when are you considered cancer free
My dr never says anything other all your tests are good..
WHICH OF COURSE IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO HEAR...
WHAT DO YOU all go by for cancerversay? date diagnosed, date of surgery, date of last treatment? or different to each person?
Denise
Comments
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Hi Denise,
Everyone will have their own opinions and none of them are wrong, but in my opinion nobody is ever "cancer free" remission or NED yes but never guaranteed the beast is completely gone. With that said I celebrate my Cancerversary on the date of my surgery, the day my cancer was removed from my body.
Hugs,
Lorrie0 -
:-)
Hello Denise, it is my understanding from my onco that we can never say as bc survivors that we are cancer free, he always says I continue to be in remission which is a great thing! He uses the date of my last treatment as my start date for how long I have been in remission. Hope you continue to dance with NED for many, many, many more years!
Hugs,
RE0 -
I'm wondering the same
I'm wondering the same thing! It says on my chart "In remission" and I've had my first "survivorship" dr. visit. I'm trying to wrap my head around saying "I had breast cancer". I don't necessarily feel right saying "had" yet but I'm working on it. I think we're all trying to put it in our rearview mirror and it getting farther anf farther away. I'm thinking that that is how I want to look at it.
Karen0 -
Some types of cancer...
... can, indeed, be actually cured. Breast cancer, unfortunately, is not one of them. Remission or "no evidence of disease" (NED) is the best we can get with today's current medical technology.
Some years, I mark the anniversary of original diagnosis (July '03). Other years, the date of my first surgery (Aug. '03). And sometimes, the date of my last invasive treatment - first round (March '04). Not quite sure yet what to do with all those DX #2 dates... Maybe I'll just ignore 'em. Yeah, probably. Am kinda confused about it. If DX #2 had been a recurrence/mets - would probably feel like an extension of #1. But, it was a completely different type of BC. Hmmm...
Kind regards, Susan0 -
The Confusion abounds ;-)Christmas Girl said:Some types of cancer...
... can, indeed, be actually cured. Breast cancer, unfortunately, is not one of them. Remission or "no evidence of disease" (NED) is the best we can get with today's current medical technology.
Some years, I mark the anniversary of original diagnosis (July '03). Other years, the date of my first surgery (Aug. '03). And sometimes, the date of my last invasive treatment - first round (March '04). Not quite sure yet what to do with all those DX #2 dates... Maybe I'll just ignore 'em. Yeah, probably. Am kinda confused about it. If DX #2 had been a recurrence/mets - would probably feel like an extension of #1. But, it was a completely different type of BC. Hmmm...
Kind regards, Susan
Susan I totally agree, I have three cancer anniversary dates although two of them are very close (within 6 months of each other) they are considered the same cancer that spread. Then of course I have the cancer that happened 5 years ago that my onco said was a gentler kinder cancer, LOL as if there is such a thing. So onco says I have two NED dates, one I am 13 years NED from then the gentler one I am 5 years out from.
RE0 -
Thinking Positive Helps
I like to declare that I am OK. I think this is part of staying positive. Although it’s difficult sometimes not to think the worst, especially after the diagnosis. But I’m a woman of faith, as I’m sure many, if not all, on this forum are. My suggestion is to always declare that you are healthy. No one knows, but the power of the mind is great. And Believing that you’re OK will help the situation. It will allow you to live life. Just my thought.
I considered myself healthy the day of my surgery. I received chemo and rads after that, to make sure. (February, 2011)
Many people are walking around without knowing they have cancer. That’s scary too.0 -
I was told never
That I could be in remission or have Ned, but that unless there is a cure.... But I did consider myself cancer free for 8 1/2 years, which to me was when they did the tests and there was no cancer. So I don't think it matters what we call it, ned, cancer free, remission...0 -
I also feeljoannstar said:I asked my onc
the same question and he said that I should start counting as of the day of my last surgery. He also said that I will never be "cured" but can remain in remission. So I consider 8-19-10 as my cancercversary.
Hugs,
JoAnn
I also feel we are never cancer free.We were dx, it is in remisson but that gene is in our body somewhere else. And also the breast cancer can come back. Several times my doctor told me it is important to take the tamoxfin.You are in remmision with breast cancer BUT you can get cancer somewhere else.I remember those words.
For the date dx it was 8-19-09.I found out I had breast cancer this date.
Then 9-2-09 lumpectomy surgery and 9-29-09 surgery with clear margins. Both of those surgeries 2 benign breast tumors were found. I think about all these dates.Even the day the mammogram caught it 7-2-09.Dates that I remember so well.
Lynn Smith0 -
As far as I know, no one isChristmas Girl said:Some types of cancer...
... can, indeed, be actually cured. Breast cancer, unfortunately, is not one of them. Remission or "no evidence of disease" (NED) is the best we can get with today's current medical technology.
Some years, I mark the anniversary of original diagnosis (July '03). Other years, the date of my first surgery (Aug. '03). And sometimes, the date of my last invasive treatment - first round (March '04). Not quite sure yet what to do with all those DX #2 dates... Maybe I'll just ignore 'em. Yeah, probably. Am kinda confused about it. If DX #2 had been a recurrence/mets - would probably feel like an extension of #1. But, it was a completely different type of BC. Hmmm...
Kind regards, Susan
As far as I know, no one is cured from cancer. I don't know if any doctor would ever use that exact word.
I think we are just in remission or stable or NED, and, I will take that!
Debby0 -
None of my Drs have ever
None of my Drs have ever used the very misleading term 'cancer free'. At this time there is no cure for BC so once it's raised it's ugly head in the body, No Evidence of Disease is the best we can hope for. Especially if nodes were involved. If someone asks how am I doing - I simply say 'Great' because I am.
I don't use the term 'cancerversary' as I see no reason to celebrate cancer. I prefer to use terms like "I was DX on date,", "Surgery was on date..", "Last rad was on date." I also do not say that I 'had' BC, I say "I'm IBC" because I am.
Just my opinions based on what my Drs have told me.
Susan0 -
I've never been told that IMargeaux said:Cancer free?
Denise:
Oncologist keeps stressing its NED, No Evidence of Disease. He counts from the date of the last active treatment, which for me was Herceptin on Nov. 17, 2010....and counting and counting.
M.
I've never been told that I am cancer free, just that I am in remission. I don't know that those words "cancer free" are ever used, are they?0 -
Re: The date that stands out to me the most is MY LAST day of Radiation JUNE 28, 08....RE said::-)
Hello Denise, it is my understanding from my onco that we can never say as bc survivors that we are cancer free, he always says I continue to be in remission which is a great thing! He uses the date of my last treatment as my start date for how long I have been in remission. Hope you continue to dance with NED for many, many, many more years!
Hugs,
RE
and first day of tamoxifen...
I just past 4 yrs surgery this month...
so many misc dates...
MY MIND thinks of my last day of treatment..
Denise0 -
My doctors (2 differentMargeaux said:Cancer free?
Denise:
Oncologist keeps stressing its NED, No Evidence of Disease. He counts from the date of the last active treatment, which for me was Herceptin on Nov. 17, 2010....and counting and counting.
M.
My doctors (2 different offices/ practices) have never said anything other then all tests GOOD...
Denise0 -
thanks for all theRague said:None of my Drs have ever
None of my Drs have ever used the very misleading term 'cancer free'. At this time there is no cure for BC so once it's raised it's ugly head in the body, No Evidence of Disease is the best we can hope for. Especially if nodes were involved. If someone asks how am I doing - I simply say 'Great' because I am.
I don't use the term 'cancerversary' as I see no reason to celebrate cancer. I prefer to use terms like "I was DX on date,", "Surgery was on date..", "Last rad was on date." I also do not say that I 'had' BC, I say "I'm IBC" because I am.
Just my opinions based on what my Drs have told me.
Susan
thanks for all the replies..
I remember date of surgery, last radiation and start of tamoxifin and now to add to it..now (in few weeks a year) HYSTERECTOMY, due to tamoxifen...
surprisingly I do not remember date of diagnosis...perhaps since my dr called me and said NOT GOOD but not bad..DCIS..never said cancer...I hung up looked it up on line...first thing I SAW was cancer...
never told my then 16 old daughter..was going to wait until went to see surgeon but she saw notes scribbled and looked it up...called me all nervous...dang I left note on counter...
Denise0 -
Cancer freeRague said:None of my Drs have ever
None of my Drs have ever used the very misleading term 'cancer free'. At this time there is no cure for BC so once it's raised it's ugly head in the body, No Evidence of Disease is the best we can hope for. Especially if nodes were involved. If someone asks how am I doing - I simply say 'Great' because I am.
I don't use the term 'cancerversary' as I see no reason to celebrate cancer. I prefer to use terms like "I was DX on date,", "Surgery was on date..", "Last rad was on date." I also do not say that I 'had' BC, I say "I'm IBC" because I am.
Just my opinions based on what my Drs have told me.
Susan
My 80yr old father says that if you live long enough everyone will be diagnosed with some form of cancer, so does that mean that maybe laying dorment we all are born with it anyhow???? I am one of those people that celebrates life as much as healthfully possible, but rarely acknowledge an anniversary. I have no idea why, I just don't. I think largely for insurance reasons the NED...no EVIDENCE of disease term is used beacause that says that it could be there but they just don't see it. I am a little over 1yr post treatment for Anal cancer and the day they said NED on that is the day they diagnosed my Breast cancer....I guess God knows I don't do anniversaries!! I do like to dance and was even a dance major in college so don't mind the term dancing with NED....there will be spins, turns, leaps and some fancy footwork but all in all a good thing. I pray we all spend many many happy years on that dance floor! As always,all in my prayers.0 -
I guess I might be one ofRague said:None of my Drs have ever
None of my Drs have ever used the very misleading term 'cancer free'. At this time there is no cure for BC so once it's raised it's ugly head in the body, No Evidence of Disease is the best we can hope for. Especially if nodes were involved. If someone asks how am I doing - I simply say 'Great' because I am.
I don't use the term 'cancerversary' as I see no reason to celebrate cancer. I prefer to use terms like "I was DX on date,", "Surgery was on date..", "Last rad was on date." I also do not say that I 'had' BC, I say "I'm IBC" because I am.
Just my opinions based on what my Drs have told me.
Susan
I guess I might be one of the few that really doesn't celebrate any date. I remember the exact day I got the horrible news, but, I don't actually celebrate it.
I don't consider myself cancer free, nor, have I been told that. But, it would be nice to hear!
Leeza0 -
I do not celebrate...I justjnl said:I guess I might be one of
I guess I might be one of the few that really doesn't celebrate any date. I remember the exact day I got the horrible news, but, I don't actually celebrate it.
I don't consider myself cancer free, nor, have I been told that. But, it would be nice to hear!
Leeza
I do not celebrate...I just mention to family like one year ago this and that or 4 yrs ago etc...
Denise0 -
I do not celebrate...I justjnl said:I guess I might be one of
I guess I might be one of the few that really doesn't celebrate any date. I remember the exact day I got the horrible news, but, I don't actually celebrate it.
I don't consider myself cancer free, nor, have I been told that. But, it would be nice to hear!
Leeza
I do not celebrate...I just mention to family like one year ago this and that or 4 yrs ago etc...
Denise0
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