From the article: When Can I Say I Am a Breast Cancer Survivor?
When did you first say "I am a breast cancer survivor?" Did your doctor, friends, or family influence when you started saying you were a breast cancer survivor? Is it: at diagnosis, after surgery, at the end of treatment, when you pass your 5-year checkup, or whenever you say you are a survivor? Weigh in on when you can say you are a breast cancer survivor. Give Your Opinion
Appreciate the value of your family
- Hi. My name is Ragini Pillay. I was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer in April 2012. Had eight sessions of chemo, - horrid!- had 25 sessions of daily radiation - then had a lumpectomy - surgeon and oncologist informed me that cancer spread - DCIS - had a mastectomy three weeks later! - Now on treatment - TAMOXIFEN - for five years! My SURVIVAL is thanks to God, and i am very grateful to my very caring and supportive mum and my husband who stood by me and helped me through a very difficult year!, also my caring son and daughter in law, my two brothers and their wives, my husbands sisters and my boss and colleagues and loads of very special friends that helped me cope. The experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer was and, a year later, still is very scary and it has definitely changed my life, my values, and my thoughts- My hair that i completely lost has grown back now - but total chemo curls!- The BEST way of surviving cancer is, when you have come through all the treatment, just believe that it is a BONUS to be alive.! Don't worry about how its changed your looks as this is just an external appearance, your BEAUTY is WITHIN you! Your really start SURVIVING when you appreciate the value of your family again, and even the sky and nature around you is something so beautiful which you may never have paid attention to previously.! SURVIVORSHIP begins for both YOU and your family when you realize that "THIS TOO SHALL PASS"! Do not make your cancer your whole life, instead extend those energies to your family and let them enjoy the fact that you have survived and are still around for them!!! To ALL breast cancer survivors, CONGRATULATIONS, you are a SURVIVOR... YOU have SURVIVED!!!!just continue to LIVE and Enjoy LIFE "one day at a time"|
- —Guest Ragini Pillay
Survivor Now?
- Finished all my treatments in January. Waiting for my hair to grow back. Now what?
- —Guest Debby
We are all survivors!!!!!!
- If you have been treated for cancer in any form and are here to talk about it. You survived it!
- —Guest Guest Mae
A Warrior that hates the word survivor
- i just completed radiation last month and for now i consider myself a warrior. I hate the word survivor...In the future I will consider myself a conquerer because yes i will defeat this disease..
- —Guest sharon
After Treatment
- i had a breast cancer surgery ....i will pass 12 times oncolology cancer. will it be ok.
- —Guest setare
Still in treatment
- I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in October 2012 and had a sentinel node biopsy in November to see if it had spread ( it had not ). In December I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction. I do not have to go through chemo or radiation, but will be on Arimidex for the next 5 yrs. At what point do I not say I have breast cancer, but I am a breast cancer survivor?
- —Guest Donna G
Now - l can do this
- l was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer in March of 2011 ...l am currently being treated with Herceptin and Anastrozole...l am truly blessed because the treatment has kept my cancer at bay...no surgery or radiation, and l may never be cancer free, but l am able to live my life ...l think of my cancer as a chronic condition,like diabetes or high blood pressure...who knows what tomorrow will bring...maybe even a cure...the most important thing has been keeping a positive attitude and the love ,support, and prayers of my family and friends.
- —memex2
14 Year Survivor
- I considered myself a survivor once I completed my 3 surgeries to remove my Breast Cancer along with Chemo/radiation treatments and it was all gone. I have now celebrated my 14th year of surviving. You have to Love Life and make the best of every day and look for humor.
- —Guest Ms Nora
Breast Cancer Survivor - Twice!
- The doctor told me I had breast cancer the first time in October 1993. I had a lumpectomy, dissection of axillary lymph nodes, radiation, and chemo, with hair loss. I considered myself a survivor five years past diagnosis. Nearly fifteen years later, my doctors diagnosed a recurrence - in the same breast and same location as my earlier cancer. I had a mastectomy, breast reconstruction (my body rejected the implant) , and chemotherapy , not only with hair loss, but growing back white (I color my hair). It will be five years next year. I am most definitely a survivor!
- —Guest Sue
Any breast cancer diagnosis is traumatic
- I am almost 6 mo. post treatment. I had stage 1 breast cancer, lumpectomy, 2 surgeries, 6weeks radiation. I have found that most people do not want to hear you have had breast cancer. I had support from Sisters & close friends but anyone else has their own opinions. My road was not easy this past year, had major swelling, nerve damaged, to point I wished I had had a mastectomy! It's interesting to me how ignorant people are who think, Oh you just had a lumpectomy & didn't have Chemo, that's not so bad? Everyone cancer is different & experiences, no ones Journey is easy!!! I'm concentrating on staying positive, workout like crazy & try to eat right! Still enjoy my wine! Jeez u have to live don't you? Stay Strong!!!
- —Guest Margaret Lee
Two-time survivor
- I have had cancer twice, placenta cancer at 24 and breast cancer at 43. But www.iamstillawoman.com
- —Guest Nina-An n Mccurley
Every Day of Life
- I was a survivor: before I knew I had breast cancer. Every day I have lived with/in spite of breast cancer: "I'm a survivor." I'm not dead yet.. therefore I'm a survivor.
- —Guest Ann
I AM a survivor
- I was diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer, stage 2a, in March of 2009. I had a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. My oncologist told me that I was a survivor the day I had my surgery and the tumor, along with lymph nodes were removed. Everything else was to ensure that the cancer didn't return. The tumor was estrogen/progesterone and HER 2 positive. So I had Herceptin for a year and will be taking Arimidex for five years. I feel fortunate to be alive and appreciate every day!
- —littlegrandma6
We are all survivors, in a sense
- I was diagnosed with a stage 2, very aggressive, breast cancer in February of 2012, a few days after my 45th birthday. It was a huge shock, but I have a very supportive husband. After we cried, we decided we'd do whatever we needed to do to in order to overcome this trial. Our faith is strong and I have already had my mastectomy. Chemo comes next. The road will be long but knowing I am joined by so many other strong women is so encouraging! Thank you all for your encouragement! !!!
- —Guest Jennifer rakestraw
I have survived much!
- I was diagnosed with stage 1 in April/2011. I survived the shock of the diagnosis. I survived a biopsy, a sentinel node biopsy, surgery, chemotherapy, hair loss, and 6 weeks of radiation. I survived chemo fog, nausea, skin changes and life changes. There is no doubt that I am a survivor. Now I feel good, my hair has come back, and my skin is clear again. I look at myself in the mirror and acknowledge "I have survived".
- —Dianapetkau
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