disease. While medical advances will continue to help us in that fight, we recommend you do what you can to avoid a cancer diagnosis altogether, or at least ensure it is diagnosed early.
That might mean making changes in your lifestyle that can greatly reduce your risk of developing the disease, such as exercising regularly, improving your diet, and avoiding known carcinogens (substances capable of causing cancer), like cigarettes.
Southwestern Medical Center offers free health risk assessments to allow you to determine your estimated level of risk for each of the following cancer types. Click on the link to access the assessment.
Two million more Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Two out of five – or 40% of Americans – will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. These data points emphasize the importance of healthy life choices and regular screenings to keep cancer at bay.
Southwestern Medical Center is proud to have played a part in the journeys of many cancer survivors. We celebrate today with all of them and the friends and family who stood by their sides. Each individual’s victory inspires others and instills the belief that they, too, can beat the disease.