Just curious... what does everyone use as their 'anniversary date'?

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Marlene_K
Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Do we use the day of our mamagram when something 'suspicious' was found? The day of our bioposy? The day we heard the horrible news that we most assuredly had cancer? The day it was taken out of us? I read all these posts about anniversary and I'm just not sure what mine will be ;)

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  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #2
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    good question
    out of 3 remarkable dates, I celebrate only one, the date when all of my tumors were surgically removed with clear margins. Since that day, June 30, 2008 I have been considering myself free of cancer. This is my anniversary - Cancer free.
    The other two remarkable dates such as :the date when I discovered the lump, while taking a shower and the date when Mammogram and ultrasounds results came back and radiologist talked to me and suggested take my health issues very seriously I consider as dates of mourning .
    it is very personal and individual as everything what is associated with breast cancer.
  • roseann4
    roseann4 Member Posts: 992 Member
    #3
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    New Flower said:

    good question
    out of 3 remarkable dates, I celebrate only one, the date when all of my tumors were surgically removed with clear margins. Since that day, June 30, 2008 I have been considering myself free of cancer. This is my anniversary - Cancer free.
    The other two remarkable dates such as :the date when I discovered the lump, while taking a shower and the date when Mammogram and ultrasounds results came back and radiologist talked to me and suggested take my health issues very seriously I consider as dates of mourning .
    it is very personal and individual as everything what is associated with breast cancer.

    I agree with New Flower.
    I agree with New Flower. My tumor was removed on March 30th 2009. That will forever be my anniversary.

    Roseann
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #4
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    roseann4 said:

    I agree with New Flower.
    I agree with New Flower. My tumor was removed on March 30th 2009. That will forever be my anniversary.

    Roseann

    I feel it is also when tumor was removed so my 1 year anniversary will be on my 46th birthday, Feb. 2nd.

    Margo
  • padee6339
    padee6339 Member Posts: 763
    #5
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    I'm with Newflower on this
    I'm with Newflower on this one - I had asked that question too and got different answers from the surgeon and oncologist, so I decided the date it was removed, 10/13/08 is my anniversary date.
    Hugs - Pat
  • pitt
    pitt Member Posts: 387
    #6
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    I also agree...the date my
    I also agree...the date my tumor was removed is my anniversary date!
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #7
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    Marlene,
    I use the day I was diagnosed which was also the date it was taken out(lumpectomy). My husband thought at one time that I should use the day I was finished with treatments,but I was a fighter before that!
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #8
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    I think you can really use
    I think you can really use what you want. I use the date I found it and went to see the PCP. He thought it was cancer and made an appointment that afternoon for a mammogram. So I use that date.

    My oncologist said you use the diagnosis date because people don't have the same treatment. Some don't get chemo or radiation. Some may not get surgery. That is how he explained it to me.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #9
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    Marcia527 said:

    I think you can really use
    I think you can really use what you want. I use the date I found it and went to see the PCP. He thought it was cancer and made an appointment that afternoon for a mammogram. So I use that date.

    My oncologist said you use the diagnosis date because people don't have the same treatment. Some don't get chemo or radiation. Some may not get surgery. That is how he explained it to me.

    The date
    I use the one year after I got the diagnosis, actually got told, "You have bc" on the phone from my doctor. If I can get past that first one year, then I have accomplished at least that, one year survival!

    Lex♥
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #10
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    Alexis F said:

    The date
    I use the one year after I got the diagnosis, actually got told, "You have bc" on the phone from my doctor. If I can get past that first one year, then I have accomplished at least that, one year survival!

    Lex♥

    Great post, Marlene
    It's so interesting to read everyone's thoughts on this. Of course, there is no right answer, just what feels right to each of us.

    Like many of you have said, my girlfriend just assumed that the date of my surgery would be my "anniversary" date -- for her, that was the date they took the cancer out of my body. But, for me, surgery felt like just the first step in a long journey of surgery, then chemo, then radiation. After surgery, I never felt like oh good, the cancer's gone now -- more like, okay, the tumors are gone, now I have to have chemo and radiation to get rid of the rest of it. I didn't understand my girlfriend's opinion at all until I read these responses here.

    So I feel like Lex does -- the day my doctor called and said, "Traci, it's cancer," May 4, 2009, is the day my life changed.

    Traci
  • Calleen
    Calleen Member Posts: 411
    #11
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    TraciInLA said:

    Great post, Marlene
    It's so interesting to read everyone's thoughts on this. Of course, there is no right answer, just what feels right to each of us.

    Like many of you have said, my girlfriend just assumed that the date of my surgery would be my "anniversary" date -- for her, that was the date they took the cancer out of my body. But, for me, surgery felt like just the first step in a long journey of surgery, then chemo, then radiation. After surgery, I never felt like oh good, the cancer's gone now -- more like, okay, the tumors are gone, now I have to have chemo and radiation to get rid of the rest of it. I didn't understand my girlfriend's opinion at all until I read these responses here.

    So I feel like Lex does -- the day my doctor called and said, "Traci, it's cancer," May 4, 2009, is the day my life changed.

    Traci

    Traci
    My dx was almost the same as yours May 8 2009. But I am going to use July 29, 2009 day of surgery when I became cancer free as my anniversary.. May 8th was a really hard day for me...
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #12
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    Calleen said:

    Traci
    My dx was almost the same as yours May 8 2009. But I am going to use July 29, 2009 day of surgery when I became cancer free as my anniversary.. May 8th was a really hard day for me...

    My memory erased the date when i got a call
    from my breast surgeon confirming that biopsy results have shown cancer. I know that it was before Memorial day, exact date, I am not sure.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #13
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    New Flower said:

    My memory erased the date when i got a call
    from my breast surgeon confirming that biopsy results have shown cancer. I know that it was before Memorial day, exact date, I am not sure.

    Well
    I suppose I will use the date that I was told that I had bc. But, I am not for sure that I will call it my cancerversary. I am not for sure if I would want any kind of celebration. This has me puzzled.... I guess I will just reflect back on it being one of the worse days of my life, if not the worst.

    Sue
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #14
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    Ritzy said:

    Well
    I suppose I will use the date that I was told that I had bc. But, I am not for sure that I will call it my cancerversary. I am not for sure if I would want any kind of celebration. This has me puzzled.... I guess I will just reflect back on it being one of the worse days of my life, if not the worst.

    Sue

    I don't know if this will help....but....
    My onc said to me that the day that cancer left my body, whether thru surgery or treatment, is the anniversary of my 'cancer free' existence. But, my first anniversary, the day that is the one I celebrate, is the day I heard those 3 words...because that was the day the clock started ticking (originally, I was given 6 months to live, and a 37% survival rate to 5 years...).

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #15
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    I use my date of diagnosis
    I use my date of diagnosis as my anniversary( June 1, 2009). I don't care for the term cancerversary. I chose to say Survivorship Anniversary. That's my take on the matter.
    BL
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #16
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    This Dec. 6th will be our
    This Dec. 6th will be our 35th anniversary.

    But I think you're not talking about that - Oct 21st was 1 year since surgery so to me that is my 're-birthday' - when the beast was cut out.

    Susan
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #17
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    anniversary date
    I use the date of my diagnosis which for me was the day I had a coworker (an MD) call and ask for the results of my biopsy from the pathologist in the lab.My results were delayed and I could stand it no longer so we went directly to the pathologist for the info. I called my internist, surgeon and gyn with the diagnosis (I faxed them copies later that afternoon).I made the appointment for the surgeon the following day.It truly was the beginning of my cancer treatment journey.
    K
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #18
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    KayNYC said:

    anniversary date
    I use the date of my diagnosis which for me was the day I had a coworker (an MD) call and ask for the results of my biopsy from the pathologist in the lab.My results were delayed and I could stand it no longer so we went directly to the pathologist for the info. I called my internist, surgeon and gyn with the diagnosis (I faxed them copies later that afternoon).I made the appointment for the surgeon the following day.It truly was the beginning of my cancer treatment journey.
    K

    Uh Oh...this post originated
    Uh Oh...this post originated in 2009~ I thought it sounded familiar!
  • shelbyhome
    shelbyhome Member Posts: 145
    #19
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    I have mixed feelings on
    I have mixed feelings on this.... I want to say that it is the day when you know it is out of my body....February 18th but then I think maybe the day that I was told it was cancer on the 24th of February but then I think I will feel better to hear after a year that I am dancing with NED so I haven't really decided yet!
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #20
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    chenheart said:

    Uh Oh...this post originated
    Uh Oh...this post originated in 2009~ I thought it sounded familiar!

    12 months later we are still here
    I do not agree with Claudia. While this post was originated in 2009 the topic is still valid and 12 moths later all of participants have been doing relatively well.
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #21
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    I JUST remember the year! 2008
    PRior to being called back to have another mammo (following day) I had been called back year prior. Thought no biggie-told them that-they said NO there is an issue. (just routine mammo) I went back then they said BIOPSY-I said NO biggie-then they said surgery...mmmm NOW my postitive thoughts changed.

    So more then anything I remember the date of MY last/ final radiation June 28 2008!

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