7 Week Survivior

Whenever I hear of women who have had cancer, I hear, "I am a 3 year survivor or "I am an 8 year survivor". I always wonder, when does the clock start running on the surviviorship? Is it when all of the treatment is done? I don't know. So, I decided that the clock starts running when the cancer is presumed to be gone. Which in my case was on January 13th. So, that being said, I am a 7 week cancer survivor. That feels so good to say. I know that there could be a stray cancer cell somewhere in my body and I know that I am at risk for it coming back but I feel like I am a survivor. I know I have some treatment left and I will be on tomoxifen for ten years. But, I feel like a survivor. I don't think deciding that, that I am jumping the gun. I am now a part of this elite group of women, a club of sorts. There is a comradery of strangers that I now feel a part. I AM A SURVIVIOR!

As I am laying on the table every morning receiving my radiation treatment, so many things go through my mind. I won't get started on some of it because much of it has to do with all of this health care reform. Hpwever, much of it has to do with how amazed I am of all of the other cancer patients coming in here. I see the various types of molds hanging on racks and sitting on the shelves. (I will explain that another time.) There are several canvases (sp?) with signatures of cancer survivors on them. The canvasses (sp?) line the hallways by the treatment rooms and the dressing rooms. Who are all of these people? What is their experience? What are their stories?

For some reason, I don't know why, I didn't feel comfortable wearing my pink ribbon apparel until now. Perhaps I didn't feel like I was quite part of the club yet. I now wear my pink ribbon fleece jacket and my hat with pride. (maybe not quite pride but close). Beacause, for all practical purposes, I have beat this thing. Pink now means more to me. It represents the war I am winning. It represents the club I am a part of.

So, regardless of what my future holds, I am a 7 week cancer survivor. (8 week since by the time I publish this post another few weeks have gone by!!)