I was wondering

Pure

when do you start your stats for a reoccurence. I know they say the first 3 years are highest-so would I start that April 1 when I found the cancer or in September when my doctor finally listened to me and realized it was cancer and I have it removed.

lexislove

Most of the stats that are out there count from the day of diagnosis.

Most woman, including myself, choose that day as well.

 Some docs say diagnosis date.... some say surgery when the cancer was removed. It really is up to you though. Sounds like September, when the docs discovered your tumor would be a good date.

Celtic_Spirit

We had a discussion about this subject earlier this year. There seems to be a lot of opinions out there as to when your "cancerversary" should be. I was diagnosed in early February 2008. My axillary disection was around March 11, and my mastectomy was March 25 of that year. I asked my onc what I should consider my cancerversary, and she said "sometime around the end of February or early March." I decided to consider March 25 my anniversary, since that's when the bulk (and hopefully all) of my tumors left my body.

KerryMac

It also depends on what day has significance for you. I was a basket case around my Diagnosis anniversary. But, my Surgery date is approaching and I (so far) have no emotion attached to that at all. So, I will probably "commemorate" my day of diagnosis, as it has the most emotional impact for me.

Pure

I think so too-what a day that was.... I don't think a moment can be as painful unless it had to do with a family member dying.

jenn3

I don't remember the dx date, but do remember the day I had the mammogram 06/12 and surgery 06/25 - I will more than likely go with the mammogram date since that is what sticks in my mind more than anything else.  

apple

i remember the day the mammogram nurse scolded me and said.. take off your ipod, - you have cancer...

of course, I already knew so it wasn't a shock.

what an idiot she was.  i just put my earbuds back in my ear and waited for the doctor.

everyminute

I remember it all. 

May 31st standing in the shower and feeling a lump that wasnt there the day before, yelling for my husband (scaring my kids), knowing right away. 

June 5th finding out it was cancer. 

July 10th bilateral mastectomy - praying for negative nodes, when I went into surgery I gave my husband my rosary and begged him to pray for negative nodes while I was under (they werent negative - I guess I knew that too). 

August 13th my first chemo

November 19th my last chemo (God willing)

Dec 9th hyst, port out, implants

Dec 30th 1st radiation

Feb 6th last radiation (God willing)

KerryMac

What i don't like is that some of my dates have "attachments" to other dates -

diagnosed 3 days before Halloween (Oct 28)

Surgery 2 days before my daughters birthday (Dec 11)

start chemo day after our wedding anniversary (Jan 16)....

I can't think of the "happy" date without the "unhappy" correlation.

everyminute

My triplet neices were born (very premature) May 31st 2003 - I found my lump on their 5th bday - every time I think of them and how well they are doing I think of my diagnosis and wonder how many bday of theirs I will see.

Pure

I have chosen to not have a date-just the month.

silvergrl

PureE, Here's my thought.  Stats are lying with numbers - how do you compare with a Stage IIIb patient who was diagnosed in 1995?  Numbers are old, protocols are different, the docs know so much more, so how do those numbers apply?  The only survival stats that matter are your own!  Forge on my friend, and enjoy every day.

Anonymous

I think I saw a post from Lilley S. from John Hopkins 'ask and expert' that said you count from end of active treatment which I guess would be rads for most people here.