survivor-who? silly question I am sure----

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disneyfan2008
disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
This may sound silly-but who is considered a surviror? I had breast cancer 2008-surgery, radiation & 2+yrs tomoxifen. Compared to many mine was nothing-no complications, hardly any issues with skin (treatment) only missed 2 1/2 wks of work.

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  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #2
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    In my humble opinion, anyone
    In my humble opinion, anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis and goes through the recommended treatment and is still alive to tell their story is a survivor. Bottom line, YOU are a survivor. Our treatments may be different but our goal is the same...KILL THE BEAST!!!
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #3
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    MyTurnNow said:

    In my humble opinion, anyone
    In my humble opinion, anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis and goes through the recommended treatment and is still alive to tell their story is a survivor. Bottom line, YOU are a survivor. Our treatments may be different but our goal is the same...KILL THE BEAST!!!

    survivor
    Thanks...I DONT" KNOW why I dont' think of myself as one! I went on Cancer walk while on cruise ship & they said any surivors? I never replied...

    KILL the BEAST!

    I just lost a very close life time friend (LIKE a mom to me)she had cancer many times over the past 30 yrs or so. JUST 2 mths....still so hard!

    I LOVE the expression "IN MY HUMBLE OPINION"!

    so survivor and proud of it..right?!!!!

    love the betty boop
  • elm3544
    elm3544 Member Posts: 748
    #4
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    You bet you're a survivor!
    You bet you're a survivor! You were diagnosed with cancer, you went through treatment and you are here to tell the tale!
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #5
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    Anyone
    who's heard those dreaded words and doesn't immediately jump off a bridge as I remember I sure wanted to do, is a survivor. I'm so happy your journey wasn't as difficult as some, but that in no way makes you less of a survivor. We've all fought our battle and will continue to fight for the rest of our lives and we're glad to have you with us.

    marge
  • Suzie-Q-Z
    Suzie-Q-Z Member Posts: 40
    #6
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    mwallace1325 said:

    Anyone
    who's heard those dreaded words and doesn't immediately jump off a bridge as I remember I sure wanted to do, is a survivor. I'm so happy your journey wasn't as difficult as some, but that in no way makes you less of a survivor. We've all fought our battle and will continue to fight for the rest of our lives and we're glad to have you with us.

    marge

    I'm at a transition point, I think
    I'm not sure what to call what stage I'm in. I was Diagnosed in early August. had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago when the doctor declared he "got it all" so the cancer is gone (?). Yet I'll begin chemo and hormone therapy as a precautionary measure. I won't be done with that untill Christmas time next year so... I can't say I have cancer. I have just begun the process realy so I'm not comfortable saying I'm a survivor. Feeling like I still want to say I have cancer when it is all still so fresh. Is "survivor an apropriate term if I'm still in treatment? seems like all I survived (and I know it's no small thing) is a mastectomy. What will be the new phrase to celebrate when treatment is really over. See my point? I sorta wanna say "I'm battling cancer". Dont' have it anymore but not done with it either.
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #7
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    Suzie-Q-Z said:

    I'm at a transition point, I think
    I'm not sure what to call what stage I'm in. I was Diagnosed in early August. had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago when the doctor declared he "got it all" so the cancer is gone (?). Yet I'll begin chemo and hormone therapy as a precautionary measure. I won't be done with that untill Christmas time next year so... I can't say I have cancer. I have just begun the process realy so I'm not comfortable saying I'm a survivor. Feeling like I still want to say I have cancer when it is all still so fresh. Is "survivor an apropriate term if I'm still in treatment? seems like all I survived (and I know it's no small thing) is a mastectomy. What will be the new phrase to celebrate when treatment is really over. See my point? I sorta wanna say "I'm battling cancer". Dont' have it anymore but not done with it either.

    To Suzie-Q-Z
    I kinda wondered the same thing at the time. I just always said I had cancer and now I am in active treatment (during chemo&rads). I am now 2 1/2 months into 5 yrs. of Tamoxifen so I definitely consider myself a survivor, just through with active treatment. I think it is a process of survival, the diagnosis,surgery,chemo and rads or whatever your order may be. We fight and survive each step along the way in my opinion!! God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #8
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    Boppy_of_6 said:

    To Suzie-Q-Z
    I kinda wondered the same thing at the time. I just always said I had cancer and now I am in active treatment (during chemo&rads). I am now 2 1/2 months into 5 yrs. of Tamoxifen so I definitely consider myself a survivor, just through with active treatment. I think it is a process of survival, the diagnosis,surgery,chemo and rads or whatever your order may be. We fight and survive each step along the way in my opinion!! God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice

    2 1/2 yrs now for me and tomoxifen
    I started my adventure (if you want to call it that) Jan 2008-honestly I do not rememeber the dates of my call back for mammo, biopsy or surgery (and normally I remember EVER date, birthday etc etc) The only date I remember is the last day of radiation June 28, 2008...what got me through was I planned my first girls only vacation to disney-so each day of treatment I would lay on the table and think DISNEY...(my passion)

    Thanks for all the replies...
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #9
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    elm3544 said:

    You bet you're a survivor!
    You bet you're a survivor! You were diagnosed with cancer, you went through treatment and you are here to tell the tale!

    very true
    But as I was at cancer center daily-I was one of the luckier ones there for treatment! I have had ulcertive colitis for 18 yrs...everyone used to say OH THAT must be terrible. I said well things could be worse-it could be cancer....little did i know 18 yrs later-i'd have it...
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #10
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    Suzie-Q-Z said:

    I'm at a transition point, I think
    I'm not sure what to call what stage I'm in. I was Diagnosed in early August. had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago when the doctor declared he "got it all" so the cancer is gone (?). Yet I'll begin chemo and hormone therapy as a precautionary measure. I won't be done with that untill Christmas time next year so... I can't say I have cancer. I have just begun the process realy so I'm not comfortable saying I'm a survivor. Feeling like I still want to say I have cancer when it is all still so fresh. Is "survivor an apropriate term if I'm still in treatment? seems like all I survived (and I know it's no small thing) is a mastectomy. What will be the new phrase to celebrate when treatment is really over. See my point? I sorta wanna say "I'm battling cancer". Dont' have it anymore but not done with it either.

    I totally understand
    even though I am passed all my treatments other then tamoxifen-I just think OH I HAD IT..

    I went to dr appt with my husband (his appt not mine) his dr asked me if I am healthy? I sadi depends what you mean by healthy! I had cancer 2 1/2 yrs ago...! He never said any more just wrote in his file..
  • padee6339
    padee6339 Member Posts: 763
    #11
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    My oncologist told me you
    My oncologist told me you are a survivor from the time you are diagnosed. That's when the fight begins to beat it. I had thought from the day of surgery, then from the completion date of treatment. But she said no - the minute you start the fight you are a survivor.
    Pat
  • Suzie-Q-Z
    Suzie-Q-Z Member Posts: 40
    #12
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    Boppy_of_6 said:

    To Suzie-Q-Z
    I kinda wondered the same thing at the time. I just always said I had cancer and now I am in active treatment (during chemo&rads). I am now 2 1/2 months into 5 yrs. of Tamoxifen so I definitely consider myself a survivor, just through with active treatment. I think it is a process of survival, the diagnosis,surgery,chemo and rads or whatever your order may be. We fight and survive each step along the way in my opinion!! God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice

    Janice, sister survivor
    I guess it's more about the process and the attitude, not the end or goal. To be a survivor doesn't have to mean you are done and survived, it's more like you are fighting it and won't give in! I am a survivor, not I survived it.
    Thanks Janice, hugs back.
    Suzie
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #13
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    I would
    consider you a survivor! You were dx with cancer.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • webbwife50
    webbwife50 Member Posts: 394
    #14
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    Same question as yesterday
    HMMMM...guess maybe I'm just being a **** today!

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