Cancerversary!

@JohannaSt
Congratulations on lucky 13!! I am coming up to # 12 in May. I count from the day I was told I was cancer free and after all the active treatment was done. Usually celebrated in some way with family and friends and an announcement on my social media :)

We also have a long ongoing thread on here called Ring our Virtual Bell where anyone can post their milestones:

https://cancerconnection.ca/discussions/viewtopic/80/66268?post_id=393436#p393436

Thanks for posting

Lianne

@Lianne_Moderator thanks Lianne for that suggestion. I saw that thread however I felt that this, Cancerversary, is more like a “down the road” milestone and ringing the bell I typically associate with finishing treatment

@JohannaSt
Definitely doesn't hurt to celebrate in more than one place 😊 🎉

@JohannaSt

I quietly recognize the day of diagnosis, the day of surgery, the month of being (tentatively) told that I was in remission and the last day of chemo treatment. The latter will be 2 years on March 17…a day I remember as I wore a Green hat with a shamrock band to my chemo treatment. I am usually pretty quiet about everything but…as time marches forward, I am more apt to let my thrivership show…this year with a big #2. My life is pretty well returned to pre-cancerous times, and I think it is good to show people that you can survive and even thrive after a cancer diagnosis. Sometimes, it's also good to let people know that they are looking at a certified warrior 🤩 grin

All the best to you.

Sadie

@Lianne_Moderator
I remember and quietly acknowledge the anniversary of first hearing I had “c”, and of my big surgery. I celebrate the anniversary of my first “cancer free” announcement.

@JohannaStHey everyone. Interesting topic we have here, lots of great replies. I don't actually know my cancerversarry date, and I'm sure it will pass with no fanfare. I will say my 1st anniversary of learning my diagnosis was Feb 7. I thought it would just come and go like any other day, but when the day arrived I found myself very emotional. I had a really good cry that afternoon remembering how it all went down with my surgeon flatly saying the words “it's cancer”. I don't really know why I struggled that day, I know crying and having emotions even as a guy is normal and okay. But I found myself scared, afraid, and in a bit of a dark mood as compared to my usual self. The day passed, I'm okay and was back to my usual self the next day.

I just thought I share, sorry it's a downer of a story lol

Take care everyone

Brian

46y.o. male cancer SURVIVOR.

@JohannaSt
hi everyone, I am still taking tamoxifen for rest of my 4 years but I celebrate every morning when I don’t have an any pain or issue with anything and it looks like my normal as before my cancer life. I sit on a prayer mat and cry and thank God for saving me from all the side effects. That heals me and my souls become satisfied. That’s my way of celebration everyday.

@JohannaSt I am coming up on my 4th anniversary of being diagnosed. March 13th. I will celebrate this date! Sometimes I can't believe it ever happened. Other days, it's on my mind all the time. So Yes, I will celebrate quietly with my husband.

@JohannaSt Interesting question, interesting answers! I'm not good at remembering dates, but these acquired a bit of significance. I'm coming up on the first cancerversary of my surgery (April 1st; it was no joke) and the traditional first cancerversary gift in colorectal cancer circles is a colonoscopy. And a CT scan too. It's been arranged by my surgeon. My diagnosis occurred at my colonoscopy, March 3rd, and the significance of that date was that Ash Wednesday was the 2nd of March in 2022, so the colonoscopy prep made for the most stringent take-no-prisoners Ash Wednesday fast ever. I celebrated this year on Ash Wednesday by going to Mass and giving thanks that the next day was not a colonoscopy.

@Brianrider not a downer, not really. I had an … event … the other day waiting in the hospital atrium for my daughter to finish up with an endometrial biopsy (we got matching biopsies earlier this year, both negative) and come join me. I could look up through the glass ceiling and see the approximate location of my room on the surgical floor and I started to panic, mildly shake and almost cry. It was weird because I've been there dozens of times since the surgery, visiting my oncologist, having tests. But things sometimes just jump on you.

@muumi funny you mention being at the cancer center and being, if I may, overcome with emotions. Just this past Friday I had an appointment with my oncologist and things could not have gone better, then for the first time I met my therapist face to face. That was another meeting that went great. As I was walking away from that meeting through the waiting area I found myself being overwhelmed with emotions. Not sad or angry, not happy or celebratory. I sat down in a chair and cried. After a few minutes I wiped my face, stood up and walked on, none the worse for wear. A very similar story

Brian

@Brianrider…just read your post. ‘Downer’ stories are more than okay here…it's real, and so are your emotions. Thanks for sharing them. I am 2 years since in remission and my thoughts can turn emotional when something triggers me to relive what I went through or the uncertainty of my future. I think it's because our emotions are so tightly would while we are going through it in the first place.

All the best to you.

Sadie

@JohannaSt
Congratulations on your 13year Cancerversary! It is something to celebrate and gives so many people hope!

As for me it's a timely topic as I will be quietly celebrating my 5 year cancerversary on March 21st. This is the day I had my surgery and the tumour was removed, I also quietly acknowledge my diagnosis date.

It's one of those things that I feel should be celebrated but it's not something that I want to bring up to family and friends unless they remember it. I guess it's because nobody really understands what it's like to go through cancer and the significance of getting through all it's nasty treatments unless you've lived it yourself.

I still have another 2-5 years of Exemestane, but I am grateful that I am here and thriving!! Each day the thoughts of cancer get less and less even though it has left me with scars and sometimes rears it's ugly head with scary thoughts when something is not right in my body, I always have hope that I will continue to celebrate my Cancerversary's for many more years ahead and that is something to celebrate 😊 💗