Have or Had BC?

lmt041409

When do you stop saying I have breast cancer and start saying I had breast cancer?

 I was diagnosed two weeks ago and will have lumpectomy and SNB tomorrow.

When do you become a BC survior?

Anonymous

Many of us hold to the belief that you are a survivor as soon as you know that you have bc and have determined to fight it. For me, that was my day of diagnosis. As for when to say "had" instead of "have," I'd say that that's an individual choice based upon when you feel comfortable saying "had." As soon as I finished all of my active treatment (after rads), it seemed sensible to assume that I was cancer-free, but it took me awhile to get beyond a superstition I had about it all, thinking that if I was so bold as to claim it was gone, it would retaliate by flaring up again. So much of this stuff is psychological and simply takes time. Be sure to be patient with yourself and know that soon you really will move beyond the acute horror of this disease.

Good luck with your surgeries and keep us posted!

~Marin

deb6563

I believe if you survive being told the diagnosis,  you are a survivor. 

lexislove

When I was going through treatment, I refered to myself as going through breast cancer treatment. Once surgery,chemo and rads were over...I started to say I HAD breastcancer.

I have heard that the "5 year studies" start from the day of diagnosis. Everyone is different though, some woman count diagnosis day, surgery day or end of all treatment. I go by diagnosis myself.