AUGUSTA -- More than 300 people gathered today at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care to celebrate Cancer Survivors Day.

With the theme, "there's no place like hope," the survivors, their family, friends and caregivers shared their experiences with the disease.

Dr. Andrew Hertler said the number of people who survive cancer has increased dramatically since 1970. Back then, it was estimated three million people survived cancer, but in 2005, that had grown to 11 million.

Breast cancer survivor Sherry Boudreau said she kept her diagnosis to herself for a month because she didn't want to upset her family.

"It was very hard," she said. "I wasn't going to die. I was going to fight."

The cancer center, first opened in July 2007, also offered activities for children and informational programs on nutrition, massage, and pet therapy for those who attended Saturday's event.