June 5, 2016 was National Cancer Survivors Day. The day was originally created in 1987 by members from the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (http://www.canceradvocacy.org/). It has been held annually on the first Sunday of June since then.

“National Cancer Survivors Day® is an annual, treasured Celebration of Life that is held in hundredsof communities nationwide, and around the world, on the first Sunday in June. It is a CELEBRATION for those who have survived, an INSPIRATION for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of SUPPORT for families, and an OUTREACH to the community. On National Cancer Survivors Day®, thousands gather across the globe to honor cancer survivors and to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding, and even inspiring.” #NCSD2016

This picture below goes to show just how much progress we have made in the fight against cancer (in both children and adults)! However, it also highlights a HUGE segment of the population (14.5 million) who often have received chemotherapy and other treatments that can cause severe chronic health problems. It is imperative that physicians and other health care providers are aware of the special needs of this population in regards to preventative care, insurance, family planning, etc. Research is being done by many UCLA faculty, including here at Harbor-UCLA looking at these survivors. A massive national database of information exists, the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (athttp://seer.cancer.gov/) which often serves as a launching pad for these studies, and is worth visiting to learn more about the epidemiology, outcomes, and new findings about cancer and the survivors of cancer.