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← Return to The word "Survivor."
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Breast Cancer | Last Active: Sep 10 2:49pm | Replies (52)
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I am not fond of the term survivor. No one knows whether or not she/he will survive cancer. To me, survivor means one and done, such as surviving a car accident. I feel like I survived the treatments - 2 lumpectomies and 16 radiation treatments which, luckily, were not bad for me. I was unable to tolerate anastrozole. The chance of recurrence is never 0, so the verdict is still out on whether or not I will survive cancer. In November, it will be 4 years since I finished radiation. They have been good years. I feel fortunate. I turned 74 in May. I wish everyone, in this club that we never wanted to join, many good years ahead. Sending hugs.
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I too am not fond of the term survivor. To me surviving means you have dealt with an event or experience. It is now over. I have survived polio and a tornado, It has always been interesting to me that they never say your are in remission or that you are cured from breast cancer. Breast cancer seems like chickenpox virus. That virus lays dormant in the dorsal root of nerves. Breast cancer cells can lay dormant in many places. Something stimulates them just like with the chickenpox virus to reappear. Fortunately we have both medicine and vaccines to protect us from the chickenpox virus. Maybe soon we will have better detection devices for breast cancer cells, medicine, and/or vaccines to protect us.