How do you determine survivor years?

Junebug40 · September 2011

When somebody says they were a breast cancer survivor for 5 years, is that 5 years from initial diagnosis or 5 years after treatment ended?

Psal70 · September 2011

Junebug we are all survivors, wether it is 1 hour or 50 years......:)

starbeauty · September 2011

My onc says from when treatment begins... But this topic has come up before and I think everyone decided to pick whatever date they wanted to... From dx, from surgery, from end of treatment... Just pick what works for you.

1Athena1 · September 2011

Junebug,

It is calculated by clinicians from the date of dx. But in reality, it is a hard call, because some cancers are caught earlier in the process than others of exactly the same characteristics because of the individual circumstances of the patient, so survivorship in the way you are asking about it is a relative question. It can be misleading in some senses.

dlb823 · September 2011

I think most of us wonder about this at some point. And it seems like most of the women here on BCO celebrate the date of our dx -- which, when you think about it, makes the most sense and figuring survivor years the most consistent, since txs can be quite varied in length. Deanna

Birds · September 2011

My surgeon said mine is from the day she removed the cancer, because at that point, I was cancer free. My chemo and rads were next. So, when I look at how many years I have been free of cancer, I count from the second surgery date (had to have two surgeries to get clear margins).

msphil · September 2011

Dear sweetie, it really doesn,t matter, I agree with some others about that, if we Survive one day at a time or years, I believe it is to help those that are going through what we been through, giving back its a great feeling for me and I have been cancer free for 17 yrs, and I will always try to help others, those that don,t come back should know the feeling of giving HOPE to another sister or brother and I am indeed that to you ALL. msphil and GOD Bless.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halah · September 2011

According to livestrong.org, they say survivorship begins at dx. My Onco says the five year mark begins at the time I started arimidex since you must take it for 5 years.

I don't know why anyone would want to remember or celebrate being dx with cancer, although I remember clearly the date and time I was dx. I have heard Lance Armstrong say at least twice that he was glad he got cancer. How sick is that.

I agree, it is a personal thing. And each of us have different circumstances. Our cancers might be different. Dx does stand out for me, but as of 8/30/10 (date of surgery) I am cancer free. I am a survivor.

Halah · October 2011

I've thought about this some more. Since there is no cure for cancer, I've been living with it since dx. "Cancer free" doesn't make me free from cancer. But I am surviving it! It makes more sense to begin my survivorship at dx which was 7/21/10. I am a one year survivor now as of 7/21/11.

rolynla17 · July 2017

I would count from last day of treatment because it's how many years you are CANCER FREE. Even from first clean scan. It's a good question because you can't get life insurance until you are 5 years cancer free.

Artista928 · July 2017

I just go by my dx date since all my docs go by it. It's only 1 year off from end of active tx for most of us anyway.

ksusan · July 2017

My oncologist and surgeon use the surgery date, that being when most of the mutated cells were removed. They both consider chemo and radiation to be mop-up.

Fiddler · July 2017

I have often wondered this, since my oncologist said my type (HER2 positive) is most likely to reoccur within two years. So does this mean two years from diagnosis? My treatment did not end until 9 months after dx. I am going to ask him about it next time I see him.

How do you determine survivor years?

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