The Colon Club

Just as I stand up to cancer.

People tried to bully me into not saying cured in the past. It took a long time before I would say I was cured, because it hurt peoples feelings. So I said NED far longer to respect their feelings, even though my doctors said I was cured. And then I thought, what about my feelings. I want to say I'm cured. I want to celebrate my good fortune. I finally changed my signature to some backlash.

Some people don't like my optimistic posts, some people don't like the messages that seem to give people hope. I do appreciate hearing others opinions. I don't appreciate people who do so with the intent of bullying them off the board or silencing them.

Because of the way I've posted, a fellow clubber called me because her Mom was in the er. The doctors said she was going to die. I told her to call a top cancer doc and ask for another opinion. This top doc, who had no privileges at the er where she was at said take her out of here. She did, her mom is still alive today. Cured, they've said. A word we both like.

It's my choice to say cured, respect that. Ignore it if you don't like it. But I shouldn't have to apologize that I had a good outcome. I shouldn't have to apologize for wanting to celebrate because I had a good outcome.

As far as definitions, definitions change all the time. I take issue that bootylicious is a word, yet trepidatious is not. But I don't rule what goes in the dictionary, I don't rule what the definition is. People hurt my feelings, I hurt their feelings, but for me, it all goes to the intent of what someone is saying. If your intent is to bully me into not using the word cure, that is not right. If your intent is to let me know why you don't appreciate me using the word cure, I'll be respective of that, and try not to use the word around you.

No matter your words, don't bully anyone to not post just because you disagree.

One of the main reasons I rarely come on here anymore is, I got tired of being asked not to post.... and defending myself.

It's hard to believe that something I posted sooo long ago, got locked, because some people don't like it when you use the word cured.

So for those of you who like using the word cured, stand up and do so.... Don't be bullied into not using it. For those of you who don't like using it, then don't race for the cure.... race for NED, race to the end, but don't silence those of us who choose to use the word cure.

For those who choose, stand up, and change your signature to cure.... and I don't mean that in a bullying sort of way...

cptmac....... I think the word cured and what it means is awesome and I am soooooo happy you can use it!

Cptmac, I fully agree with you. There are some people that are not even stage 4 and have been NED for years but they think they know what it is like to be a stage 4. It makes my blood boil. If you have not been in the same position as a stage 4 then I don't think you know what you are talking about. Until you have been in a stage 4's shoes, your opinions should be kept to yourself about how you understand how we feel. I think some people just like to spout about nothing just to see themselves on the board posting.

"As long as you're alive, there is hope."

Amen to that sister!!!!

I am thankful that you are cured and look forward to the day when my daughter can say she is cured. I believe that if you think you have a disease that will never be cured then you will most likely never be cured. You have to have a goal. "CURED" is our goal. Period. May you always stay cured!

Where's the applause icon?

I use the word cured. Treatment leaves us with many issues and challenges, but I dont believe cancer is one of them for m right now.

CPTMAC - All I know is from day one, you have been supportive to me on my journey. I've been encouraged by your story. "Cured" is a beautiful word. After my liver resection, we thought I was cured. Then after my HIPEC we thought I was cured. I haven't given up. It's a shame that feelings get hurt over interpretation of words. I'm just so glad, whatever happened in the past here for you, that you chose to come back and tell your story. As the years go on, more and more people are getting cured. The stats are slowly changing. I have no doubt one day we will find a way to turn off the cancer cells. I know if I was DX in the 1990's, I would have probably died in the first year. But medicine has come up with new treatments, and I'm so glad I'm around to benefit from it.

geez! Vancouver Eve, what was your comment about? Why are you so angry? I'm a stage 3 but I know that I've given support to stage 4's before. Isn't that what this board is about? To offer support and understanding to each other. Why does that make your blood boil? I don't get mad at stage 1 or 2's.

I would love to say that I am cured. My onc has said that because all of my mets have been resectable that I can still be cured, though if it happens it will be a ways off yet. That brings me to my question. How does one know when one is cured? With recurrances coming several months or years after being NED it seems that proclaiming one's self to be cured is a guess.

I hope my onc is right. I want to be cured, but at what point can one make that determination?

I love your posts cptmac, and I LOVE the word cured!

You give me hope. I love to read your posts and I love being reminded that there is hope.

Great post, CptMac!

Aiming for the cure myself.. which might happen or not, regardless, I'm living life now.

Thanks,
Cheese

Cptmac, you have one of the best stories on here. I'm glad you've stuck around this forum to share it.

I agree that there are absolutely times that the word cure is appropriate and correct. I think part of the challenge is that even in the medical community they are trying to figure out when it can be used. I tried to find the link to the work at MSKCC about 10 years cancer free and using the word cure - even with metastatic colorectal cancer. I couldn't find the direct MSKCC work but here is another study that mentions it - bottom line - there is starting to be scientifically based reasoning for the potential to "cure" metastatic colorectal cancer.

http://www.cancernetwork.com/colorectal ... 65/2044898

There have also been studies done (no time this morning to find them again - sorry) about the importance in being seen from the very start at certain kinds of hospitals/clinics. The survival rates and therefore cure rates are simply better and being seen at those better hospitals/clinics later doesn't seem to have the same result. All of these things help guide a patient to things that might be done to optimize the chance for a cure.

Thanks for proudly standing up to use the word cured, CPTMAC. I like it!