Cancer survivors gather for 'Lights of Hope' ceremony (11 images)

Performer and cancer survivor Edy Blu entertains guests during the "Lights of Hope" ceremony on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. The ceremony, which is part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, took place after volunteer advocates met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to increase federal research funding for the National Cancer Institute. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI

Lights illuminate bags near the Capitol reflecting pool with handwritten messages to friends and families of cancer survivors spelling out "hope" during the "Lights of Hope" ceremony on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. The ceremony, which is part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, took place after volunteer advocates met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to increase federal research funding for the National Cancer Institute. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI

Lights illuminate bags near the Capitol reflecting pool with handwritten messages to friends and families of cancer survivors spelling out "cures" during the "Lights of Hope" ceremony on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. The ceremony, which is part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, took place after volunteer advocates met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to increase federal research funding for the National Cancer Institute. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI

Lights illuminate bags near the Capitol reflecting pool with handwritten messages to friends and families of cancer survivors spelling out 1.7 million, representing the number of Americans who are expeected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, during the "Lights of Hope" ceremony on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. The ceremony, which is part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, took place after volunteer advocates met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to increase federal research funding for the National Cancer Institute. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI