Sunday, June 6, marks the 34th annual National Cancer Survivors Day, a day when thousands of people in hundreds of communities across the globe hold celebrations to honor cancer survivors and to raise awareness of the challenges of cancer survivorship.

To join in Maine’s celebration of National Cancer Survivor Day, visit ncsd-maine.com throughout the weekend of June 4-6.

“Whether you’re a cancer survivor, a family member, friend, or medical professional, National Cancer Survivor Day provides an opportunity for all people living with a history of cancer, including America’s more than 16.9 million cancer survivors, to connect with each other, celebrate milestones, and recognize those who have supported them along the way. It is also a day to remember those cancer survivors we have lost,” Matt Dexter, executive director of the Christine B. Foundation in Bangor, said in a news release from the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine.

Anyone living with a history of cancer, from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life, is a cancer survivor, according to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. Major advances in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment have resulted in longer survival.

However, a cancer diagnosis can leave a host of problems in its wake. Physical, financial, and emotional hardships often persist for years after diagnosis and treatment. Survivors must contend with rapidly-rising drug costs, inadequate insurance coverage, difficulty finding or keeping employment, and a lack of understanding from family and friends.