National Cancer Survivors Day celebrates those living with and beyond cancer thanks to advances in research and care.

Published: June 6, 2016 | Updated: November 27, 2019

Three of the scariest words anyone may ever hear are, “You have cancer.” Three of the most hope-filled ones are, “You will survive!”

Thanks to earlier detection, breakthrough research, enhanced treatment and ongoing support, cancer survival rates continue to improve. Today, nearly 14.5 million people in the United States are living with and beyond cancer.

In recognition of National Cancer Survivors Day — the first Sunday in June — Norton Cancer Institute hosted a celebration event at historic Churchill Downs for 800 Louisville-area individuals who have been recently diagnosed, are actively receiving care and have completed treatment for cancer. The focus of this annual event is to celebrate life, raise awareness of issues that affect cancer survivors and promote kinship.

Support for those entrenched in their cancer journey reflects Norton Cancer Institute’s commitment to caring for the body, and the person within.

Norton Cancer Institute’s Survivorship Program helps patients and their families address questions and potential health issues from the time of their cancer diagnosis and throughout the period of active cancer treatment and beyond. The Survivorship Program helps build and maintain long-term relationships between patients and their Norton care team and offers many benefits, such as:

• Patients can find out about upcoming screenings, new treatments and therapies, or emerging technologies that may be relevant to their diagnoses.
• Support is available for family members and caregivers who may be grappling with the diagnosis themselves or may require assistance in helping to care for their loved ones’ side effects of treatment and recovery.
• Individualized survivorship care and education plans can be developed to assist patients in maintaining their overall health and well-being after cancer.

A favorite tradition at the Survivors Day event at Churchill Downs is drawing the names of eight survivors who are invited to the track’s famed Winner’s Circle for the last race of the day. As the group presents the winning trophy for that race — ceremonially named in honor of all cancer survivors — they symbolize the spirit, courage and determination it takes to stand victorious against cancer.

For more information about the Norton Cancer Institute Survivorship Program, call (502) 899-3366.