It is an incredible privilege to recognize the 38th annual National Cancer Survivors Day on behalf of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Today, we honor over 18 million cancer survivors in the United States, as well as their families and caregivers. Survivorship is about so much more than statistics—it’s about helping people lead full, healthy lives after a diagnosis of cancer.

NCI’s mission is to lead, conduct, and support cancer research across the nation to advance scientific knowledge and help all people live longer, healthier lives. We in the NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship are fueled by this mission—with a particular emphasis on survivors living “…longer, healthier lives.” Specifically, we are dedicated to improving the long-term outcomes of cancer survivors, including those diagnosed in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.

Survivors and their families are vital partners in this mission. Your voices guide our research and practices, shaping what survivorship truly means. Today and every day, we celebrate your strength and resilience and commit to increasing quality of life, preventing side effects from treatment, and building a brighter, healthier future for all. Together, we’re transforming what it means to be diagnosed with cancer.

Emily S. Tonorezos, M.D., MPH
Director, Office of Cancer Survivorship, National Cancer Institute