National Cancer Survivors Day, 1 June 2003 time to create a registry
The Cayman Islands Cancer Society, Cayman HospiceCare and Bosom Buddies have joined forces to mark the 2003 National Cancer Survivors Day and to make it an annual celebration in Cayman.
We know there are many people living with
a history of cancer in Cayman, but we do not know how many or
who they are. There was a time when having cancer was viewed as
a shameful thing by cancer patients.
Because of the stigma, people tended to keep quiet about it and
as a result, they often did not receive the support and counseling
that is so important when dealing with this dreadful disease.
Thankfully, that is all changing now and cancer survivors are
very willing to share the wealth of their experiences with others.
Many cancer survivors will be the first to tell you that you can live a fulfilling life after a cancer diagnosis. Major advances in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment have resulted in longer survival. However, surviving cancer can leave a host of problems in its wake. Physical, emotional, and financial hardships often persist for years after diagnosis and treatment.
Survivors may face many challenges including access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments, denial of health and life insurance coverage, financial hardships, employment problems, psychological struggles and the strain on personal relationships and the profound fear of recurrence.
We want to work with cancer survivors to minimize these types of difficulties because we know that cancer survivors can and do live active, productive lives and that due to their cancer experience they make a significant contribution to the community by helping to build a strong network and to provide good community supports for cancer patients and their families.
Ann James of Bosom Buddies said, "National Cancer Survivors Day encourages a greater commitment to resolving the issues of cancer survivorship. It also gives us an opportunity to create a survivors registry in Cayman.
If you are a cancer survivor or if you know
someone who is, please contact the Cancer Society 949-7618 or
email
cicseducation@candw.ky. We can then make sure that everyone is
aware of upcoming events and that survivors are receiving the
support needed.
Knowledge, hope and inspiration can help beat cancer. There is no better place to find it than at our National Cancer Survivors Day event.
We will mark the event by breaking ground for the Cayman Islands Survivors Garden. The ceremony and tea party will be held at HospiceCare Crewe Road, 1 June, 2003 at 4:00 6:00 pm. We hope you will join us and show your support for cancer survivors, their families, friends and healthcare providers.
Survivors who have not done so already may wish to call the Cancer Society about having their pictures and comments added to the wall at the Cayman Islands Hospital.