National Cancer Survivors Day to be held on June 5th 2011

The 24th National Cancer Survivors Day will be held on June 5th this year.

"This annual event is a national recognition that we have made significant progress in the fight against cancer," said Dr. Patricia Robinson, director of Loyola University Health System's Cancer Survivorship Program. Robinson sees cancer survivors at Loyola's main campus in Maywood and at the Loyola Center for Health at Wheaton.

There are about 12 million cancer survivors in the United States, according to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. A cancer survivor is defined as anyone living with a history of cancer, from the time of diagnosis through the remainder of his or her life.

Loyola's Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center is holding several events in conjunction with Cancer Survivors Day:
-- -- On Saturday, June 4, Loyola is partnering with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Cancer Survivorship Conference at Brookfield Zoo.
-- On Monday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 8, a Loyola art therapist will supervise a community art-making project at the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center.
-- The Cancer Center will offer cancer patients vouchers for free mini-manicures, mini-facials and haircuts at the Coleman Foundation Image Renewal Center.
-- During the week of June 6, cancer patients will be offered free passes to the Loyola Center for Fitness on the Maywood campus.

Loyola's Cancer Survivorship Program, the first of its kind in the Midwest, bridges the gap between a cancer patient's oncologist and primary care physician. Patients have access to physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, genetic counselors, nutritionists and members of pastoral care.

"Our goal is to transition a patient to as near a normal life as possible," Robinson said.