ALBANY, N.Y. -- It was a day full of food, music and dancing as New York Oncology Hematology celebrated the 21st annual National Cancer Survivors Day at its Albany Cancer Center.

Survivors’ day is recognized across the country on the first Sunday in June, with events held all weekend. More than a dozen staff members have been working for the past several months to organize the event for their patients.

“It is not a day to come here in discuss the illnesses or the bad parts. It is a day to say look I’m here. I went through this and I was strong enough to go through my treatments. It is our way to say thank you, not only to the patient but to the caregiver,” said David Lynch, who works at Albany Med.

About 1,000 patients and guests attended the celebration, which was co-sponsored bythe hospital.