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!
