Approximately 500 local-area cancer survivors and their guests, caregivers, and medical staff from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Basking Ridge gathered on June 7 in observance of National Cancer Survivors Day. This annual event, held at the Bridgewater Marriott, allows cancer patients treated at Basking Ridge to connect with other survivors, celebrate milestones in their cancer journey, and recognize the healthcare providers, families, and friends who have supported them along the way.

Former Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Fred M. Jacobs, MD, JD, was the featured keynote speaker and spoke about the importance of smoking cessation. 

There are approximately 12 million cancer survivors in the United States, many of whom face a number of challenges, such as hindered access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments, inadequate or no insurance, financial hardships, employment problems, and psychological struggles. Memorial Sloan-Kettering's survivorship celebration gives patients and staff the opportunity to demonstrate that life after a cancer diagnosis can be meaningful, active, and productive, despite these difficulties.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Survivorship Center offers resources specifically designed for cancer survivors, including information about follow-up medical care, cancer screening services, and emotional support.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Basking Ridge provides comprehensive outpatient cancer care in a state-of-the-art facility convenient for cancer patients in Somerset County and other areas of central New Jersey. For more information, go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/suburban-outpatient/mskcc-basking-ridge.