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U-M hosts Cancer Survivors' Day Celebration June 7

Ann Arbor - Laughter is said to be a natural stress reliever. It increases the release of endorphins, the body's natural protection against depression and pain. And for cancer patients and survivors, this can be especially important.

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Izzy Gesell, M.S. Ed., C.S.P.

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National Cancer Survivors Day

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With a theme of Becoming Lighthearted - Managing Stress and Change Through Humor, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center will honor the nation's 12 million cancer survivors at its 15th annual Cancer Survivors' Day. This year's event will take place on June 7 at Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Izzy Gesell, M.S. Ed., C.S.P., "organizational alchemist," cancer survivor and this year's guest speaker, will examine practical ways and means of maintaining physical and emotional fitness through humor. Using humor, Gesell works to help people thrive and prosper during changing times as they become more confident, spontaneous and effective.

"The idea is that humor is important in all situations, whether we're celebrating joy or trying to cope with adversity. The focus is to help people understand how humor works during these trying times and give people the permission to laugh around the subject of cancer," says Gesell.

As a cancer survivor, Gesell will draw from his own experiences and share with people the importance of using humor to cope with things they can't control. He believes humor is an underused resource that is just as valuable during difficult times as it is during joyous times.

Survivors' Day started nationally in 1987 as a way to show that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality. 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.

"I think cancer has touched almost all of us, especially now as medical advances lead to greater numbers of cancer survivors. Cancer Survivor's Day is a longstanding tradition here at U-M and this year, we wanted to use Izzy's message of keeping a sense of humor no matter what the condition," says Martha Laatsch, community outreach coordinator at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. "The event is meant to be a celebration of survivorship and to mark another year of beating cancer."

As the world's largest and fastest-growing annual cancer survivor event, National Cancer Survivors' Day is a celebration of life that is held in hundreds of communities across the world. This year's U-M event will also include informational booths on survivorship and door prizes for those who attend.

Survivors' Day is free and open to the public; however, registration is encouraged. Light refreshments will be served.

Event Details

Written by Jessica Brown

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• The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation
  
  
• Izzy Gesell's web site
  
  
• University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center's Survivors' Day web page