We’re All Survivors

“Survivor Isn’t Just A Term – It’s An Attitude.” When are you a survivor?  One of my all time favorite cancer books – Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, by Kris Carr – answered the question this way: “A survivor is a person who perseveres despite hardship or danger… for many folks living with cancer is a day-to-day, ongoing challenge. In my mind, you are a survivor the day you are diagnosed.” The word survivor has always confused me.  When I meet other people who have gone through this cancer journey they will often say – “I’m an x- year survivor.”  I never understood exactly when you should start counting – After you’ve had surgery?  Once treatment is complete? The day a doctor tells you there’s no evidence of cancer? The National Cancer Institute provides the following definition of a cancer survivor: “An individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis, through the balance of his or her life. Family members, friends, and caregivers are also impacted by the survivorship experience and are therefore included.” Despite this formal definition – many people may be reluctant to call themselves a survivor until they get the “all clear” from a doctor. However, while opinions differ on “what it is to be a survivor,” for me Kris Carr sums it up best: “As women with cancer we live every day with an indescribable weight on our shoulders.  We tiptoe on the razor-edge of mortality, one hand touching the heavens, the other grabbing the earth…Are we not “surviving” while managing the demands of a busy life? …Whether you’ve made it through the battle or are still in the trenches, pink hats, special ribbons, and raised hands for everyone…. When I started to call myself a survivor, my whole attitude changed and I put cancer behind me (even though it was still full-blown Stage IV) and started living again.” What do you think?  When do you call yourself a survivor?