PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
June 2, 2017

Cathleen D. Bennett
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Christie Administration Recognizes June 4 as National Cancer Survivors Day

In honor of National Cancer Survivors Day, June 4, the Department of Health is recognizing the nearly 15.5 million Americans and 454,000 New Jersey residents who have battled and survived cancer.

“Great strides have been made in battling many forms of cancer, and on National Cancer Survivors Day, we celebrate the survivors, families, friends and health professionals who have worked to save lives and support those with cancer,” said Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett.  “This day provides an opportunity to recognize the courage and strength it takes for someone to overcome cancer.”

Last month, the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey hosted their Annual Retreat on Cancer Research in New Jersey, a gathering of leading scientists from the cancer field. The event highlighted the latest cancer research being conducted at the Cancer Institute and other institutions throughout New Jersey, and focused on advances in cancer research and treatment in the past year. 

“Cancer survival rates in New Jersey and the U. S. continue to improve while the overall death rate is declining due to increased early detection, improved treatments for many cancers and declining tobacco use,’’ added Bennett.

Over the past decade, cancer 5-year relative survival rates have improved from 69 percent to 71 percent for men and 65 percent to 67 percent for women in New Jersey. Survival rates are highest for cancers of the prostate, thyroid, female breast and melanoma.  Cancer survival varies among racial groups; the 5-year survival rates for whites is 70 percent compared to 61 percent for blacks.

The Department’s Office of Cancer Control and Prevention develops state-based comprehensive cancer control plans and promotes awareness of cancer risk factors through Regional Chronic Disease Coalitions.

The Department, through its New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED) Program, provides comprehensive outreach, education and screening services for low-income uninsured residents. From July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2016, the NJCEED program provided hundreds of thousands of screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancers. These screenings resulted in more than 1,300 diagnosed cases of cancer, allowing patients to seek appropriate treatment.

For 30 years, National Cancer Survivors Day has celebrated the joy and hope, camaraderie and faith, and triumph over adversity shown by cancer survivors across America and the world. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a "survivor" as anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

To find out more about National Cancer Survivors Day, visit http://www.ncsd.org/index.htm.

For more on the Department’s cancer resources, visit http://nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter @njdeptofhealth, Facebook /njdeptofhealth, Instagram @njdeptofhealth and Snapchat @njdoh.

For more information, visit our homepage at nj.gov/health.

Last Reviewed: 6/2/2017