By Omar Ramos
Program Development and Operations Manager
Waterford Place Cancer Resource Center
In June, we celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day, an annual celebration of life honoring those with a history of cancer, bringing awareness to the ongoing challenges survivors face, and recognizing the many ways people continue to move forward.
I still remember the first National Cancer Survivors Day event I attended in 2019. The theme was “Survivors Rock,” and the day was filled with classic rock music, costumes and activities. It was the first time I saw survivors not just attending an event, but truly re-engaging with life in a community setting. It was inspiring and, honestly, just a lot of fun.
Since then, through my work at Waterford Place Cancer Resource Center, I’ve had the opportunity to witness so many different experiences within this community. I’ve watched people reconnect with themselves and with others in ways I never fully understood before doing this work. I’ve also seen how cancer can shift priorities, what people value, how they spend their time, and what they choose to hold onto. I leave each year with a deep sense of gratitude for this community and the relationships I’ve been fortunate to see grow.
Survivorship means something different to everyone. Some do not even identify with the word “survivor.” Others are simply focused on moving forward. For many, it carries a mix of emotions like gratitude, celebration, fear, grief, uncertainty and the realities of ongoing treatment or lasting side effects. For some, it becomes a path toward advocacy and supporting others who are just beginning their own journey.
Cancer disrupts life in ways that are often hard to put into words. It brings loss, uncertainty and the need to rethink what life looks like moving forward. And still, people find ways to keep going, connecting with others, finding moments of joy and showing up for each other in real and meaningful ways.
While so much of this experience can feel outside of anyone’s control, many people still find ways to stay grounded in their values, relationships and sense of self.
What I have come to appreciate most about National Cancer Survivors Day is the reminder to acknowledge the wins, however small they may be. Some days those wins are big. Other days it is getting out of bed, making it to treatment or getting through a hard week. All of it matters. Much of survivorship lives in the quieter moments that often go unseen, and on the harder days, simply getting through is enough.
That is why we gather for this day. Because being together, even briefly, and feeling understood can mean more than words can fully capture.
Wishing everyone a peaceful National Cancer Survivors Day in whatever way feels right for you.
