The label "cancer survivor"

Hi Lois. I am a four year survivor. I never gave much thought to the word survivor until being diagnosed with breast cancer. On the one hand, I am PROUD to be called a survivor, but on the other hand, it is sometimes frustrating. In situations like I had at my workplace ... with people who know nothing about cancer ... they think of a cancer survivor as someone who is 'finished'. They never understood the numerous appointments and check-ups associated with being a survivor. I think we all know that from the diagnosis on, we are never truly finished, we just move on to the next step, and the next, and the next. Also, to answer your question about being exploited, I have not personally felt exploited as a survivor. Whatever it takes and however they can use me to raise awareness and funding to stop this disease is just fine with me. As for people with other illnesses, no, I don't hear survivor associated with them too often. I really don't have an opinion on why that is. In the long run though, I can only hope that people will continue refer to me as a survivor...as well as a fighter, a mother, a friend, a daughter, a sister, etc. Good luck on your paper. Best wishes, Angie

Good for you Lois,
I believe that the survivor label is used for cancer because of its potential deadly nature. Other diseases one is expected to recover from but some forms of cancer are not. I can't think of a better thing to be than a survivor when the alternative isn't an option for me. I seem to have more problems with the word being "cured" than I have had coping with being a survivor. I have seen the falsehoods that have come with the word cure and surviving is pretty simple. Good luck with your paper.
Be good to yourself always,
Tara

24242 said:

Good for you Lois,
I believe that the survivor label is used for cancer because of its potential deadly nature. Other diseases one is expected to recover from but some forms of cancer are not. I can't think of a better thing to be than a survivor when the alternative isn't an option for me. I seem to have more problems with the word being "cured" than I have had coping with being a survivor. I have seen the falsehoods that have come with the word cure and surviving is pretty simple. Good luck with your paper.
Be good to yourself always,
Tara

I think the word survivor is correctly used in context with cancer. Firstly because there is no cure for cancer, so your not cured from cancer
but you have survived it, and many of us have survived it
several times. Its similiar to hearing about a plane
crash or a train wreck ...its mostly an unforseen happening with
catastrophic results, if you survive that your also called a survivor.
Fourtunatly now due to medical advancements many more of us
are fourtunate enough to carry this name CANCER SURVIVOR.
Good luck on your paper

MrsBe

Hi Lois! You bring up a very interesting point. I never thought of other people surviving other potentially deadly diseases never being referred to as a survivor. I have no explanation for that, except that maybe the various cancer organizations are more pro-active than organizations for the other illnesses, and put a name to it to make us all feel like we belong somewhere. I don't know.....

Anyway,I'm 43 years old, and I am an 8 month survivor of Stage 1 breast cancer. I had 33 radiation treatments (fried breast, anyone?). I am now on tamoxifen for 5 years.

I have never felt exploited by the cancer organizations. In fact, quite the contrary. When I didn't know where to turn for outside support (my family has been so very supportive, but I felt the need to meet other women who have been there), I happened to get a phone call from a wonderful lady who volunteers for Reach To Recovery through the American Cancer Society. She came to the house, gave me pamphlets and some other things (like a small pillow to place under my arm when laying down...excellent idea when you're first healing), told me about her cancer, invited me to the support group, and told me to call if I needed to talk. I have gotten involved in several walks, because I feel a need....a very big need....to help in some way to irradicate this insipid disease. I can't do research, but I can help raise money. I'm not good at asking for money, but I am learning. I have a goal that my 2 yr old nephew's generation never has to hear the words "breast cancer."

I made it a point right from the beginning to try desperately to get the word cancer out of my mouth every time I told someone about it. I was never ashamed of it, never felt isolated, and never felt the need to hide it. I had it and had to deal with it, and I think it made it easier for others to deal with when they saw that I could speak about it outrightly. It feels no different to me than saying, "I have high blood pressure," which I've been saying for years. I'm not sure if I feel there is a stigma attached to cancer any more. I live in an area where there is a lot of support for various types of cancer. I suppose the hardest thing is trying to make other people understand that they can talk about it with me without bringing up bad memories or anything. I really have no bad memories. I found out I had a tumor, and my goal was to get it out, and make sure it stays gone. So, as far as I'm concerned, the whole thing has been a positive experience, because so far, we've been successful with the goal. I still have anxiety about my first post-treatment mammogram that is coming up, but I have to stay positive. Not only for me, but I want others to see that just because you have a cancer diagnosis, doesn't mean you have to lay right down and crumple up. I really think recovery is much faster with a positive attitude, also. For example, I may complain a bit, but I thank God for my hot flashes from the tamoxifen, because at least that means I'm alive to feel them!

Best wishes on your schooling, and thank God you are here to be able to go for your dream! Cyndi

shirlann said:

Hi, Lois, I have thought a lot about the term "Cancer Survivor". My husband has been a serious heart patient for 20 years, with many treatments and hospitalizations and no one ever said "survivor" to him. He lives daily, especially as he has "unstable angina" which means pains at any time, with the prospect of instant death. I find this just as fascinating as you do. I am 66, was diagnosed 3 years ago and am presently no new disease or "NED" as in "Club Ned". I remember as a child women whispering about breast cancer, I thought it was funny at the time, but women were just terrified. That is my only thought, for so long it was a death sentence because they really had no way to treat people and found out you had it so late in the disease cycle. But even now, I talk about it whenever I please, and sometimes the reaction is like a tennis shoe in the punch bowl. People look terrified, drift away and act like I am contagious. I find it very curious. As an older woman, I don't have to worry about the stigma, but there definitely is one. For instance I have worked for the church for 15 years and they recently offered a new long term care health plan and I am not eligible until I am 5 years post diagnosis. Many people can not get health insurance at all so it is very serious for the younger people. Also, even employers don't want you. I did not have that happen to me. I was already employed and could have retired had I chosen. I am very outspoken, so I told everyone I came in contact with. My theory was, let people see that some do just fine with this. I have not curtailed any trip, activity or any other part of my life because of cancer. I mention it a lot, (I have to admit, now, just to see the shocked reaction). A little of the devil in that! But, truly, this is ridiculous. When I mentioned it in my bible class of about 30 women, one was 22 years, post, one was 17 years post and one was 5 years post. But until I brought it up, no one had ever mentioned it. It is easy for me to be so uppity, I have raised my family and my husband is retired, we are okay financially whether I work or not, so I don't mean to be snide about my much younger sisters who are either single, pre-menopause, or have to work.

This is me again, somehow this blankety computer cut me off. Anyway, no, I have never been solicited or in any way harassed by any cancer organization. Other than a very mean surgeon and no follow-up care that I am not willing to pay for due to HMO's, I cannot complain, feel free to e-mail me. This is fun. Shirlann

PS - I'm not a cancer survivor - I'm a cancer treatment survivor. You don't suvive cancer to outlast it.

nasa2537 said:

Hi Lois! You bring up a very interesting point. I never thought of other people surviving other potentially deadly diseases never being referred to as a survivor. I have no explanation for that, except that maybe the various cancer organizations are more pro-active than organizations for the other illnesses, and put a name to it to make us all feel like we belong somewhere. I don't know.....

Anyway,I'm 43 years old, and I am an 8 month survivor of Stage 1 breast cancer. I had 33 radiation treatments (fried breast, anyone?). I am now on tamoxifen for 5 years.

I have never felt exploited by the cancer organizations. In fact, quite the contrary. When I didn't know where to turn for outside support (my family has been so very supportive, but I felt the need to meet other women who have been there), I happened to get a phone call from a wonderful lady who volunteers for Reach To Recovery through the American Cancer Society. She came to the house, gave me pamphlets and some other things (like a small pillow to place under my arm when laying down...excellent idea when you're first healing), told me about her cancer, invited me to the support group, and told me to call if I needed to talk. I have gotten involved in several walks, because I feel a need....a very big need....to help in some way to irradicate this insipid disease. I can't do research, but I can help raise money. I'm not good at asking for money, but I am learning. I have a goal that my 2 yr old nephew's generation never has to hear the words "breast cancer."

I made it a point right from the beginning to try desperately to get the word cancer out of my mouth every time I told someone about it. I was never ashamed of it, never felt isolated, and never felt the need to hide it. I had it and had to deal with it, and I think it made it easier for others to deal with when they saw that I could speak about it outrightly. It feels no different to me than saying, "I have high blood pressure," which I've been saying for years. I'm not sure if I feel there is a stigma attached to cancer any more. I live in an area where there is a lot of support for various types of cancer. I suppose the hardest thing is trying to make other people understand that they can talk about it with me without bringing up bad memories or anything. I really have no bad memories. I found out I had a tumor, and my goal was to get it out, and make sure it stays gone. So, as far as I'm concerned, the whole thing has been a positive experience, because so far, we've been successful with the goal. I still have anxiety about my first post-treatment mammogram that is coming up, but I have to stay positive. Not only for me, but I want others to see that just because you have a cancer diagnosis, doesn't mean you have to lay right down and crumple up. I really think recovery is much faster with a positive attitude, also. For example, I may complain a bit, but I thank God for my hot flashes from the tamoxifen, because at least that means I'm alive to feel them!

Best wishes on your schooling, and thank God you are here to be able to go for your dream! Cyndi

Cyndi! Very well put! I feel exactly the same way! Take care! HUGS!! Cathy

I can tell you personally I got trapped under the ice. Fractured my c6and7 and was physically hit with a motorcycle thats just a few,of the things that happened to me, plus a colon tear.You either make it or you do not. You do not have all that time to think about it. You do not have a million decisions to make and look at your family and try to reassure them when your world is falling apart. Most serious things are as bad as it gets when you get to the hospital. with cancer you arrive physically well except they found this little spot,or in my case 5cm bursitis. The battle just to get someone to listen about how bad my arm was, was something I will never forget.They assume if you over 40 you have bursitis if your under40 you are too young to have cancer. Gee I wonder why more women are not cured. Then the battle if nothing shows in a mamo.Don't have cancer up high in your breast.I finally sat down and said someone was going to find out what was wrong. I wasn't leaving until they found the problem. I and most of the women are truly warriors in the fight first to make it through treatment and then to help anyone else we can in this battle but I think Cancer warriors might be more accurate. I don't care who knows Ive had cancer. I can say I have lost some friends because they say they feel funny telling me about all their little aches and pains.Truth be told I am a different person after treatment. I really don't have the patience to put up with people who are really healthy and are desperatly trying to find a disease. I can say I feel bad but I just can't listen to that anymore. I do not feel like a survivor. That would mean I thought the battle was over and I know better.I am a B.C.Warrior so are so many of the ladies I have met that are still fighting the beast. Its like Freddie Kruger{is that how its spelled] Just when you think you have it licked it pops up again. So it turns into a war we are all well aware can flare up again at any time. Its a very mean enemy because you are never cured. You just have to build your self up and prepare incase you have another battle with this terrible beast. The more I listen to other warriors I realize just how proud I am to be a woman. One who has cancer and is willing to do what ever it takes to survive to fight another day.

Hi, Lois, my name is Lois, too. I am a three year breast cancer survivor, and I am proud.
I watched my great grandmother die of bc three years before I was diagnosed, and that was part of what kept me fighting.
I was only 32 and a working single mom of two little boys at the timeand they were my best inspiration.
I tell everyone who will listen that I am a survivor. I'm even considering writting a book. Hopefully, I can help someone else make it through this horrible and terrifying time. Maybe I'm too vocal, but that is how I delt with it.
After cancer, I have remarried and we are expecting a baby in October. Next year, I'm going back to college to finish my bachelors degree in social work. All in all, I'm stronger and happier now than I was before cancer.
Yes, I'm very proud to be called a breast cancer survivor. I wish my great grandmother was here now to see my new life. I was named after her, and I guess I have her Cherokee strength.
To all of the other survivors, I wish you the very best. Be strong and stick together.
And thanks, Lois, for listening. I wish you the best, too!!
Thanks again, Lois