Mega Doctor News
Edinburg, TX— National Cancer Survivors Day® is a unique celebration. This time around it marked the 30th annual National Cancer Survivors Day®. Thousands of people in hundreds of communities across the globe celebrated on this day to honor cancer survivors and to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding, and even inspiring.
“Battling cancer is nothing short of heroic,” states Dr. Gerardo Lopez-Mena, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Physician Executive of Clinical Services and Community Outreach. “Celebrating with cancer survivors on National Cancer Survivor’s Day is one way we can increase awareness about the difficulties faced by our loved ones during such a trying time. It allows us to rightfully validate their experience and allows them to hopefully reflect on the love that got them through such a hard road.”
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR) hosted a special “Walk With A Doc” commemorating National Cancer Survivors Day®. Cancer survivors and their family members and the community joined this special event.
“Life after cancer is more than just surviving. It can be beautiful, abundant, and fulfilling. And that’s something to celebrate,” says Marissa Castañeda, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer at DHR.
“Our celebration was filled with joy, hope, camaraderie, and compassion as we acknowledged our community’s cancer survivors.”
Also, recognized the contributions of their families, friends, and healthcare providers and raise awareness of the ongoing challenges faced by cancer survivors today.
Anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life – is a cancer survivor, according to the National Cancer Survivors Day® Foundation. In the United States alone, there are more than 15.5 million people living with a history of cancer.
Major advances in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment have resulted in longer survival, and therefore, a growing number of cancer survivors. However, a cancer diagnosis can leave a host of problems in its wake. Physical, financial, and emotional hardships often persist for years after diagnosis and treatment. Survivors may face many challenges, such as limited access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments, inadequate or no health insurance, financial hardships, difficulty finding employment, psychosocial struggles, and a lack of understanding from family and friends. In light of these difficulties, our community needs to focus on improving the quality of life for cancer survivors.
“DHR has the only nationally accredited program for cancer care in our community,” states Dr. Eugenio Galindo, oncologist at DHR. “We save lives and provide the best available care with the use of advanced treatment and the latest research, always through a path of excellence and commitment to our patients.”
“Despite the numerous challenges they face, cancer survivors live full, productive lives and serve as an inspiration to all of us,” says Adriana Rios, Director of the Renaissance Cancer Foundation. “It’s time for our community to stand with them and help find ways to lessen the burdens a cancer diagnosis brings.” MDN