Survivor Question

I've heard at the end of treatment or after surgery and like your doctor my Oncologist will not commit. I feel like the surgery was when I was cancer free but surviving chemo and radiation is also tough. I had surgery on November 1, 2000 and finished chemo and radiation June 25, 2001 and am still on Tamoxifen (that's a treatment too). So I think I'll go with the surgery date! Best of luck to you.

I've been told by my onc. that your date of diagnosis is considered your "anniversary" date.
I was diagnosed November 15, 2002 - we made it!!

jake10 said:

I thought I would use my Dx date, just seems like a remarkable date and easy to remember. 1 year this Friday. (10/24/2002) After that the dates of surgery and treatment all seem to run together and well, The first day I heard the word cancer is the date I will celebrate being alive each year. Actually, I now celebrate each day!!!! Hugs, Beth

jake10 Oh what a great statement that last post of yours! I am also, a person who was going to count Dx day, Dec 19, as my anniversary date and NOW- I definitely (sp?) will. I will tell people that I am celebrating the anniversary of first day I heard the word cancer and that I still VERY MUCH alive. thank you for that FAN TAS TIC idea! Keep that positive attitude and I'll see ya for many more posts in years to come. C

Hi Barb:

This IS a very intersting question.

Most doctors count from dx. Someone told me, early in my dx, that we are survivors from the day we hear our diagnosis of cancer, because from that very day, we begin dealing with it and planning to rid ourselves of it. I guess that makes sense.

I celebrate the date I finished my very last treatment (that being radiation). Reason being that I plan to never forget the clouds I walked round on for months afterward. That feeling of being free from it all. Just happy to be alive and could again do what I wanted and go where I wanted with no considerations about treatments, etc.. It was a grand time. I floated more than I walked! So, that's the date I recall with the most excitement and positivity.

At surgery I was still afraid and everything was unsettled as far as pathology, etc.. Beginning chemo was intimidating to say the least and every radiation day (there were 37 of them) was demanding. We all know the drudgery of day in and day out on the rads, 5 days/week! Whew! So, I think we can count "survival" from whatever time suits us best. (I don't even recall what date my surgery was on...only the month and know that it was near the end of the month...same thing with chemo. I don't recall the date I began rads but recall, vividly, the day I completed it!) Whatever date you choose, make it special and don't give much credence to the 5 year thing. That's just more hoopla from the medical community as far as I'm concerned. I believe that, scientifically speaking, the 5 year mark is what's used in coming up with survival percentages. I think the "percentages" we hear about during treatment, etc., are all structured around the 5 year survival period. Someone else may know more about this? Logically, when one survives beyond the 5 year period, then what does that do to "percentages" and what category do the scientific bean counter's place us into then? Ha. Makes little sense beyond the fact that insurance underwriters, etc. rely on that 5 year survival window. As I understand it, one can only obtain limited life insurance prior to 5 years survival but can be rated much differently, thereafter. Guess they all need something to scrutinize and fidget about with! We have to understand that there are people in rooms with computers and all manner of statistical analysis programs, who do nothing else all day, except generate stats, to which there are as many exceptions as there are rules. Go figure.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

inkblot said:

Hi Barb:

This IS a very intersting question.

Most doctors count from dx. Someone told me, early in my dx, that we are survivors from the day we hear our diagnosis of cancer, because from that very day, we begin dealing with it and planning to rid ourselves of it. I guess that makes sense.

I celebrate the date I finished my very last treatment (that being radiation). Reason being that I plan to never forget the clouds I walked round on for months afterward. That feeling of being free from it all. Just happy to be alive and could again do what I wanted and go where I wanted with no considerations about treatments, etc.. It was a grand time. I floated more than I walked! So, that's the date I recall with the most excitement and positivity.

At surgery I was still afraid and everything was unsettled as far as pathology, etc.. Beginning chemo was intimidating to say the least and every radiation day (there were 37 of them) was demanding. We all know the drudgery of day in and day out on the rads, 5 days/week! Whew! So, I think we can count "survival" from whatever time suits us best. (I don't even recall what date my surgery was on...only the month and know that it was near the end of the month...same thing with chemo. I don't recall the date I began rads but recall, vividly, the day I completed it!) Whatever date you choose, make it special and don't give much credence to the 5 year thing. That's just more hoopla from the medical community as far as I'm concerned. I believe that, scientifically speaking, the 5 year mark is what's used in coming up with survival percentages. I think the "percentages" we hear about during treatment, etc., are all structured around the 5 year survival period. Someone else may know more about this? Logically, when one survives beyond the 5 year period, then what does that do to "percentages" and what category do the scientific bean counter's place us into then? Ha. Makes little sense beyond the fact that insurance underwriters, etc. rely on that 5 year survival window. As I understand it, one can only obtain limited life insurance prior to 5 years survival but can be rated much differently, thereafter. Guess they all need something to scrutinize and fidget about with! We have to understand that there are people in rooms with computers and all manner of statistical analysis programs, who do nothing else all day, except generate stats, to which there are as many exceptions as there are rules. Go figure.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

The last "scheduled" treatment was radiation for me also. That is the day I really celebrated. I got the garnet ring that I had been wanting for the past 20 years and my husband and I had a nice dinner at a restaurant. I don't remember being happy the day I got my diagnosis. That is not a good day for me to remember.

If all goes well, my 2 year anniversary from date of diagnosis may be a good time to celebrate eventually. My doctors say everybody talks about the 5 year anniversary date...but it is the first 2 years that they worry about the most. At the 2 year mark, I also get my chemo port removed. So, I guess I have a while to decide how I want to celebrate that. My husband may be getting a little hint, because I had us apply for passports a couple weeks ago!