Cancer survivors gathered to share their experiences on Friday.

The Stratton VA Medical Center held its 12th annual Cancer Survivors Day. It's a day when patients who were treated at the Medical Center come and talk about battling the disease. They said they want to show there's life after cancer.

Donald Cady is one of those survivors. He was first diagnosed with cancer on Memorial Day 1996. And he said that the message of the day is simple.

"It encourages other people. You know that they are not alone, I guess. I said there is nine million of us now, which is awesome. I mean, before you heard the word 'cancer' and you knew you were dead. Now, you know you have a chance," Cady said.

Cancer survivors also received a Patient Support Booklet, which contained a list of resources available to them through the VA and in the community.