Cancer Survivors Day
National Cancer Survivors Day® is an annual, worldwide Celebration of Life that is held in hundreds of communities throughout the United States, Canada, and other participating countries. Participants unite in a symbolic event to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be meaningful and productive.
What is a cancer survivor?
When does someone with cancer start to become a survivor? Some believe it begins at the moment of a diagnosis of cancer; for others the notion dawns on them more gradually as they progress through their treatment. There are some who believe you must have reached or be approaching the “magic” five years in remission before you can start to consider yourself a survivor (for more on this see Defining Cancer Survivorship).
I am also aware from conversations with many women with a history of breast cancer, that there are some who do not like the term survivorship so just think of the term “living with cancer” if that is better for you.
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship state that “a cancer survivor is anyone with a history of cancer from the time of diagnosis and for the remainder of life”. Similarly the Lance Armstrong Foundation define it as “from the time of diagnosis through the remaining years of life”.
The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation is encouraging a greater commitment to resolving the issues of cancer survivorship.
The accomplishments of modern science are evident in the ever-growing cancer survivor population. Addressing the poorly understood needs of these survivors is becoming a formidable challenge.
Researchers in the University of Missouri School of Health Professions have studied the lives of breast cancer patients following chemotherapy and found that their environments and available support systems help determine the quality of their lives.
“A lot of times people get mentally and emotionally ready to deal with chemotherapy and they receive a lot of support during that time,” said Stephanie Reid-Arndt, an assistant professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions. “Then they go home and everyone feels like it’s over, but the patients still have worries and fears about the changes they’ve been through and what it means for the future.”
In a paper published in 2008, Natalie Doyle observed that “there has been little progress in the conceptulization of cancer survivorship, despite the signficant rise in the number of cancer survivors”. She believes that cancer is “a life-changing experience, with a duality of positive and negative aspects unique to the individual experience but with universality.”
Although there is nothing formal planned here in Ireland, that doesn’t mean I can’t have my own little celebration. I will celebrate by being grateful that I can do the ordinary things – like go for a walk today, have a nice coffee with fresh homemade muffins, prepare and enjoy Sunday lunch – for it was the ordinary things I longed to be able to do again when I was ill during my chemo. It took cancer to teach me the beauty of such ordinary things.
We don’t really need to set aside a special day to celebrate our survivorship but it is good to have a day when we unite together in our appreciation of our collective survivorship – although I am lucky to be able to that every day here on the blogosphere. And if you are wondering what the image at the top of this post is..it is my word cloud of what survivorship means to me and those who help me through.
What does cancer survivorship mean for you? And what words would appear in your survivorship word cloud? Please share your thoughts below.
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For me survivorship began once my mastectomy was complete and the tumors were removed. Personally, I like the word survivor because it reminds me that no matter what cancer threw at me, I endured it and was able to handle more than I ever expected. Thank you, Marie, for yet another fantastic post, and for creating such a warm & supportive space for all of us.
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And thank YOU Nancy for being part of it all – may you continue to thrive on your journey xxx
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Survivorship began for me the moment I heard the dreaded words floating through a cloud of anesthesia: “It’s cancer.” I knew at that instant that while this would be a tough road, I would manage to thrash my way through it.
I also like the word “survivor” because it is a neutral term that makes others feel comfortable around us. At least it is better than the word it replaced: “victim.” To me it is also better than the word “thriver,” which was meant to replace “survivor” but somehow falls short (too pinkish for me).
I can understand those who don’t like the word survivor, however. It’s hard to find a single word that says it for everyone. One of my favorite terms is “cancer vixen,” which is the clever name of a book by Marisa Acocella Marchetto and a moniker she uses for herself. But some people might miss the humor and misinterpret my intentions if I called myself that, so I go with survivor.
I would add meditative, joyful, organic, prayerful, yoga, curious, lyrical, artistic, journaling, musical, natural, fresh, refreshed, renewed, opportunity, reflective, and vixen to your lovely word cloud.
Thanks again for this creative commemoration of a special day for all of us.
XOXOXO,
Jan
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Oh Jan, I love how your views are so all encompassing – this is a wonderful answer to the issue of what to call this situation we find ourselves in. You are right there is no one word which will satisfy everyone’s experience and this is does seem as neutral as possible – after all the dictionary defines it as an intrans. verb – to live. You mention the word victim and if one word raises my hackles it is that word..I never saw myself as a victim when I was diagnosed with cancer and I know of no one else who did either..it is such a perjorative term to use. I would be glad to see the back of it in media reports! Finally, I love your word cloud…I think I may just have to do another one with everyone’s suggestions! Blessings on you today and all days xxx
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This is such a fascinating subject to explore. We react in individual ways. 20 months after my diagnosis I still work hard to avoid being put into a box that tags my identity to cancer.
I talk openly about my experience of cancer and all that it means to me. I value sharing experiences with others. And I find that my feelings of vulnerability, mortality, and fear are shared by those who have other illnesses and other life experiences.
My word cloud would contain HOPE, FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, MORTALITY, FATIH, BEING HUMAN.
Thank you for this great blog – a place of hope, love and friendship
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Great to meet you and I am so happy you took the time to leave such a great comment with such wonderful words!
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Marie,
I personally try to avoid labels and even this one makes me uncomfortable, I’m not even exactly sure why. I think it might have something to do with what society expects “proper survivorship” to look like. Each us must be allowed to define our own survivorship path. When that’s how it’s looked at, I think it’s great. I admire the path you have chosen, Marie. You “do” survivorship really well. Thanks so much for this great post. And I didn’t realize this was a world wide thing. Nice.
I guess I would add ‘unique’ because each person’s experience and feelings are their own.
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Unique is a great word Nancy – I love the different perspectives we all bring to the table and thank you for your ever continuing support which I appreciate so very much.
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All of us are surviving something, whether it’s cancer, MS, a job we dislike or the death of a loved one. To me, surviving is enduring and moving forward even though the root cause may or may not have faded away. “Living with” denotes learning to live with metastasis or MS, even the threat of a cancer recurrence. I realize these are fine nuances, but I see “living with” and “surviving” go hand in hand.
XOXOXO,
Brenda
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In fact Brenda, reading your comment made me think so more..aren’t we all surviving life in all its myriad challenges, its joys, its sufferings? Love, compassion, understanding, faith..these are just some of the things which help us survive on a day to day basis. Thanks for helping me in my own survivorship with your grace, your faith, your compassion and understanding.
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Pain…
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Thanks for sharing Dianne..and I am so sorry you are in pain. Hope the pain will ease for you. Marie x
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You know, I hope it does too, but the fact is that it’s with me the rest of my life. I think that’s what people really don’t understand. I’m changed forever. can’t ever go back. There’s no cure for what happened during my mastectomy surgery. Stuck with pain. Forever. Yeah, I’m a little bitter about it….
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Hope!
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It is a shame that the word survivorship should carry negative connotations for some..it seems that everywhere we turn the language of cancer has become a PC issue. I would add tolerance to my word cloud because everyone has their own words, their own meaning for their cancer experience. Does it really matter what we call it? So long as we are true to our experience.
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Well said Caroline..I am growing weary of all this having to choose our words carefully when it comes to describing cancer..it is getting out of hand IMO
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Whatever we choose to call this experience, I for one am all for highlighting the aftermath of cancer and the needs which need to be addressed..i don’t really care what it’s called so long as we have our pscho-social needs taken care of
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Such an interesting discussion – I am warmed by the spirit and honesty of the comments. Yes, we are all so different, and I know that I have felt differently at different times. Language is sensitive, and although it can be loaded, just as often it is not. I love the great selection of words, and am prompted to add respect to the cloud.
Thanks so much for including me, and seeing “feisty” in the cloud really makes me smile 🙂
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Thank YOU my feisty blue gecko for all your support and your honesty in sharing your voice through your blog with us, not to mention your wonderful poetry which continually inspires me x
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I call my self a warrior and I am alive today for we survive many things in life and as a saying goes if it does not kill us it will only make us stronger.
As I am the 3rd member in my family to have had cancer come to visit it does not scare me anymore for I believe if I could get through my treatment then I could get through anything.
My eldest sister was diagnosed 15 years ago grade 4 and she is still here.
All I can say for myself Cancer change my life for the better not killing my self working and enjoying every wakening moment.
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Thank you so much Jo for adding your voice to this post – it is so wonderful to hear your story. May you continue to thrive as you journey beyond cancer!
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