Today I am an 11 year cancer-free survivor! No one has yet used the “cure”word, I am still in “long-term remission”. The anniversary date for me is a personal one…I don’t think anyone else in my family remembers the exact date,so for me it’s a personal celebration. Funny how those of us with a cancer diagnose remember exact dates forever. I was diagnosed March 29,2001. I had my cytoreduction surgery May 16, 2001. I finished chemo January 22,2002.
We all live with uncertainty after a cancer diagnosis. Though I am 11 years cancer-free, I still live with some uncertainty. I still don’ t take tomorrow for granted,which is both a good and bad thing. There is security in assuming a future, especially a long one. We all wannt to believe we will live to be 90 and will die peacefuly in our sleep. But most of us after a cancer diagnosis can’t assume that. It’s just a dream.
But I’ve come a long way. After my diagnosis I couldn’ t say the words “next year” for several years, as I didn’t feel I could take another year for granted. But now I’m in school, I have a three year committment to a degree. I couldn’t have made that kind of a comittment a few years ago. Progress after cancer, in a sense! I’m sure we all measure progess differently.
Congrats on the landmark anniversary! My hubby is 5 years and about to have his recheck this month. GCC of the appendex, right hemocolectomy, 24 lymph nodes removed.(signet ring also noted but very little said in pathology?)I return to your site periodically to gain information and news of new tx "just in case" we need the info. 🙂
Congratulations! Here's to many more! And I've just passed my 5 year post-dx date, which one dr told me I would never live to see! Let's keep going forward together!
Congratulations Carolyn! 11year survivor of your Fe of cancer is just amazing! My brother-in-law, Andy is one year since his original diagnosis. Boy, how life changes so quickly! I hope he can write an 11 year post blog too some day!
Happy, happy birthday! I love the long term survivor stories!
Dan
Congratulations, and here's to many more! I just passed my 5 year post-dx mark, a point one consultant assured me I'd never live to see. So I celebrated by going to France!
I was recently diagnosised with adenocarcinoma with signet rug of the appendix. I had surgery to remove appendix ascending colon and part of small intestines. My tumor was 4a stage 3 cancer. Only one of 12 nodes was positive. I am preparing to begin Chemo treatment Folfox. I don't know if I am doing the right thing or not. So little is known by most doctors how to treat this disease. Please help me to make the right decision.
J