Earlier this month, we celebrated National Cancer Survivors Day with our first ever Survivor Week! We counted down to the big day with a week of useful survivorship information, inspiring stories, advice and encouraging words.
We kicked off the week with the launch of Blue Hope Nation, our Facebook group for patients, survivors and caregivers, and received an amazing response. Nearly 300 people joined Blue Hope Nation within 24 hours of launching and our Facebook announcement reached more than 33,000 people. You can still join our community to post questions, find support, get information and answers, vent and laugh all while finding strength and hope together!
Blue Hope Nation wasn’t the only thing you were excited about. Before Survivor Week, we ask “What does being a survivor mean to you?” and were touched by your amazing comments, such as:
“Surviving cancer was an epiphany for me. It made me examine what I had been and made me see love, life and others with different eyes. I'm definitely not ready to say I am glad I had cancer, but I am grateful for what surviving cancer has taught me.”
“I'm a survivor in a different way, my brother passed in November 2013 from colon cancer at the young age of 48. We, those left behind, are surviving without him. We enjoy life, appreciate the little things and tell those we care about how much they mean to us! Never take everyday life for granted!”
You were also eager to talk about spirituality, learn financial tips and share your feelings about survivor’s guilt on our blog, Facebook page and Instagram. We loved hearing what you had to say about these important topics and what it means to live your best life as a colon cancer survivor. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Did you participate in Survivor Week? What was your favorite part and what would you like to see next year?
You’re not alone! The Colon Cancer Alliance serves as a source of support and hope. If you have additional questions about colon cancer screening or are in need of support, please contact our free Helpline at (877) 422-2030.