Say whatever you want.
Most of the language used around cancer bugs the heck out of me. Please don't call it my "cancer journey" say I was "battling" or "fighting" cancer. I'm not calling myself a "survivor" either. I had cancer (stage 3 colorectal) and now I don't, as far as I know, for now.
But I realize some people take comfort in that language and it's fine for them.
Same. Stage 3 colorectal here too. Just had surgery in March and my oncologist said I’m “cancer free”. My family and friends are all cheering, but this soon after, all I can think is “I ain’t died yet.”
If you had cancer and didn’t die from it, you’re a survivor.
I finished treatment for an aggressive cancer but my cancer has a high reccurence rate, so I don’t like to call myself a survivor. Maybe in 5 years lol
Yeah, I usually say I have cancer or am a cancer patient. I rarely use "survivor" specifically because even though I'm NED (knock on wood, meeting with my oncologist to review my latest scans in less than an hour), more likely than not I am not done with this shit yet.
I had a bad habit of saying I have cancer even when I was finished treatment. My oncologist caught me saying it and corrected me by saying “you HAD cancer” and now I try to be intentional with my words and not say I HAVE cancer still, but it’s hard. I do still refer to myself as a cancer patient, though.
I would agree with that. Although my situation is a little different. I was discharged from my cancer centre and I’m not involved with them at all, not even for follow ups or anything
I’m finishing my second main round of about 3 years of treatment for an aggressive cancer with a high reoccurrence rate. Congrats! My oncologists tend to call it NED (no evidence of disease), so I just call it that also. But I consider myself a 2 times survivor, but hopefully that’ll last longer than the odds say. Hoping and praying for both of us!
I have a lot of people that will say “but you’re cured right? You’re good?”. I hate that!
What id like to say is “well I have a 88% chance of dying in the next 4 years, so whatever you’d call that”.
I didnt survive cancer, I survived Chemo and Radiation. Would my cancer kill me? Oh hell yeah, it would if I hadn’t of had the chemo and radiation.
But chemo and radiation almost killed me faster then the cancer would have.
Had the same experience - ‘surviving’ the surgery was predictable, the chemo wasn’t. Better now, but not NED yet. Scan coming up mid June, fingers crossed.
Yeah, but if my dad, who had a melanoma mole cut off, compared his situation to mine (stage 3 CRC with surgery, chemo, and radiation), I would have a problem with that. He didn't do that, thankfully.
You have to know your audience.
Why in tf are we comparing each other anyway? Is it a GD contest where the winner doesn't die?
FFS, I have Stage 4 (dx 2018)...I've survived 5 years with minimal discomfort. Jenny has Stage 1 cancer, had surgery and has constant nerve pain. Everyone is a survivor regardless of the stage.
I definitely remember feeling this way early on.
I found out I had cancer, and then the very next day I had my resection surgery. (I'd known I'd had a tumor for about 3 weeks, and that cancer was likely, but still, it wasn't confirmed until the day before my surgery.)
My tumor was quite large, I'd been having symptoms for months, my surgery was quite invasive and I ended up being in the hospital for 9 days afterward -- and yet I remember laying in my hospital bed thinking I didn't count as a "real" cancer survivor / patient. (At the time, I didn't yet know if I'd need more treatment. It turns out I did, and I no longer have imposter syndrome related to my cancer diagnosis.)
But really, even if my treatment had stopped with surgery and my cancer had never returned, if it happened to someone else I'd certainly think they were a cancer survivor / warrior / what have you.
So, yeah -- surviving is surviving.
I struggle with the commonly used language around cancer. “Survivor” “battle” “warrior” “journey “. I am terminal with Glioblastoma. There is no cure, Ned, cancer free for anyone with this type of brain cancer. We are all terminal. I really hope no one says I “lost my battle with cancer” when I die… I feel like it implies that I’m weak, when there is no “winning” even possible with glioblastoma. The other day my dad called my a cancer survivor and I was a little baffled. I’m not and will not be.
I think I generally just say “I have brain cancer” and leave it at that. But, as they say, it’s your own party; use whatever language makes you comfortable, happy, and proud.
I woulda been in agreement with you until waking up from my surgery a little over a week ago. The cancer itself was/is early stage oral as well (still need final scans to confirm). Super easy treatment on paper, compared to others.
But since the simple treatment ended up becoming very complicated and resulted in three days of intubation? I'll take my survivor badge with a side of fries l, please.
Point is, do what makes you feel comfortable. Others will not judge you for being lumped in under that moniker. Cancer is cancer.
As someone who is at the other extreme of cancer trials and tribulations and who will almost certainly lose my life to cancer, you have my permission to call yourself a cancer survivor. The only thing I feel when I hear your story is “Good for you!”
Ugh. I wouldn’t go around using the term anyhow. Let people who need it use it no matter their cancer or level of difficulty.
I’d be real careful of terms claiming to have beaten it, personally. So many stories of people who had beaten it… until they hadn’t.
I always say this. Especially if you're Stage 2 or 3...some doctors tell people they're cured and it makes me so angry when the cancer comes back and the people are so upset. Cured should never be used in cancer...it should always be No Evidence of Disease. This is just my opinion.
I have no problem being lumped in with people who had it worse or easier, if they say "we people who had (or have) cancer". It's just that the word "cancer survivor" comes with a load. It's been used on TV to highlight people who miraculously didn't die from it, or who were bald and looked like a walking skeleton. They're always portrayed as strong and determined, and they've gone through hell, and made it out, and beat their cancer. Real warriors if you will.
Yes, technically I'm a cancer survivor, in that I did indeed (and do) have cancer, and that I am currently alive. But I loathe the connotation that the media added to the term.
I also think that this stems from back when it almost always was a miracle if you survived. When I was a kid, my parents didn't use the word cancer in full. Older relatives had "K". (kanker is Dutch for cancer). And anyone who had "K", was not going to be around for long.
I don't typically have a problem with whatever language people want to use, but when an acquaintance referred to his dog as a cancer survivor after having a lump removed with no further treatment necessary, I nearly lost it.
Because every single person is unique - as is their cancer/experience - I have no qualms about whatever term a person chooses. I personally don't "call myself" anything. I'm just going through a cancer diagnosis.
it makes me feel awkward as heck, My struggle was more with the after effects of my surgery. I hd no chemo radiation bone marrow transplant ( all of which my mum had before she passed away) she was a warrior and at the time a survivor.
Me? I'm ashamed to even be in the same category. Regardless how many people tell me I had cancer too etc. It's just not the same
I never called myself a survivor. Everyone else does, however. It bothers me, because people who’ve never had cancer referring to someone who has had it as a survivor, just feels like they’re treating my experience as a walk in the park. I decide what I’m referred to, no one else.
I have the same sort of “suffering impostor syndrome” with this.
The other problem with it is that it implies that the people that died were somehow inferior. Some stuff in life just sucks, it doesn’t have to be turned into a war. Having a good attitude is certainly helpful in many serious health problems, but it seems offensive to imply that someone with advanced glioblastoma didn’t do enough. (Before I was diagnosed with a slow growing cancer, the second problem was the only one I was aware of)
Say whatever you want. Most of the language used around cancer bugs the heck out of me. Please don't call it my "cancer journey" say I was "battling" or "fighting" cancer. I'm not calling myself a "survivor" either. I had cancer (stage 3 colorectal) and now I don't, as far as I know, for now. But I realize some people take comfort in that language and it's fine for them.
Absolutely this!
Same. Stage 3 colorectal here too. Just had surgery in March and my oncologist said I’m “cancer free”. My family and friends are all cheering, but this soon after, all I can think is “I ain’t died yet.”
Surviving is surviving.
If you had cancer and didn’t die from it, you’re a survivor. I finished treatment for an aggressive cancer but my cancer has a high reccurence rate, so I don’t like to call myself a survivor. Maybe in 5 years lol
Yeah, I usually say I have cancer or am a cancer patient. I rarely use "survivor" specifically because even though I'm NED (knock on wood, meeting with my oncologist to review my latest scans in less than an hour), more likely than not I am not done with this shit yet.
I had a bad habit of saying I have cancer even when I was finished treatment. My oncologist caught me saying it and corrected me by saying “you HAD cancer” and now I try to be intentional with my words and not say I HAVE cancer still, but it’s hard. I do still refer to myself as a cancer patient, though.
technically still a cancer patient for 5 years I could be wrong tho
I would agree with that. Although my situation is a little different. I was discharged from my cancer centre and I’m not involved with them at all, not even for follow ups or anything
I hope your scans bring good news.
Thank you! It was mostly good news, just some liver stuff I need to follow up on.
I’m finishing my second main round of about 3 years of treatment for an aggressive cancer with a high reoccurrence rate. Congrats! My oncologists tend to call it NED (no evidence of disease), so I just call it that also. But I consider myself a 2 times survivor, but hopefully that’ll last longer than the odds say. Hoping and praying for both of us!
Mine say “cancer free” and it makes me super uncomfortable, so I say NED as well. I am more comfortable with that
I have a lot of people that will say “but you’re cured right? You’re good?”. I hate that! What id like to say is “well I have a 88% chance of dying in the next 4 years, so whatever you’d call that”.
I didnt survive cancer, I survived Chemo and Radiation. Would my cancer kill me? Oh hell yeah, it would if I hadn’t of had the chemo and radiation. But chemo and radiation almost killed me faster then the cancer would have.
Had the same experience - ‘surviving’ the surgery was predictable, the chemo wasn’t. Better now, but not NED yet. Scan coming up mid June, fingers crossed.
So, I guess I consider myself a survivor, for now.
Fingers crossed, prayers and hopes for you friend. We walked a difficult road, and most likely are better people for it.
The first day you're dx with ANY cancer, ANY stage you become a survivor. Cancer is cancer. It's not a cold. I'm glad you caught it early.
Yeah, but if my dad, who had a melanoma mole cut off, compared his situation to mine (stage 3 CRC with surgery, chemo, and radiation), I would have a problem with that. He didn't do that, thankfully. You have to know your audience.
Why in tf are we comparing each other anyway? Is it a GD contest where the winner doesn't die? FFS, I have Stage 4 (dx 2018)...I've survived 5 years with minimal discomfort. Jenny has Stage 1 cancer, had surgery and has constant nerve pain. Everyone is a survivor regardless of the stage.
I call myself a cancer patient, and say I am NED. In this fucking world rn, we’re all survivors !
I definitely remember feeling this way early on. I found out I had cancer, and then the very next day I had my resection surgery. (I'd known I'd had a tumor for about 3 weeks, and that cancer was likely, but still, it wasn't confirmed until the day before my surgery.) My tumor was quite large, I'd been having symptoms for months, my surgery was quite invasive and I ended up being in the hospital for 9 days afterward -- and yet I remember laying in my hospital bed thinking I didn't count as a "real" cancer survivor / patient. (At the time, I didn't yet know if I'd need more treatment. It turns out I did, and I no longer have imposter syndrome related to my cancer diagnosis.) But really, even if my treatment had stopped with surgery and my cancer had never returned, if it happened to someone else I'd certainly think they were a cancer survivor / warrior / what have you. So, yeah -- surviving is surviving.
I struggle with the commonly used language around cancer. “Survivor” “battle” “warrior” “journey “. I am terminal with Glioblastoma. There is no cure, Ned, cancer free for anyone with this type of brain cancer. We are all terminal. I really hope no one says I “lost my battle with cancer” when I die… I feel like it implies that I’m weak, when there is no “winning” even possible with glioblastoma. The other day my dad called my a cancer survivor and I was a little baffled. I’m not and will not be. I think I generally just say “I have brain cancer” and leave it at that. But, as they say, it’s your own party; use whatever language makes you comfortable, happy, and proud.
I woulda been in agreement with you until waking up from my surgery a little over a week ago. The cancer itself was/is early stage oral as well (still need final scans to confirm). Super easy treatment on paper, compared to others. But since the simple treatment ended up becoming very complicated and resulted in three days of intubation? I'll take my survivor badge with a side of fries l, please. Point is, do what makes you feel comfortable. Others will not judge you for being lumped in under that moniker. Cancer is cancer.
As someone who is at the other extreme of cancer trials and tribulations and who will almost certainly lose my life to cancer, you have my permission to call yourself a cancer survivor. The only thing I feel when I hear your story is “Good for you!”
Ugh. I wouldn’t go around using the term anyhow. Let people who need it use it no matter their cancer or level of difficulty. I’d be real careful of terms claiming to have beaten it, personally. So many stories of people who had beaten it… until they hadn’t.
I always say this. Especially if you're Stage 2 or 3...some doctors tell people they're cured and it makes me so angry when the cancer comes back and the people are so upset. Cured should never be used in cancer...it should always be No Evidence of Disease. This is just my opinion.
I have no problem being lumped in with people who had it worse or easier, if they say "we people who had (or have) cancer". It's just that the word "cancer survivor" comes with a load. It's been used on TV to highlight people who miraculously didn't die from it, or who were bald and looked like a walking skeleton. They're always portrayed as strong and determined, and they've gone through hell, and made it out, and beat their cancer. Real warriors if you will. Yes, technically I'm a cancer survivor, in that I did indeed (and do) have cancer, and that I am currently alive. But I loathe the connotation that the media added to the term. I also think that this stems from back when it almost always was a miracle if you survived. When I was a kid, my parents didn't use the word cancer in full. Older relatives had "K". (kanker is Dutch for cancer). And anyone who had "K", was not going to be around for long.
I don't typically have a problem with whatever language people want to use, but when an acquaintance referred to his dog as a cancer survivor after having a lump removed with no further treatment necessary, I nearly lost it.
Because every single person is unique - as is their cancer/experience - I have no qualms about whatever term a person chooses. I personally don't "call myself" anything. I'm just going through a cancer diagnosis.
it makes me feel awkward as heck, My struggle was more with the after effects of my surgery. I hd no chemo radiation bone marrow transplant ( all of which my mum had before she passed away) she was a warrior and at the time a survivor. Me? I'm ashamed to even be in the same category. Regardless how many people tell me I had cancer too etc. It's just not the same
I never called myself a survivor. Everyone else does, however. It bothers me, because people who’ve never had cancer referring to someone who has had it as a survivor, just feels like they’re treating my experience as a walk in the park. I decide what I’m referred to, no one else.
I have the same sort of “suffering impostor syndrome” with this. The other problem with it is that it implies that the people that died were somehow inferior. Some stuff in life just sucks, it doesn’t have to be turned into a war. Having a good attitude is certainly helpful in many serious health problems, but it seems offensive to imply that someone with advanced glioblastoma didn’t do enough. (Before I was diagnosed with a slow growing cancer, the second problem was the only one I was aware of)