Life After Cancer is Worth Celebrating

Each year in early June, communities across the country come together to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day, a time to honor the journey of those who have faced cancer and to recognize that survivorship is about more than just surviving. It’s about living fully, finding joy again, and embracing life after diagnosis with courage and gratitude.

At Adventist Health AIS Cancer Center, this year’s celebration took the form of a Cancer Survivors Day Brunch, held on May 30 at our Chester Avenue location in Bakersfield. The event brought together patients, families, caregivers, and staff for a heartfelt morning of food, connection, and reflection.

Survivors came from all walks of life — some newly in remission, and others decades beyond their diagnosis. Some brought children, spouses, or lifelong friends. All brought stories worth celebrating. In a world that can move too quickly past recovery, this gathering slowed things down and focused on what matters most: resilience, gratitude, and community.

“This brunch is more than just a meal,” said Kimberly Odens, RN, director of the AIS Cancer Center. “It’s a statement of support and an affirmation of life. Survivorship is not the end of the journey, it’s a new beginning, and we’re here to walk it with you.”

The celebration honored not only those who have fought cancer but also the loved ones and caregivers who walk beside them, often quietly holding up the weight of hope, treatment schedules, and long nights. The brunch space, filled with warmth and shared understanding, served as a reminder that no one walks this path alone.

Events like Cancer Survivors Day are more than symbolic. They are vital moments of affirmation, where healing meets celebration and where community becomes a source of strength. For the AIS Cancer Center team, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the “why” behind the work, why compassionate care matters, why technology and innovation are only part of the solution, and why every survivor’s story fuels our mission.

If you’ve been touched by cancer through your own journey or someone you love and are looking for a way to give back, consider supporting the patients and programs at the AIS Cancer Center. Your generosity helps provide critical resources, comfort items, and supportive services that make the road to healing a little easier for those still on the journey.

Together, we can continue to celebrate life after cancer and bring hope every step of the way.