I don’t know who coined the term cancerversary
but I have been using it for a few years. For some survivors their cancerversary is the anniversary of the
day they were diagnosed with cancer. Yet for others it is the anniversary of
the day they finished treatment.
I celebrate my cancerversary on the day I was diagnosed. I remember that day quite
vividly. I also remember the words my gynecologic oncologist, said to me in the
hospital recovery room. It was around noon on Friday, July 29, 2005. She said,
"Dee, I am sorry. I found ovarian cancer. You are stage 3B.” Then
she went on to say, “But I will do my best to make you well." And that is
what she and her colleagues at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ have done. They made me well in
2005 and again in 2008 when I recurred on my liver and spleen. They continue to
make me well to this day helping me through the side effects of chemotherapy
and dealing with the fear of recurrence. They are my lifesavers.
As I celebrate my eighth cancerversary on July 29th I want to thank my
gynecologic oncologists, Dr. Gibbon and Dr. Rodriguez and all gynecologic
oncologists who provided such outstanding and compassionate care to me and countless of women
diagnosed with gynecologic cancers.
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
10 comments:
That is wonderful - and I'm so inspired to read how they've helped you each time it was needed. Cheer to eight years, and many more ahead! ~Catherine
Dee, Celebrate today and Many more years of blessings!
"but I will do my best to make you well".... that is perfect!
Congratulations Dee! I found you via Renn, who is an amazing women to have on your side!
I won't know my stage of rectal cancer until after my operation on September 10th. It was comforting to read that you received a IIIB diagnosis and are living beyond the 5 year mark. I'm told if its in my nodes thats all I have. When I woke up from my routine colonoscopy, my doctor did not deliver the news well... "I'm sorry but you have cancer and its advanced. If it were in a better location you'd be in surgery already. You need to find someone who has done a 'gazillion' of these operations. You're going to need chemo and radiation...." all this in less than a minute. I yelled, "go get my husband" and out the door she ran. Then I got to hear it all again a second time. Sorry, back to you.... it is wonderful news and I am cheering you on!!! Shannon aka Green Monkey
Hi Dee. We share cancerversary. I just celebrated my first!!
I was disgnosed with ovarian cancer after the surgery on July 29, 2012. It has been a challenging year. I finished chemo right before this past christmas. I have been blessed to be treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. God bless the team of doctors, nurses, helpers, clerks, everybody at this institution. Their care and support is wonderful. Every single employee is so compassionate. My surgeon was Dr. Barakat. My oncologist is Dr. Grisham. At present I am on remission
for the past 6 months. Your story gives me hope. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks everyone for your congratulations and well wishes.
Lourdes- I write this blog because when I was first diagnosed I did not hear about any long term survivors. I am glad that you are NED and may you have many more years of good health. I know a few women treated by Drs Barakat and Sabatini.
Chasen -I am blessed - Thank you. your comment appeared twice so I removed one of them
Catherine- Thanks for the well wishes.
Green Monkey - I am sorry you did not have a good experience when your doc first told you your diagnosis. May your surgery go well in Sept. Stop back and let me know how you are doing.
This is awesome!
On March 20, 2015 I will celebrate my 2 year Cancerversary .. 2 YEARS NED (No evidence detected!) Stage 3b Low Grade Papillary Serous Carcinoma Ovarian Cancer! I had cancer.. Cancer didn't have me!
Nancy
Thank you for commenting and sharing that you are 2 years NED.
Happy Cancerversary! May you have many many more.
Dee
Nancy
Thank you for commenting and sharing that you are 2 years NED.
Happy Cancerversary! May you have many many more.
Dee
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