When Are You a Cancer Survivor? - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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When Are You a Cancer Survivor?

When Are You a Cancer Survivor?

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Unless something comes up on my surgical pathology, which I will find out about next week, I have stage 1A endometrial cancer. I always think of a cancer survivor as someone who has struggled and needed chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Since mine appears to have been "cured" by surgery, I don't feel like a "survivor.” On the other hand, I have the same fears of having a cancer diagnosis and what the future holds as I imagine others diagnosed with cancer might feel. So when is a person considered to be a cancer survivor?

Most people consider any brush with cancer to be a dangerous situation. And every day after your diagnosis that you are still here, you are by definition a survivor. Some only call themselves survivors if they truly came near death in the process of fighting the disease. Others only call themselves survivors if they pass the five-year mark cancer-free. Just because you were fortunate enough to catch yours early and beat it with less of a struggle than others, though, doesn’t mean you’re not a survivor of a frightening and potentially very dangerous diagnosis. Allow yourself to recognize that you have won an important battle and that you will continue working to prevent recurrence for the rest of your life. That is a survivor.

Here are the opinions of some of the HysterSisters who have been where you are now:

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“I know exactly how you feel about not feeling like a ‘survivor.’ For me, the whole process from probable diagnosis to surgery was only five days. On the other hand, I find myself underplaying my feelings about the whole thing because my family is a little too caring. It scared the crap out of them that I got cancer.”

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“I think every day you live past your official diagnosis date means you are a survivor.”

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“You are a cancer survivor from the time you are diagnosed. While you are doing scans, tests, waiting for results, surgery and treatments to kill the cancer, you are also a cancer fighter. Some fights are shorter or less complex than others, but the goal is the same: kill the cancer through removal and/or cancer cell death.

I would say you are still both a cancer fighter and a cancer survivor. When your doctor says you are finished with treatment, you will ‘only’ be a cancer survivor. I am a 3-time, 22-year cancer survivor!!!”

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“I considered myself a cancer survivor from the moment I was diagnosed. No matter how short the battle, it is a battle nonetheless.”

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“Even if the physical bit doesn't seem like it is much, you still have things that you are dealing with because of the diagnosis: Possible surgical menopause, cancer-head and the emotions that go with that, and five years of follow-up. You are a survivor.”

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“I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer 1A about 3 1/2 years ago and had surgery with no other treatment necessary. I know the feeling about whether or not to consider myself a survivor. It's almost like if you haven't endured enough treatments, you don't really feel like you survived! But I've decided that in the end, I had cancer. I went through all the fear and shock of hearing I had cancer, endured tests, biopsies, scans, and finally surgery. Now I have to see a gyn-onc every six months for check ups, probably for the rest of my life. I live with the fear of recurrence and the discomfort of having no estrogen. We are all survivors. What seems on the surface as ‘having gotten off easy’ really isn't when you examine what we've been through. I consider myself blessed to have such a good prognosis and will never forget how lucky I am.”

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This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

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Find A Doctor Near You

Jon Nielsen, M.D. 9825 Hospital Dr. Suite 205 Maple Grove MN 55369 763-587-7050	Sherry L Neyman, M.D. Renaissance Women's Group 12201 Renfert Way Ste 200 Austin TX 78758 512-425-3875	Bret Lewis, M.D. 5780 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Ste 295 (#2 Location) 11975 Morris Rd., Ste. 310 , Alpharetta, GA 30004 Atlanta GA 30342 404-255-3633
Nonnie-Marie Estella, M.D. 10 Research Place Suite 520 North Chelmsford MA 01863 978-459-8300	Molly Senokozlieff, M.D. 9279 A Medical Plaza Dr. North Charleston SC 29406 843-569-2900	Ellen Wilson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd - Dept of OBGYN Dallas TX 75390 214-648-4747
David Mainman, M.D. Desert Bloom Obstetrics & Gynecology 6452 E. Carondelet Drive, Suite A Tucson AZ 85710 520-885-5300	Sean Kossari, M.D. 14901 Rinaldi Street Suite 320 Mission Hills CA 91345 818-365-1616	Mini Somasundaram, M.D. 4845 Knightsbridge Boulevard Suite 220 Columbus OH 43214 (614) 583-5552

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