survivorship (poll)

sams_mom

When do you consider yourself a survivor? I know there is no steadfast rule...just wondering what you all think.

I can think of various milestones that would trigger this:

1) after chemo or radiation or both is complete
2) one year out
3) two years out (my doc says that's when I can consider having another baby)
4) five years out (seems to be the clinicians timing of choice)

scorpiox55

Hi everyone, I had surgery on June 19th, 2003. Finished chemo October 28th, 2003. I am going to say that my surgery date is my survivor date. That's the day this nasty stuff was taken OUT! JoAnne

RoRo

Ladies....I've had the lumpectomy, the chemo, the rads, and am now on Arimidex...I consider myself a survivor...buy frankly, I think anyone who has heard the words "you have cancer", and continues to put one foot in front of the other, and fights this b*****d is a survivor in my book....just my 2 cents worth.

Rosanne

Catherine

I agree with Roseanne. I had my lumpectomy last 6/13 and I'm doing fine.

cherylm

Hi.

In my mind I became a survivor the moment I heard the words "we found cancer cells". Everything I did from that moment on was proactive in my treatment.

I first heard the nasty words on February 14, 2003. I then had a mastectomy on February 27, and 10 rounds of chemo, starting April 1. I finished the chemo in Sept of 2003. I now have at least 2 inches of hair, and am back to work full time.

I count my anniversary date from February 14.

This is just how I do it, I know everyone has their own way.

Wishing everyone all the best,

Cheryl

jeng

I think of myself as a survivor now and I am still in treatment (rads).

fall

I am not sure I call myself a survior.I am a person who takes what life gives me and makes the best of it.I am 46 now 2 years of all this (BS) I hate it all.I am a stage 4 had a rec of BC in this time.Now I have edema.The part of all this cancer is that it will one day take my life maybe way to soon.I feel I am to young to die.So do you if your in your 20's-30-40-50-60-70's and so on.If you are able to live life and not be bed fast you want to be out there liveing.I say this becaues I do not want to live my life in a bed and sick.Thats no life for me.Yes some would call me a cancer surivor I do not want to be called that.I want to be just as I am a person doing the best I can with what life hands me.I want you to know I do not feel brave all the time there are very difficulet times.I am just out here doing what I can.I can not tell you the days the time of any of my treatments without looking back in my papers.I do not want to think about them.I do know the end of this May will be two years I found my on lump and from then on my life took a turn that I can never get back too.This week will be 4 weeks out of my last treatment.I now have edema I will have to learn new ways to live with it now.So I went to a Specialist for help.I was told with it as my cancer its up to me to tell them how I feel.Now this is a hard one with my cancer.The treatment I have been on for the past 14 months has left me with a pain here and there tired and ^&*)(off alot.Its up to me to know if my cancer is back.Two years ago Easter I have a photo of my 8 year old and me at his school party.I was so happy he was happy.We just moved into are frist new home out in the country.Then the end of May it was time for my (SBE)in the tub there it was.I had all good check ups 7 months before even a mammo.So toady I am here trying to go on each day with postive thinking.I was told never get out in the sun now.I looked at my onc told him I will be out in the sun.If I have to live in the house that is no life.Hey I love the outside.No tans who needs then at 46 should I get to live a long life I want to look good.So I wear my hats sun screen.I work in my yard take my walks and carry more than 5 or 10lbs if need too.I know what my body can do and not to a point.I will be careful yes but live life.This week is 4 weeks out of chemo and I have been doing what I can to get my body back to someplace.Not sure what it was just a place I feel it should be now after this war I have been in.Who knows who lone I will get to live this life.Will I be on chemo in 3 months as before I do not know.I do know I have BC it can come back as it did.But till them I will do all I can with what I have left in this ol gal.Moss want grow under my a-- if I can help it.I am moveing on just as I was the last time.Ladies the sun just come out so I am going out for my walk before it's gone.God be with us all.Be happy in this life do not let cancer take any more than it has.

Sherrie_Lee

I AM a survior.
First dx with bc 07/01
Had 4 rounds of a/c the first on on Sept 13, 2001 so I felt lucky I was alive.
6 weeks of rads
and now almost 3 years out.
With God's help we will all make it.

Keep the FAITH and SMILE

Sharon

Not_Me

Wow...I consider myself a survivor and I only meet one of the criteria. I had the lumpectomy, the radiation, and am now going thru the Tamoxifin. Dx on 1/21/04. I will tell you...I am a SURVIVOR. Mine was small, but had spread. However, I am mad at this invasive disease which has changed my life forever. I will fight this thing...I have declared war. I consider myself a survivor...and I am even thinking about having a shirt printed stated this. I am a runner and will be out there tomorrow running a three miler. I am in training for a 5k...for me and for all of you on this board and in the world that cannot do this...I will do it for you. I wish and pray you well.

Sierra

Hi Gals:

First off.. Bless you Not Me.. for running
for us who cannot.. and best

My best to all here.. tks for sharing
and tks for starting this important thread

I now call myself a "thriver" got sick of survivor word hehe

counting from .. 2000 date of dx..
and Yes.. from the date you start
that road.. that fight.. you are ..
survivor.. thriver.. whatever..
changed.. forever.. but today we
all are here.. and very blessed

I celebrate life..
but still must admit
get the sweaty palms some days..
cloud always overhead.. but
one advantage is .. we now live
our lives fuller.. I do anyway
no time to waste..

keep on posting ..

Hugs.. Sierra

THE TIME IS NOW...

ps I am in my 50's telling this
because .. some think er-pr is mainly
younger gals.. never know..

Be well..

bear247

I think everyday that one is "free" is a survivor. I had my surgery chemo and rad last year, what a year that was, and I go by the date that I was done with all of that, and started the tamx. and that would be somewhere in Dec. of 03. I keep meaning to ask the doctor but I never remember when I am there. By the way had my second manogram and it came back ALL RIGHT YEA!!!

kim123

I am posting on behalf of my Mum who is a in my opinion survivor - diagnosed in 1993 with BC - lumpectomy and tamoxifen. Stage IV cancer back now 13 years later..... but with her attitude she will keep on surviving and beat this b*astard disease.

Carmelle

I consider that at diagnosis I became a survivor.
In that, I am surviving with BC and will everyday for the rest of my life. Just like all of us are doing.
Michelle

mama_tyra

for me i started feeling like a survior after i had my masetomy and the surgeon told me i did not have known in lymp node i convince myself the cancer is gone i am taken chem for extra protection

GOD KNOWS WHAT HE DOING

connierc

I've asked the same question, and have been told that if I'm talking and living, that I AM A SURVIVOR. But...right now I don't know, because I'm still in treatment. Had mastectomy, one node pos., chemo for six months, radiation still ongoing. My first mamm. after surgery was clean (on the side that has a breast

I don't consider myself as "dying" either, since I know so many women in my life who have had / have BC, and are living and have lived for 20+ years, that it really doesn't enter my mind.

Sure, I still have meltdowns, and I have more rads. to go through, plus a prophylactic mastectomy on the "good" breast, plus, with any huge amount of luck, implants on both sides, since i can't use my stomach area to make breast mounds (and, wow, I could make some good breast mounds out of the fat there! lol).

I feel I'm mostly "out of the woods," but will feel much more confident of that once I have all my final tests that say there is nothing they can find at this point. THEN I will feel like I have beaten this.

Trying to keep positive a year after diagnosis, and not even finished with treatments -- phew, it's sometimes hard to keep the smile on there. I have found that the BC.ORG chat room has helped me a great deal, and I am going to start attending a BC group where I live, with real, living, breathing, women I can touch and talk to, and share the good and bad with.

So, am I "suvivor?" I guess I am -- since I am alive still. When I'm dead -- WHENEVER that will be -- I don't think it will be because of cancer. I'm 40 now, dx and surgery at 39 ... and I want to live with the sweetest man I know, my husband, for another 40 years, in our dream house in Nova Scotia (where he is from).

Maybe keeping your dreams alive, and pursuing them, will make you feel more like a survivor. Shortly, I'll be going back to school to continue studying American Sign Language. That is another goal. Also finding a job -- another goal. But THAT is not due to BC -- but another problem. I was out of work long before BC came to visit me!

GOALS, DREAMS, LIVING, DAY BY DAY -- that makes "me" a survivor.

It makes you one, too....

With hugs,
Connie

nherr

I considered myself a survivor the first time I heard myself say " I HAD breast cancer". not "I HAVE breast cancer.

I can't remember when that was but likely after I finished all my treatment and had a good follow up visit.

That was over ten years ago but I am still proud to be a survivor - life is never quite the same - in some ways better - so I can't think of myself any other way

It is great to hear other comments - Connie - I like your attitude about keeping your dreams alive. It is so true

gracejon

I really had a problem with that question. I have read on several different places that as soon as you are diagnosed, you are considered a survivor. Thought at first I was a victim but now like the thought I am a survivor. Only treatment so far done is surgery. Chemo will start later because I am still addressing complications of surgery. I am a survivor!

lv2cmp

I have had surgery and currently 2 down out of 8 chemo and I consider myself a survivor. I am determined to win this battle and show the mean b*&^%@# that it picked on the wrong person when it picked on me!

denisa

somebody who posted on subject a while back said "if you survived after hearing the diagnosis, you are a survivor" .
still here, so that about summed it up for me.

denisa

Fighter_Lu

Running Deer...I am with you..I too am 46 and have stage 4..All the shit we have been through, I definately concider myself a survivor.I too live how I want to live, and do all I want to do in life.I make plans and do them.I go in the sun, in moderation and try to be "myself" like I was before this all started 4 years ago.We are survivors!!!! We are here!!!

beachcottage

Great thread..A friend sent this to me some time back..I think it applies to all of us..We are all survivors..

Lemons to lemonade,
This woman is a survivor.
When opportunity knocks,
It sometimes knocks her down,
But this woman never
Lets it get her down for long.
Whether it be relationships,
Her health or professional life,
Her reservoir of love and faith
Emerges as a triumphant shining example.
She is a woman who truly knows the value of
Family, friendship, and the gift of time,
Laying aside all judgment
And giving unconditional love.
© Suzy Toronto.
xoxo,Patti

Catherine

I agree, we are all survivors.

Catherine

Catherine

Denisa - I had a chuckle when I read your definition, "If you survive hearing you have cancer, you are a survivor." How true!

Catherine

JoanofArdmore

Hi Jennifer,
I understand we are considered survivors as soon as we're dx. And true, if you survive being dx with cancer, it's some doing.
But I survived having IDC, having lumph node involvement, having the surgery and the sore armpit, having a port installed, having very hard chemo,(AC+T), (which made rads a breeze for me), doing all this while living alone, cooking, cleaning, shoveling snow shopping for myself. I have DEFINATELY survived some very hard stuff
And I, too, say "When I HAD cancer, last year."
I'm a survivor, and if the beast comes again, I'll bash him again!

I recently read an article that said patients don't "battle" cancer any more. We "manage" it. Meaning that it's thought of more like a chronic disease today, and less like a deadly one.
(Nice that we can MANAGE it, but I prefer it not to be chronic, please?)

Love to you, and hope you and your family are having a very happy holiday seasaon.HAPPY 2005!
joan the survivor

momalioni

While I continue to take up space on this planet and breathe the air, I am a survivor......of many things....cancer is not one of them however.

SweetLady

HI

This past June, was 2 yrs for me. Crossing fingers and praying hard that IT never comes back. Going for PET SCAN on TUesday, and hoping it comes out OK. My prayers go out to ALL OF YOU

Donna

junie

There was a really good thread on this subject some time back, but I don't know how to go into the archives and find it. So many folks (me included) posted that they became a "survivor" the minute they heard the confirmation of cancer. But, "I'm a survivor" is a nebulous date. I was dx in Nov 00, so creeping up on the magical 5-yr mark--but, lump, chemo, rads--wasn't finished with tx 'til July 01. Still think I was a survivor from day one. Interesting how we all think different about that question. hugggsssss

aarque

I think from dx we are survivors. The weeks between dx and surgery, walking around with this thing inside, knowing it's in there... yes, we are survivors.

Pauline3837

I became a survivor February 25, 2003. That date is burned into my brain because it's the day I had the mammogram that caused my doctor to call me and ask me to return to his office. The day that he said he was 99.999% sure I had breast cancer. After the shock and the tears of that moment, I became a survivor. That was the day I took up the fight! That is the day I will never forget.

Sawen

My onc told me the last day of treatment is when you officially become a survivor.

Sawen

alpruette

I felt like a survivor after starting my first chemo treatment. You definitely have to be a survivor to endure that. I am due to start rads in December. I try to remind myself every day that I am a survivor.