when does the "survivor clock" start?

lemont
lemont Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I'm always hearing about survivor anniversaries but can someone tell me when the "survivor clock" starts? I was diagnosed in late July 2008 (stage one) and had two lumpectomies and bilat mast between Aug 8 and Sept 2. Last chemo was Dec 1 and started Arimidex. Had a revision of the bilat mast in April due to huge encapsulated hemotoma and seromas. Started twice-a-year Zometa this month. So, when is my one-year anniversary so I can have a party?

Comments

  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #2
    You are a survivor!
    I would say you are a survivor. Most say you are a survivor from the moment you get diagnosed... but lets ask these 6 year survivors here.
    Hugs, Jackie
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #3
    Hi, Lemont!
    Actually, I think you can choose your own start of the "survivor clock" for your anniversary celebration. OK, with that being said, and in my experience...

    Most commonly, the majority of cancer patients mark the day of original diagnosis. Because from the very moment following the delivery of that knowledge, we continue to survive despite the cancer. I also believe that most oncology medical professionals share this point of view.

    For my own personal milestone, sorta mentally and emotionally, I count forward from the day I completed all "invasive" treatment (surgery, chemo, rads). Because I felt like I devoted almost a year of my life to cancer treatment - and, my "real" life had been suspended in time. I've met a few who share this view; but, not many. I do also mark my day of diagnosis. So, I guess I'm greedy! I passed my own 5 year anniversary for completion of all "invasive treatment" a couple of months ago - and, that's what prompted me to join this amazing group. Later this year, I'll mark my 6 year anniversary of diagnosis.

    I met a BC survivor who explained that she started her "clock" forward from the day of her surgery - because it was her first step to fight back the disease.

    I'm glad you're looking forward to a party - whatever date you choose! Best wishes to you.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • Jadie
    Jadie Member Posts: 723
    #4
    rjjj said:

    You are a survivor!
    I would say you are a survivor. Most say you are a survivor from the moment you get diagnosed... but lets ask these 6 year survivors here.
    Hugs, Jackie

    6 yr survivor
    Hey thats me well almost.(August 20th will be my 6th anniversary.) You're right you are a survivor from the time you are diagnosed. You two will be there before you know it!

    Hugs
    Jadie
  • ritazimm
    ritazimm Member Posts: 171
    #5
    Not a 6 year survivor but.....
    I'm not a 6 year survivor but.......I think there are several anniversaries that many recognize. I would imagine that the time of diagnosis and time of surgeries are anniversaries but as far as 'survivor' anniversaries I think that completion of chemo is definitely an anniversary to remember - and thank God it is over with!!! Of course the end of radiation is also important.

    Now, as far as the doctors are concerned, (my oncologist anyway) they consider the yearly anniversary to be the date of the final treatment. I had chemo followed by radiation, which ended on July 22, 2008 so my one year anniversary according to my doctor is July 22, 2009. That will be my party day since I intend to continue to be cancer free on that date. I don't really know what your doctor will consider as your last treatment. December 1? I would ask him/her what they consider to be your survival anniversary dates. Or......just celebrate them all!!

    God bless,
    Rita
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #6
    SURVIVOR
    I say I was a survivor the minute I woke up from cancer surgery~ I went under having a malignant tumor, and woke up without one! As you can see, it is pretty subjective~ don't pass up any opportunity to celebrate life and party !!!!!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • lemont
    lemont Member Posts: 10
    #7
    chenheart said:

    SURVIVOR
    I say I was a survivor the minute I woke up from cancer surgery~ I went under having a malignant tumor, and woke up without one! As you can see, it is pretty subjective~ don't pass up any opportunity to celebrate life and party !!!!!

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    Thanks everyone!
    Thanks everyone. I like the idea of multiple anniversaries, therefore multiple celebrations :) I think I need to make a big deal of it for my sons as well as myself. They are almost-15 and 19 and I think they are much more traumatized than they let on. My OncotypeDX score is high but I've done everything possible to pare down the possibility of recurrence.
  • DrSusanHardwicke
    DrSusanHardwicke Member Posts: 15
    #8
    lemont said:

    Thanks everyone!
    Thanks everyone. I like the idea of multiple anniversaries, therefore multiple celebrations :) I think I need to make a big deal of it for my sons as well as myself. They are almost-15 and 19 and I think they are much more traumatized than they let on. My OncotypeDX score is high but I've done everything possible to pare down the possibility of recurrence.

    6 yr survivor here
    Hello, again, lemont!

    I asked my oncologist the same question. He counts from the date of primary treatment (surgery). The date of the diagnosis is arbitrary, and chemotherapy and radiation are generally not the life-saving treatment.

    The time goes very slowly while you are in chemo and radiation and then seems to speed up
    when reaching your new normal.

    There is one advantage to the chemo brain many of us experience: I have only some episodic memories of the last months of chemo and radiation, and at least several months afterward.

    Warmest wishes
  • lafera12
    lafera12 Member Posts: 63
    #9
    DrSusanHardwicke said:

    6 yr survivor here
    Hello, again, lemont!

    I asked my oncologist the same question. He counts from the date of primary treatment (surgery). The date of the diagnosis is arbitrary, and chemotherapy and radiation are generally not the life-saving treatment.

    The time goes very slowly while you are in chemo and radiation and then seems to speed up
    when reaching your new normal.

    There is one advantage to the chemo brain many of us experience: I have only some episodic memories of the last months of chemo and radiation, and at least several months afterward.

    Warmest wishes

    Survivor
    Good morning all,

    Everyone has a different take on when you become a survivor...
    I was on the phone one day with a person from the American Cancer Soc. and asked her-
    Her answer was the day you are diagnosed.
    My doctor said I was a survivor...

    My take is when I had the surgery and the surgeon told me he got everything out--and again when I finished all my treatments....

    As for chemo brain--at least before I had an excuse for forgetting and doing strange things-what's my excuse now?

    Angie
  • j916
    j916 Member Posts: 141
    #10
    rjjj said:

    You are a survivor!
    I would say you are a survivor. Most say you are a survivor from the moment you get diagnosed... but lets ask these 6 year survivors here.
    Hugs, Jackie

    I agree
    I agree that you are a survivor from diagnosis...however i found it interesting on this site when signing up for the online class, that when you were to enter your date of diagnosis, which for me is Dec. 2008, that wasn't an option yet...only Dec. 2007. That was very disappointing :(
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #11
    my take on survivors
    Aren't we all survivors from the day we are born? We hit a few bumps in the road along the way, bc being more like a mountain, but I consider us all Super Survivors, and we have many markers on which to notate those bumps. Diagnosis, surgery consult (scary), surgery, recovery, chemo, radiation, completion, starting on post chemo drugs, finding this site, making new friends, finding yourself (and liking her), I can go on forever.
    Rock on all you Life Survivors! Warriors in Pink! Kindred Spirits!(thank you Claudia) Sisters(and brothers)!

    =^..^=
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #12
    will be 6 years in Aug.
    I was told you start counting at diagnosis because everybody has treatment a little different. Well I started at when I found the cancer because I knew that is what it was.
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #13
    Survivorship
    I agree with many here, we are surviving from the moment we realize we have cancer and we embark on the mission to stamp it out. All the visits to new doctors, MRI's, bone scans, Pet scans, surgery, chemo and rads are all things we do while we are battling this nasty little monster. You are a survivor as well.

    I mayself celebrate the anniversaries from the date of last treatment to the current date, but that is just me. I wish you well and many many healthy years to come!

    image

    RE
  • Piggies
    Piggies Member Posts: 26
    #14
    I was wondering the same thing!
    I just asked that question the other day. When do I count the anniversary? I was diagnosed on July 7, 2008, Stage 1. Had a lumpectomy on July 16, 2008. I got the results of my Oncotype DX test on August 18,2008 (low recurrence score). Needed no chemo, only had six weeks radiation which ended in October 2008. I was told that I should count my one year anniversary on July 16, 2009 (the one year anniversary of my lumpectomy.) I guess it doesn't really matter whether I count it from the day of diagnosis or surgery. I'm a survivor nonetheless.
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #15
    Piggies said:

    I was wondering the same thing!
    I just asked that question the other day. When do I count the anniversary? I was diagnosed on July 7, 2008, Stage 1. Had a lumpectomy on July 16, 2008. I got the results of my Oncotype DX test on August 18,2008 (low recurrence score). Needed no chemo, only had six weeks radiation which ended in October 2008. I was told that I should count my one year anniversary on July 16, 2009 (the one year anniversary of my lumpectomy.) I guess it doesn't really matter whether I count it from the day of diagnosis or surgery. I'm a survivor nonetheless.

    Yes, Piggies...
    We ARE survivors here. You can pick whatever date you want, or celebrate them all.

    I bet that, like you, the vast majority of us have ALL of those significant dates - as you posted - emblazoned within our memories. Like tattoos on the brain. Know them without having to look back at a calendar.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • NorcalJ
    NorcalJ Member Posts: 187
    #16
    Christmas Girl said:

    Yes, Piggies...
    We ARE survivors here. You can pick whatever date you want, or celebrate them all.

    I bet that, like you, the vast majority of us have ALL of those significant dates - as you posted - emblazoned within our memories. Like tattoos on the brain. Know them without having to look back at a calendar.

    Kind regards, Susan

    All Anniversaries
    I say my anniversay is from the day I was diagnosed and my world changed.

    But I definitely remember all the other dates---so just to be fair to myself and in honor of my boobs, I celebrate them all (surgery, chemo, rads, etc). Any excuse for chocolate (and it's not really a celebration without that food of choice), is all I need!

    Congrats on being a survivor on anyones calendar!

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