Probably a Silly Question

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seasparrow
seasparrow Member Posts: 7
edited June 2014 in Who or What Inspires You?
I am embarassed to say, but I don't know at what point you "officially" are counted as a survivor. I believed I was a survivor before I got the results of my biopsy. But, is there a time frame or something that "statistically" makes you a survivor?

Please forgive my ignorance and thanks for not laughing at me.
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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited April 2006
    don't know. I asked this here on the boards once and they said we are ALL survivors...just finished chemo and still need to do rads, so...........
    ravdeb
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  • seasparrow
    seasparrow Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2006
    Ravdeb,

    Thanks. That's kind of how I see it. Like I said, I knew I was a survivor before the diagnosis was definitive.

    smobre
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  • Hattie
    Hattie Member Posts: 414
    edited April 2006
    smobre--as soon as you've got it, you're living with it (and surviving).
    take care,
    --Hattie

    the silly /stupid ?s are just the unasked/ unanswered ones
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  • LauraB
    LauraB Member Posts: 72
    edited April 2006

    Not silly at all...I always wondered, too. I was told in the Chat Room that they normally base your survivor-ship on your diagnosis date. Mine was 3/31/05 so that makes me a 1-year Survivor!

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  • seasparrow
    seasparrow Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2006
    LauraB & Hattie,

    Thank you, and I guess that makes me a 2-month survivor as my diagnosis date was 2/8/06.
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  • VickiTN
    VickiTN Member Posts: 361
    edited April 2006
    smobre - There are NO silly questions around here!

    I was told that the second you put one foot in front of the other after being officially diagnosed and told that you have cancer is when you're a survivor.

    Mine was 05/26/05 - almost a one year survivor!

    hugs,
    vicki
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2006
    I use my official DX date as my survivor date. That was the day it seemed to start for me.

    I am almost 22 months out...just a few days to go.
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  • seasparrow
    seasparrow Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2006
    You all are wonderful, and this is the one place I feel able to express my fears and concerns. This website and these boards have been great for me. I'm sorry that I or any of us have to be here, but am glad this resource is available.

    Thank you!
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2006
    I often wonder how those who do not have computers or access to them fare. I think they journey would be much more lonely and much more difficult.

    And it also was because of the BCO chat room that I eventually went to a weekend gathering and met 9 other women, 8 of which are now good friends.
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  • seasparrow
    seasparrow Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2006
    I agree that the journey has to be more difficult and definitely lonely for those who are isolated. I know my friends and family are very loving and supportive, but they just can't even fathom some of the stuff I feel.

    I mean for the most part, I'm very optimistic and positive. But when my sarcasm shows, and the fact that I get mad knowing so much more (and yet never enough) about breast cancer than I ever wanted to know, they just don't know what to do with me.

    I'm the strong silent one, and any signs of weakness makes everyone else anxious and neurotic. Then of course my compulsion to fix kicks in. So, I have my feelings, worries, and anxieties, but they tend to by my own private something (I don't know what to call it).

    So it is a relief to have something like BCO to turn to, and just be with my emotions.

    Thanks for listening rhymeee.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2006

    Isnt it interesting how we so often find ourselves protecting our familys from our illness and our concerns. Most of us are accustomed to being the strong ones and find ourselves doing this even with our BC. Women rock !

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  • Mithel
    Mithel Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2006
    smobre, the USA government and most trials and published statistics are based on "five year survival" (if alive five years from diagnosis).

    "Adjuvant Online" a tool doctors use to predict (makes pretty charts even if they are rather grim) outcome based on your factors and suggested treatment reports in terms of "ten year survival".

    Hence I think the simple answer to your question is that you are officially statistically counted as a survivor five years after diagnosis.
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  • Hattie
    Hattie Member Posts: 414
    edited May 2006
    Mithel, I disagree--one is a survivor at dx. Survival stats are different.

    I'd like a better word than survivor myself, but haven't found one yet. No matter how long I live, I live with it. I've heard thriver (just entering that zone myself) and sojourner (liking that one better....)

    I am 100% sure I am going to die...of something, someday... and I sure don't want my obit to say "She lost her battle with bc" --sounds like my life was a loss, or those who die of bc are not tough enough or something. Still working on the terminology here, as you can see.

    Take care,
    --Hattie
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  • stacey2930
    stacey2930 Member Posts: 210
    edited May 2006

    I am "surviving" so I guess that makes me a survivor! I proudly display my "survivor pink ribbon" on my car. I'd like to believe I will be a "survivor" for a very, very, long time.

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  • Mithel
    Mithel Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2006
    Hattie, I agree! Just surviving the diagnosis is a major accomplishment and worthy of being called a "survivor".

    I was simply trying to clarify terminology because it was originally asked what was "official" and hence I assumed she meant for publication of "survival statistics".
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2006

    I have always heard survivorship begins the day of DX.

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  • MacLanie
    MacLanie Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2006
    I like this way of looking at it - it's a quote from Bill, husband of Lisa who recently passed away from breast cancer (came across her site through another thread here; it's Lisawillsurvive.com) Anways, the quote is: "But I have learned that the battle against cancer has nothing to do with living or dying. It is how you let it affect your life."
    Surviving, thriving, sojourning....somehow finding a way to see life beautiful in spite of it all. For me, I've found that possible as I trust that God's in control, able to take even an ugly thing like cancer in stride and use it for my ultimate good and His glory.
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