The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

Thank you for being a part of the Cancer Survivor Network community. Survivors and caregivers like you have played a unique role in fostering an online environment that encourages connection among those needing support, community, and education. On May 28, the Network will be discontinued. More details are available here . If you have any questions, contact CSNSupportTeam@cancer.org. Thanks again for the support you’ve provided each other over the years. We remain committed to supporting you in other ways throughout your cancer journey.

📌 1. Summary Explainer – “Survivorship at 60: A Record They Never Measured”

Longtermsurvivor 1
Longtermsurvivor 1 CSN Member Posts: 153 Member
in Childhood Cancers #1

Who I Am: Joseph Perusic, diagnosed with Wilms tumor in 1965. Treated at Texas Children’s Hospital. No long-term survivorship follow-up provided. Now 60 years post-treatment and documenting systemic neglect, long-term complications, and unacknowledged survivorship.

What I’ve Experienced:

  • Multiple medical complications traced to late effects of treatment (vascular obstructions, renal impairment, subdural hematoma, stroke)
  • Decades without coordinated follow-up care or survivor monitoring
  • Denial of identity as a survivor by major institutions
  • Emotional and financial burden from unacknowledged medical history

Why It Matters: Survivors like me are the evidence that the cure had consequences. My archive documents not only my medical timeline, but the system’s failure to prepare for us. This isn’t just personal—it’s a warning, a map, a call for action and recognition.

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