when are you considered a survivor?

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lisalisa
lisalisa Member Posts: 824
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

after surgery when there is no more cancer?  after chemo/radiation?

 just curious when people start "counting" themselves as survivors!

thanks!
Lisa

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  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited December 2008

    When I die from something other than breast cancer.  Until then, there is always a chance of recurrence and Stage IV.

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  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 2,466
    edited December 2008

    Hi Lisa, I think everyone is different.

    If you made it through getting it out, I'd go ahead and call myself one right now. 

    I chose not to as I did not like the term "survivor" (to me, it implied that cancer could have won, and that was not EVER an option.)

    I chose "thriver" as i think life is going to be better from now on, and I am double determined to make lemonade.  How's your recon going?  I am 8 weeks post exchange, wasn't happy, as I had prev. rads and the girl looked not so great, still a scar, a divot, and a ripple.  However!  Just showed it to hubby, and he thinks I am beautiful....so while not happy with the outcome, I am content.  I may go for revisions down the line when she settles in a little.  Then onto a  nip for Barbie! 

    I hope you feel well.............of course you are a survivor and a thriver!!!! Anyone who joins this club, gets to be that or call themselves anything they darn well choose :).

    Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Chelee
    Chelee Member Posts: 513
    edited December 2008

    Hi Lisa,  Some go by the date they were dx...but most say it is It is definitely your surgery date.  I think you will find the surgery date is the most commonly used.

    Chelee

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    Most of the people I've discussed this with say that as soon as you are diagnosed. The reason being, that is when you begin the battle! I am a survivor. I think I was a "thriver" before cancer, and nobody in the uninitiated group can misinterpret the word survivor. Congrats on being one!

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited December 2008

    thanks, everyone!  great news!  i'm calling myself a survivor from this point forward!

    that makes me feel GOOD!

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  • peapot
    peapot Member Posts: 72
    edited December 2008

    I went on a Casting for Recovery retreat (look it up, it's awesome) and they called us conquerers.  I love that it makes me feel strong like I've climbed a mountain, which would probably be a piece of cake compared to what most of us have been through!!

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited December 2008

    Thanks, Peapot!  I like "conquerers"!  I'm going to look up Casting for Recovery right now.  Sounds interesting!

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  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited December 2008

    Lisa - I've been counting myself as a survivor since the day after my mastectomy op. For what I know, from that day forward I am "cancer-free" and all treatments are designed to keep my such.

    So, since 11.july.2007. One year and almost 5 months.

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  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 2,466
    edited December 2008

    Conquerors is a gorgeous name, love it!

    I agree with Lilith, the day you get it out of you, it's gone.  All the treatments are to keep it gone.

    I have been calling the girls on my webthread I visit, my 'valkyries"....warrior goddesses.

    Hey Lilith, my hubby is Swiss on his dad's side.  We are related to your secretary of state,  hubby's cousin.  We have an ancestral "schloss"  on the shores of one of the lakes in Interlochen, but I can't remember which one.  We should meet if we bring our daughter over for her graduation gift as we are planning to do one of these fine days inbetween all this cancer crapola.

    For me, it's Dec. 11th, 2007.  Hell yeah, we are survivors, conquerors, warrior goddesses................all of it.  Lisa, your family is beautiful!Laughing

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited December 2008

    OK!!!!  I'm a survivor, conqueror, warrior goddess as of 11/19/08.  I think I need a piece of jewelry do commemorate that date, don't you?  LOL!

    Thanks for the compliments on my family pic too :)

    Lisa

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited December 2008

    lisalisa - too funny.  I thought the same about jewelry and asked my husband to me a ruby ring when I completed my chemo which was also my 50 birthday.  It did cheer me up.

    Sassa - I understand exactly how you feel. 

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  • Lucy47
    Lucy47 Member Posts: 183
    edited December 2008

    lisalisa,

    I got my husband to buy me diamond earrings just before I started my chemo last Jan. I wore them to every treatment.....and it did make me feel better. I didn't have any hair ....but everyone complimented me on my beautiful earrings.lol 

    Oh yeah....I'm a survivor/warrior/goddess celebrating 1 yr and 1month.....yeah for me!!!!!!!! 

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  • irishdreama
    irishdreama Member Posts: 938
    edited December 2008

    I'm with anniealso and Sassa-I'll be a "survivor" when I die from something else. And I use warrior instead of the term "survivor". I feel that we survive treatments, but are continuously fighting against the cancer itself.

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  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited December 2008

    Annie, let me know when you make it out in this 'neck of the woods... I live on the shores of another lake (Geneva), but given the minuscule size of Switzerland we should meet when you come this way!!!

    and yes, good thinking about the celebration jewelry. I plan to celebrate every single day I am alive. I planned to get myself a H.Stern star ring (they are gorgeous) at the end of chemo... then never came around to it. maybe it is time I do something about it.

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  • EWB
    EWB Member Posts: 2,927
    edited December 2008

    When I was dx w/bc (it was stage 4 at dx) My dh bought me a ring that had his and our childrens birthstones on it (two diamonds and one aquamarine)  it is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen (well it ties for 1st with engagement ring).  These are the people who matter most and for whom I will go thru all this rotten stuff for, I wear it everday to remind myself.

    I think I began survivng from the minute I felt the lump and I have survived each test, bad news, treatment etc.  I don't like the term survivor, but I am surviving. 

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