June is National Cancer Survivors Month
“Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” - John Diamond
June is National Cancer Survivors Month! According to The National Cancer Institute, cancer survivors make up 5.4% of the United States’ population, with 47% of survivors living 10 years past their cancer diagnosis and 67% of survivors being 65 and older.
The American Association for Cancer Research states that there are 18 million cancer survivors in the US, but they are also quick to note that cancer has a lasting impact on the people who face it, with many survivors still reporting poor physical and mental health after being given the all-clear. Although cancer is a devastating disease, what is heartening to see is the communities that rise up in support of its members who have cancer. SHARE Detroit is partnered with numerous nonprofits whose missions are to make living with and surviving cancer easier.
Many of our nonprofit partners work with specific types of cancer, including Colorectal Cancer Alliance, The Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation. With breast cancer survivors accounting for 22% of cancer survivors, it’s no surprise that we are partnered with several nonprofits specifically devoted to helping people navigate that process from prevention to detection to post-diagnosis support: The Pink Fund, Operation Breast Density, and Shades of Pink Foundation. We also work with a number of nonprofits that support childhood cancer patients, which you can read about in our post on National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
In addition to these nonprofits that work towards raising awareness and supporting the quest for a cure of specific types of cancer, you can also find nonprofits on SHARE’s website that work to support cancer patients (and their caregivers) financially and emotionally as they receive treatment. These include, Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation (CHSCF), Angels of Hope, New Day Foundation for Families Fighting Cancer, Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit, and Five Points of Hope.
Even though we are currently seeing a rise in certain types of cancer, we are also seeing a rise in rates of survivorship, with the National Cancer Institute reporting that the number of cancer survivors is expected to grow to 22.5 million by 2032. We here at SHARE Detroit are proud to provide a platform for the public to interact with nonprofits that work towards ensuring no one has to face cancer alone!