Milwaukee, Wis. -- Each year, more people are diagnosed with cancer, but the good news is that each year more are surviving. The five-year survival rate for adults diagnosed with cancer between1996 and 2004 is now 66 percent.

In honor of National Cancer Survivors Day, Aurora cancer survivors will participate in events that prove life after cancer is not only possible, but it can be positive and productive. As a leading provider of cancer care in Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care is planning its survivor activities around June 13.

A cancer survivor is considered to be anyone living with a history of cancer - from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

"There has been great progress in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment that has resulted in ever-increasing numbers of survivors," said Joseph Mirro, MD, vice president of cancer services for Aurora Health Care.

"Now that more patients are being cured of their cancer and living longer, there's a growing number of survivors with unique needs. These survivors are facing a host of new problems as a result of their cancer and its treatments. These problems are not solely medical but financial, insurance and emotional hardships that may persist long after treatment and throughout the survivor's life. As health-care providers we want to help, but we need cancer patient's friends and families to get involved and provide caring support. We hope they will come to these Aurora sponsored events to learn how they can help."

It is expected that thousands of cancer patients, family members and friends will participate in one of the activities planned by Aurora caregivers across eastern Wisconsin.

On Saturday, June 13,

• Cancer survivors will gather at Milwaukee County Zoo in Milwaukee from 9 a.m. to noon after the Lombardi Walk/Run for Cancer to benefit the Vince Lombardi Charitable Funds. The event will feature cancer care coordinators, a social worker and other caregivers who can answer questions about screening, prevention and types of cancer including prostate, breast and colorectal cancer as well as melanoma. In addition to the educational booths, there will be entertainment and free admission to the zoo.
• Survivors, family members and friends will join at Evergreen Park, Area 4, Calumet Drive, Sheboygan. Members of the Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) who are survivors, will be there to share their journey as well. Lunch, entertainment, bingo and a survivor's ceremony will be featured from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• From 9 to 11 a.m. in Oshkosh, there will be booths with information on nutrition, skin cancer and skin cancer screenings, prostate cancer and prostate cancer screenings, and lung cancer education. Caregivers will be on hand to answer questions on cancer topics. Survivors will meet at a breakfast, enjoy entertainment, and cheer on the walkers and runners of the first ever Aurora's Walk/Run for Cancer as they raise funds to benefit Aurora's Cancer Services.

Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit Wisconsin health care provider and a national leader in efforts to improve the quality of health care. Aurora offers care at sites in more than 90 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin.

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Contact: Sue Pierman
414-647-6432
sue.pierman@aurora.org