Honoring Cancer Survivors: This Month and Always
Every June, National Cancer Survivor Month invites us to celebrate resilience, honor survivorship, and recognize the ongoing needs of millions of Americans living with and beyond cancer. Today, there are more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States, each with a unique journey shaped by treatment, recovery, and long-term care needs.
A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice
Thousands of men and women who supported the nation’s nuclear defense as nuclear weapons and uranium workers were exposed to radiation and toxic chemicals, leading to increased risks for cancers including lung, skin, blood, and others. Their sacrifices were not fully understood for decades, and many workers continue to navigate the long-term impact of those exposures today.
Professional Case Management (PCM) and Cold War Patriots (CWP) have built their mission around supporting this community. CWP, founded as a division of PCM, serves as a leading resource connecting workers to the healthcare and compensation benefits they’ve earned through programs like the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program. This program was created specifically to address the reality that many nuclear workers developed serious illnesses—including cancer—due to occupational exposure.
Leadership Driving Impact
At the center of this mission to support atomic workers experiencing cancer is our very own Greg Austin, President of Professional Case Management, whose work exemplifies the power of partnership in advancing cancer care and awareness.
Austin has taken an active leadership role with the American Cancer Society (ACS) through its “CEOs Against Cancer” initiative, including serving as a Colorado chapter leader. This program brings together executives to elevate awareness, fund research, and drive action in the fight against cancer.
Through this collaboration, PCM has strengthened its commitment not only to caring for patients at home but also to advancing broader cancer initiatives—from community education events to partnerships that expand access to care and clinical research.
As Austin has noted in the past, partnering with ACS is about helping patients live longer, more independently, and with greater quality of life, even after a cancer diagnosis. He shares his personal connection to cancer in this video below, and explains how that experience has strengthened, more than ever, our corporate commitment to supporting organizations like ACS.
Expanding Access to Care and Research
One of the most powerful ways PCM contributes to survivorship is by meeting patients where they are—at home. This model not only improves quality of life but also addresses a major barrier for cancer patients: access.
Through its clinical research division, EmVenio, PCM is helping expand access to oncology clinical trials in underserved communities, bringing cutting-edge therapies closer to patients who need them most. This work aligns closely with the American Cancer Society’s mission to eliminate disparities in cancer outcomes and ensure that every patient has a fair chance at survival.
Supporting Cancer Patients Beyond Treatment
Cancer survivorship doesn’t end when research and treatment does. Many survivors face lasting physical and emotional challenges, and roughly 1 in 4 report a diminished quality of life after cancer.
For nuclear and uranium workers, these challenges may be compounded by multiple chronic conditions linked to occupational exposure. That’s why integrated support—from home healthcare services to advocacy and benefits navigation—is so critical.
PCM and CWP work together to ensure survivors receive home care that preserves independence and dignity, guidance navigating complex federal benefit programs, and ongoing support tailored to long-term survivorship needs.
Celebrating Strength, Advancing the Future
Cancer Survivor Month is ultimately about more than recognition—it’s about action. It’s about continuing to build systems that not only treat cancer but support people through every stage of survivorship.
Through leadership, partnerships, and a deep commitment to those who served, organizations like PCM, CWP, and the American Cancer Society are helping ensure that survivors—especially those who sacrificed for their country—receive the care, respect, and support they deserve.
Because survivorship is not just about living—it’s about living well.
