I was told after 5 years I was a cancer survivor. I have now been free 18 years. I had chemo and radiation.

I "think" I was a survivor after surgery when they said they had been able to get it all out....but, I still have to have periodic CAT scans...but, I have survived so far, so.....I'm a survivor

When my mother had a radical mastectomy because of breast cancer in her left breast, we were told that she would be considered cured (and, therefore, a survivor) after 5 years.

She died 7 years later because it had spread to her back and to her lungs.

Forgot to say that I have had three skin cancers removed from my face. The first two were 8 or 9 years ago, and the last was slightly over 5 years ago. So, I guess I'm a "cancer survivor" but I never think of it that way.

After being tested 5 years in a row, I was then officially deemed "cancer free". Five years seems to be the time limit.

Mine was uterine cancer caused by being on hormone replacement therapy. I knew prior to my surgery that I would be fine..from a heavenly messenger. Surgeon said "Got it all" and I knew he did.

Thank you. I thought I remembered the five-year window of time from back when my mother had a radical mastectomy but that was close to 30 years ago and definitions could have changed.

I've just been diagnosed with breast cancer and my surgery is scheduled in two weeks. By choosing a mastectomy, the surgeon says I will be cancer free with no need for chemo or radiation. I've actually chosen to have a double mastectomy to (hopefully) eliminate the possibility of going through this again.

I'm making cards to send my brother, sister and some friends, that will be mailed after my surgery, to let them know what's going on. And I'm wanting to get the wording right so it's not offensive in any way, to someone else who has had cancer.

I'll use Cancer Free instead of Cancer Survivor.

I think you're a cancer survivor as soon as the surgery is over. If you're not a survivor, then you're dead, so if you're alive, you're a survivor. I've been a survivor for 10 years. Stoneybaloney, I think what you're doing is very smart, and I think it's what I would do if faced w/ this again.

Oh, Stoney, I am sorry. I wouldn't have been able to tell you the answer, I am just rooting for all cancer fighters! No matter the weapons.

Do you know, when your surgery is going to happen?

((( Stoney )))

Your choice was a very wise choice. I'm sorry you have to go through this at all, but your attitude is in your favor. I will pray that you will be cancer free. Avoiding chemo and/or radiation if at all possible is also wise, as both are known to cause other cancers. My oncologist advised "preventative" radiation treatments following my surgery which I refused. I went the vitamin therapy route....get that immune system built up. I wasn't going to radiate something I knew wasn't there. Told him I would wait a year and be tested, and go from there. Each year for the 5 years, no cancer cells were found and I knew there wouldn't be, but......that fear is always in the back of one's mind, so those tests always eased my fears.

Will you please give us the date of your surgery so I can mark my calendar to pray?

At a Lung Cancer Survivors site I use to visit everyday (when my husband was sick), they ALL considered themselves cancer "survivors"! From the moment of diagnoses..they were surviving..days,weeks,months, and for some YEARS later. My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2007. He went through Chemo/Radiation and in Dec.2007 we were told there was no evidence of disease. In June 2008, he had a heart attack and died. I consider him a cancer survivor!

Stoney..You will be in my Prayers! I'm sorry you're having to battle that demon..but you CAN win!!!

My husband had testicular cancer (like Lance Armstrong) in early 1982. He had both surgery & radiation---no chemo---during that year. So that was 27 years ago without recurrence. I guess that would qualify him as a "survivor". At age 81, he still down-hill skis!

My sister had lung cancer, diagnosed in 2002. So coming up November it will be 7 years. Her doctor seems more concerned with her earlier (by 4 years) emphasema (sp?) than the cancer...which apparently is gone or at least in remission. She had both radiation & chemo treatments for the lung cancer. Smoking is not a good idea.

Stoney, you'll be in my prayers!

Donna (^_^)

Country, that's the way I felt...after a few tears (like just a minute), I decided I'm a survivor and assumed the fighter mode through surgery, radiation and chemo. I'm now in my 7th year of remission of stage 4 colon cancer.

Stoney, I can already tell you're a survivor, too. I wish you all the best...you've made a very brave decision.

Granlan Hugs :)

Stoney, you are a very brave and strong woman. You have a fantastic attitude, even though you're going through such a serious health crisis. You'll be in my thoughts.

Sorry, Stoney, will be saying a prayer for you.

First a hug to you Stoney and best wishes.

Mom is back in the cancer battle again after 6 years.
She was ill and went in for a cat scan and they found a suspicious nodule (as the doc called it) on her lung. They were looking for some scarring in her bowels from previous surgery and thought the scarring might be making her sick.
We both about fell over when the doctor saw something on her lung. Mom has not smoked in over 40 years!
She sees the surgeon Monday. Getting sick meant this cancer was spotted very early before it had time to spread. Is mom a survivor? She has had 2 breast cancers (not related to each other, rectal cancer and now probably lung cancer. I think every day she puts her feet on the floor she is a survivor. Time is guaranteed to no one.
Kathy

You are a cancer survivor the minute of diagnosis. Yep! You have cancer and are still with us. You are a survivor right now, and will be 20 years down the road.

My prayers to you, Stoney! And all of you others that are in the fight!

We discussed this once at the Beyond Cancer support group that I attended. And it was unanimous that as soon as you get that diagnosis, you are a survivor!

I remember taking part in my first Relay for Life, and wasn't sure if I was going to take the survivor lap, and the organizers said anyone diagnosed is a survivor and yes, I needed to do the survivor lap!

Aw, man. I can't tell you how much I appreciate and will benefit from, your prayers and good thoughts. Thank you so much.

I've signed up for the 'walk' portion of our local Race for the Cure, it's the first of August this year and I'm assuming that by then I'll be able to participate. I'm not a runner at all, my knees won't take it.

My surgery is May 1. I've never had a surgery before, not even a C-section, so am naturally scared of what's coming. There's one part of me that says maybe, not knowing, is a blessing, so I can't dwell on anything specific.

My mother had a radical mastectomy about 30 years ago, and then 15 years later had colon cancer. She didn't recover from that. So Monday I'm having the dreaded colonoscopy that has scared me for so long. I want to know, without a doubt, that there's nothing else going on.

You are a cancer survivor as soon as you are diagnosed. I pray that all goes well with your surgery. I'm a breast cancer survivor, too. You can do it!!

((((Stoney Baloney)))) and ((((all the rest)))).

I wish you the best recovery from your surgery.

We all die of something, be it disease like cancer or by accident, but we all die at some point of something - so I agree with the others that feel that you are a survivor from the moment you have been diagnosed - for every minute you have survived the cancer, you are a cancer survivor.

Nobody gets out of here alive. God bless everyone who has to deal with cancer or any other serious illness.

Stoney,i'm sorry you have to join this "sisterhood"!! I went through what you are getting ready to go thru last august.I did have to have chemo and just finished that this february.Keep a good attitude,that's more than half the battle,and with all the prayers going up for you,you'll be fine.

When i was first diagnosed i was more upset about losing my hair,than i was losing my boobs,but i finally came to terms with it.

There are a lot of helpful sites on the web,the one i go to the most is "breastcancer.org".A lot of very helpful ladies and a few men there,and they can help you through the multitude of questions you will have.

I wish you the best of luck with you surgery,and will keep you in prayer.
Kathi