June is National Cancer Survivors Month. For many, it’s a time of celebration. For others, it’s complicated. And for some of us, it’s both.
Being called a “survivor” sounds like a badge of honor, and it is, but the weight behind that word is rarely visible. Behind the survivor label are scars that never fully fade, bodies that have been changed forever, and memories of waiting rooms, chemotherapy beds, and the quiet, trembling moments between test results.
I didn’t wake up one day and feel like a survivor. It took everything in me to fight through my diagnosis, to sit through treatment with hope when my body felt like it was shutting down. It took everything in me to smile in front of my children when I was falling apart inside. It took everything in me to keep showing up for my life when grief, fear, and fatigue tried to take over.
Survivorship is not a finish line. It’s a new beginning filled with follow-up appointments, long-term side effects, emotional triggers, and a deep sense of gratitude that often shares space with guilt and grief. We grieve the life we had before cancer. We grieve the friends we’ve lost. We grieve the innocence that was taken from us the moment we were told, “You have cancer.”
We also carry something else—resilience. We live fiercely. We love harder. We speak louder. We advocate not just for ourselves, but for those still fighting, for those who didn’t make it, and for those who may not know they’re at risk. We are walking proof that early detection, access to care, and community support can change outcomes and save lives.
That’s why research matters. A recent report from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reveals a concerning trend: cancer rates are rising among people under the age of 50. According to the NIH article published in May 2024, researchers found that while cancer diagnoses in older adults are declining, the number of younger adults facing cancer is increasing. The study, based on data from nearly 3 million people, showed significant rises in cancers of the appendix, uterus, and colon among younger populations, especially women and individuals from minority communities.
The article notes that “from 2010 to 2019, overall cancer incidence increased by 1.2% per year in people under age 50, driven mostly by increases in women.” This is more than a statistic. It is a wake-up call for prevention, education, and policy that prioritizes access to early detection tools like genetic testing, screenings, and culturally competent care.
It’s also a reminder that survivorship is not an aging population’s issue. It’s affecting our peers. It’s affecting us. I was diagnosed in my forties. I had to explain to my children what cancer was, while still trying to make it to work, manage appointments, and show up for a life that had suddenly changed.
We must also talk about who has access to survive. Black and Brown communities continue to face systemic barriers in screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Survivorship should not be a privilege. It should be a possibility for everyone. Health equity is not a trend. It’s a necessity.
And surviving cancer doesn’t mean you stop hurting. Anxiety, fear of recurrence, and body image struggles are real. Survivorship must include mental health support too. Healing is ongoing. It doesn’t end when the last treatment does.
This month, I honor every person who wears the title of survivor. Whether your cancer is gone, still being treated, or remains part of your daily story, you matter. Your voice matters. Your journey matters.
And if you’re someone who is still fighting, know this: we see you. You are not alone. There is no perfect way to navigate this journey. Some days you’ll feel strong. Other days you won’t. That’s okay. You are still surviving.
To the caregivers, the medical teams, the friends who stayed, and the families who held us up, thank you. You are part of our survivorship too.
Survivorship isn’t just a word. It’s a lived experience. It’s breath. It’s resilience. It’s the decision to keep going, even when you’re not sure how.
If you or someone you love has a family history of cancer, talk to your doctor about genetic testing. If you’ve survived cancer, share your story. Your voice could be the reason someone else gets diagnosed early enough to survive. If you’re interested in advocacy, support, or education around survivorship or early detection, email info@theadvocatestable.org.
I’ll close with this:
“I don’t just carry scars. I carry the story of how I survived.”
This month, and every month, I honor the warrior in all of us.
Source:
National Institutes of Health. “Researchers describe cancer trends in people under 50.” NIH Research Matters, May 28, 2024. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/researchers-describe-cancer-trends-people-under-50
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