[Guest blog by Wenora Johnson]
National Cancer Survivors Day isn’t just a date on the calendar for me, it’s a reminder that survival is not a single moment, but a lifelong journey shaped by resilience, vigilance, and purpose.
I am a three-time cancer survivor, colorectal, endometrial, and basal cell carcinoma and I live with Lynch syndrome, a hereditary cancer condition that forever changed how I understand my health, my future, and my responsibility to others. Survival, for me, is not about being “done” with cancer. It’s about learning how to live fully and intentionally while carrying the knowledge that cancer may always be part of my story.
Survival Is More Than a Finish Line
When people hear the word survivor, they often imagine the end of treatment, the bell ringing, the last appointment, the sense of relief. But for many of us, especially those with hereditary cancer risk, survivorship begins after treatment and continues for the rest of our lives.
Survivorship means ongoing screenings, difficult conversations with family members about genetic risk, navigating fear before every scan, and learning to trust your body again. It means living with uncertainty while choosing hope anyway.
National Cancer Survivors Day honors all of that, the seen and unseen work of surviving.
The Role of Genetic Testing in My Survival
I would not be here today without genetic testing.
Learning I had Lynch syndrome provided critical answers, but more importantly, it gave me a roadmap. It explained why I developed multiple cancers and allowed my healthcare team to tailor surveillance and prevention strategies that quite literally saved my life.
Genetic testing didn’t just change my care, it changed my advocacy. It showed me how many people are never offered testing, never told they qualify, or never fully understand what the results could mean for them and their families. That gap in care is one reason I speak out.
Survivorship, to me, means using what I’ve learned to help close that gap.
Why Survivors’ Voices Matter in Research
As a volunteer research and patient advocate, I’ve seen how powerful survivor perspectives can be when they are genuinely included in research, clinical trials, and policy decisions.
Survivors bring context that data alone cannot. We understand the barriers to participation, the fears around genetic information, the practical challenges of long-term follow-up, and the emotional toll of “watch and wait” medicine. When researchers listen to survivors, studies become more inclusive, recruitment improves, and outcomes become more meaningful.
National Cancer Survivors Day is also a reminder that survivors are not just patients—we are partners in progress.
Redefining What It Means to Celebrate
Celebrating survivorship doesn’t mean ignoring the losses, trauma, or inequities that exist in cancer care. It means honoring survival because of those realities.
I celebrate the researchers working to improve early detection.
I celebrate clinicians who listen and take family history seriously.
I celebrate advocates who ensure patient voices are heard.
And I celebrate survivors, newly diagnosed, long-term, metastatic, and hereditary, who show up every day with courage.
Survivorship looks different for each of us, and all of it deserves recognition.
A Call to Action on Survivors Day
On this National Cancer Survivors Day, my hope is simple:
- That more people are offered and understand genetic testing when appropriate
- That survivorship care includes mental, emotional, and long-term support
- That researchers continue to partner with survivors to design better studies
- And that no one feels alone in their cancer journey
I am celebrating not just because I survived cancer, but because I found purpose in survival.
And that, to me, is worth honoring.
Wenora Johnson is a three-time cancer survivor and nationally recognized patient advocate living with Lynch Syndrome. Having faced colorectal, uterine, and basal cell cancers, she shares a powerful story of resilience, hope, and empowerment. Wenora advocates for early detection, clinical trial awareness, and health equity, working with organizations such as AACR, ASCO, ECANA, Fight CRC, FORCE, and NRG Oncology. Through storytelling and education, she uplifts communities, helping others turn awareness into action and adversity into strength. Connect with Wenora on LinkedIn.
Wenora is part of the Official NCSD Speakers Bureau Roster.
