Fortunately, thanks to research and new treatment options, more and more people are able to recover from cancer or continue to live with their disease for a long time
The number of people with cancer is expected to rise sharply in the next ten years: in 2032, approximately 1.4 million Dutch people will be affected by it [1]. Fortunately, the outlook is improving and more and more people are able to recover from or live with their disease – although not everyone is that lucky yet. In addition, the majority say they experience a long-term negative impact of their disease. In the run-up to ‘Cancer Friday’ on 28 October, a group of organizations active in the fight against cancer is requesting attention for this.
More and more cancer survivors
Fortunately, thanks to research and new treatment options, more and more people are able to recover from cancer or continue to live with their disease for a long time. This is also apparent from figures from the Dutch Cancer Registry that the IKNL recently published. The number of people with cancer who are alive in the first five years after diagnosis has increased, as has the number of people who are still alive after ten years.
Although not everyone is cured of cancer, the good news is that average life expectancy is increasing. There, various organizations that are committed to cancer patients, such as the Dutch Breast Cancer Association, the Youth and Cancer Foundation, the Netherlands Children’s Cancer Association and KiKa, together with the pharmaceutical company MSD, want to draw attention to this in a festive way. That is why they are creating ‘Cancer Friday’: a day for everyone who is or has had to deal with cancer in any form. A day that revolves around positivity, hope and celebrating life. And also a day on which they draw attention to how people experience life with and after cancer. This will take place at a festive location, namely TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht.
Suffering from consequences for a lifetime
This first edition of KankerVrijDag focuses specifically on how young people and young adults experience life after cancer. They are called AYAs (adolescents and young adults). Due to their relatively young age, they suffer from the ‘residual damage’ of their illness for a long time.
“Their lives have been turned upside down by cancer and the treatment given at an age when they study, gain first work experience, want to buy a house, start a family or just have a young family,” says Anneke Eikelenboom of the Youth and Cancer Foundation. . As an expert by experience, Anneke knows what the impact of this residual damage can be. “Many people think that after your treatment you will be better and get on with your life. But I experienced the year after that as more difficult than the year in which I was treated.” This is confirmed by Mildred Klarenbeek of the Netherlands Children’s Cancer Association, who coordinates a large and active survivor network. “It’s about surviving, living through, but above all about quality of life afterwards.”
Celebrate and ask
Frits Hirschstein, founder of KiKa (Kinderen Kankervrij) also argues for more attention for the subject. “We celebrate Cancer Friday together because fortunately a lot is already happening to improve the lives of survivors after treatment. But there is still a lot to do. In the medical field, to limit and prevent later effects, but also in the material and social field. Our ambitions are great because survivors are entitled to the same future perspective as Dutch people without experience with (child) cancer. We reflect on that on KankerVrijDag. To create awareness, because survivors are reminded every day of the limitations and thresholds.”
“How are you doing?”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, young and old. “In breast cancer, about 90% of patients survive diagnosis and treatment [2],” said Cristina Guerrero Paez, director of the Breast Cancer Association of the Netherlands. “That is very nice, but unfortunately often with all kinds of complaints and late consequences – both physical and psychological. That is why we support this initiative. Reflecting on how someone is doing is and remains important. So join in and ask ‘how are you?’ to that person in your area.”
About CancerFriday
KankerVrijDag is an awareness day for everyone who has ever had to deal with cancer in any form. On this day, life after cancer is central. The first edition will take place on Friday, October 28, 2022. More information can be found at cancervrijdag.nl
What can you do around Cancer Friday:
- Talk to a survivor in your area. How is that person really doing? How does the person experience life after being ill? And what does being “cancer-free” mean to this person?
- Contact one of the patient associations: they offer useful information and tips for living with and after cancer. You can find them on NFK.nl
- Come to the KaVrijMiBo in TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht on Friday 28 October. A festive gathering to celebrate life for those touched by cancer and their loved ones
- Donate to KiKa or another cancer-fighting charity
- Listen to the KankerVrijDag playlist on Spotify and let us know which song we should add for you.
- Visit one of the more than eighty IPSO walk-in centers. They offer help and support to people living with and after cancer.
- Go to cancer.nl for more information about how to get back on track.
- Consult the Cancer Guide. A well-arranged website with help and support for people who have (had) to do with cancer
- Read the book ‘Getting better is not for the faint of heart’ by journalists Danielle Pinedo and Bart van Eldert. They both got cancer and they also noticed how complicated survival is. In an intimate exchange of letters, the authors show movingly and with humor how they have found their way in this new extra existence in recent years.
Initiators: KankerVrijDag is an initiative of MSD Netherlands in collaboration with the Dutch Breast Cancer Association, the Youth and Cancer Foundation, the Netherlands Children’s Cancer Association and KiK
In addition, the initiative is also promoted by various (patient) organizations, such as:
- Lung cancer Netherlands
- skin fund
- Melanoma Foundation
- Prostate Cancer Foundation
- Testicular Cancer Foundation
- Stichting Red Vulva
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