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← Return to I am a cancer survivor
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@isadora2021 I started this discussion over 5 years ago. That was just about 6 weeks after I had a radical hysterectomy for endometrial cancer.
I had a recurrence of endometrial adenocarcinoma in late 2021 and received external pelvic radiation and two sessions of brachytherapy. That recurrence was found because I returned for my active surveillance appointments. Since that recurrence I've been NED (no evidence of disease) for 3 years.
I continue to refer to myself as a cancer survivor. To me, survivor means that I am not a "victim". A survivor is someone who uses all their resources to get through a difficult and painful time and yet comes out the other side evolved and resilient. It was hard for me at first to use "cancer" in the same sentence as myself as there must still be that stigma (in my mind) attached to the word.
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@naturegirl5 Thank you so much for sharing that update. Congratulations.
How wonderful surveillance scanning is and being able to jump on a recurrence very quickly. I missed all the symptoms of my initial stage 4 and have no confidence whatsoever in my ability to listen to my body. Surveillance - while challenging each time - is also such a mental comfort.
I love your approach. I too feel “right” with using the term survivor in the same way you do. Life threw a ton of stuff at me and I too feel I fought very hard to come out the other side as a survivor. Surviving in tough circumstances takes a whole ton of work and determination to do what’s needed. Certainly no victim. An active participant in my treatment.
It also takes a huge effort to get through the days of feeling beyond horrendous, and just wanting to curl up under the blankets. (A day here and there of that can be thoroughly therapeutic though!)
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Thank you for your definition of survivor.