[Skip to Content]

Close to 1,000 expected at Upstate Cancer Center's National Cancer Survivor's Day Celebration June 4

Close to 1,000 expected at Upstate Cancer Center's National Cancer Survivor's Day Celebration June 4

SYRACUSE, N.Y.--The Upstate Cancer Center will host nearly 1,000 cancer survivors of all ages, their families and friends at its annual National Cancer Survivors Day event Sunday, June 4 at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park in Syracuse. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. after regular zoo hours are over.

Upstate has hosted this event, which is free to survivors and their family members for 21 years.

One of the youngest cancer survivors to attend is two and a half year-old Liliana, who was diagnosed a year ago with leukemia. As an 18 month-old, she endured chemotherapy and long periods of hospitalization.  Today, she is beating cancer.

This is the second year, the Upstate Cancer Center is holdingthe  event at the zoo.

“It’s a spectacular location for us as we get to accommodate many more survivors and their families, and highlight one of our region’s treasures,” said Matthew Capogreco, program and events coordinator for the Upstate Cancer Center.

The late afternoon event also will feature live animal demos, music, photo booths, face painting, tattoo stations, cotton candy, popcorn and an ice cream sundae bar.

Upstate has hosted this event, which is free to survivors and their family members for 21 years.

National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual celebration of life that is held in hundreds of communities nationally and globally during the month of June. It serves as a celebration for survivors, inspiration for those recently diagnosed, support for families affected as well as community outreach.

About the Upstate Cancer Center

The Upstate Cancer Center, opened in 2014, features some of the most advanced technology aimed a fighting cancer.  A highlight of the Upstate Cancer Center is new technology that is now available to treat cancer. The Vero SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy System) is for advanced treatment of lung, liver and prostate cancer. It facilitates the delivery of extremely high doses of radiation to complex tumors located in critical areas while protecting neighboring organs, improving both safety and accuracy. TrueBeam, an advanced radiotherapy option lessens treatment time, improving patient convenience.

Add these new technologies to Upstate’s existing arsenal of cancer-fighting technology--Tomotherapy, Calypso, Gamma Knife Perfextion and RapidArc--and the Cancer Center provides an unmatched breadth of radiotherapy options in the region.

Encompassing 90,000 square feet, the facility features infusion chairs, four linear accelerator vaults for radiation therapy, a high-tech intraoperative suite, which includes a 3T MRI, a four-season rooftop healing garden, meditation room, family resource center, multidisciplinary practice locations and private space for genetic, financial and nutrition counseling services.  The center is also home to Dr. William J. Waters Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Upstate provides treatment for all forms of cancer, including blood, bone, brain, breast, colon, endocrine, genitourinary, gynecologic, liver, bladder, pancreas, lung, chest, prostate, thyroid, and cancers and blood disorders associated mostly with children, including leukemia, brain and bone tumors and sickle cell.

Caption: Animal-themed face paint designs were a hot item at last Year's National Cancer Survivor's Day Celebration, held at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnett Park.

Top