Honoring Strength and Hope

Each June, we celebrate National Cancer Survivors Month—a time to honor the incredible strength and resilience of cancer survivors, including the youngest among them: children who’ve bravely faced life-threatening diagnoses and treatments.

At Kids Cancer Fund, this month holds deep meaning. It’s not just about survival—it’s about the long, often difficult journey after treatment ends. It’s about recognizing the continued challenges childhood cancer survivors face and uplifting their voices, their victories, and their hopes for the future.

What Is a Survivor?

A cancer survivor is anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the moment of diagnosis throughout their life. For many childhood cancer survivors, the end of treatment marks the beginning of a new chapter—one that includes recovery, reflection, and learning to thrive again.

“People think when the chemo ends, life just goes back to normal. But survivorship is its own mountain to climb.”— Lena, age 16, leukemia survivor

Why This Month Matters

National Cancer Survivors Month is a chance to:

• Celebrate milestones, large and small.

• Raise awareness about the ongoing physical and emotional needs of survivors.

• Support families and caregivers who continue to carry the weight of the journey.

• Advocate for better survivorship care and resources—especially for children and teens.

  
  

Today, there are more than 500,000 childhood cancer survivors in the U.S. Many live with the long-term effects of treatment, including health complications, cognitive delays, and emotional trauma.

“I still go to the doctor a lot and sometimes I get scared the cancer will come back. But mostly, I’m just happy I get to play soccer again.”— Noah, age 11, neuroblastoma survivor

The Hidden Journey of Survivorship

While surviving cancer is a triumph, the road that follows can be filled with new challenges:

• Medical follow-ups and managing late effects

• Social reintegration into school and peer groups

• Mental health support for anxiety, depression, or PTSD

• Educational support for learning difficulties caused by treatment

  
  

Families, too, carry invisible scars—and they need ongoing support, understanding, and connection.

“As a parent, you think once your child beats cancer, you can breathe again. But the anxiety never really goes away. That’s why survivor support is so critical.”— Carla, mother of a 7-year-old brain tumor survivor

How You Can Help

Here’s how you can honor survivors this June:

• Reach out to a survivor with a message of love or encouragement.

• Share survivor stories on social media using #CancerSurvivorsMonth and #ChildhoodCancerSurvivor.

• Donate to Kids Cancer Fund to support survivor care programs, family aid, and childhood cancer research.

• Volunteer your time to help families still navigating the journey.

Together, We Celebrate and Support Survivors

At Kids Cancer Fund, we believe that survivorship deserves as much attention as treatment. This June let’s celebrate the courage of our childhood cancer survivors—and recommit to helping them heal, grow, and dream beyond cancer.

“Surviving cancer doesn’t make me who I am, but it did show me how strong I can be.”— Ella, age 14, osteosarcoma survivor

Let’s uplift every survivor and their family this month—and every month. Their journey is not over. But they are not alone.

If you’d like to share your story or support a survivor, contact us.