The Colon Club

I am approaching 1 year of survivorship! Can anyone tell me what day is my official survivorship anniversary? Is is the date of diagnosis, day of surgery, first day or last day of chemo? I am so excited to put one year behind me and am looking forward to a healthy and hopeful 2007. I plan on celebrating each and every day to the fullest!

My surgeon and oncologist both regard the date of my operation as the start of my survival. It is the 22nd of this month .On the 23rd I start my tenth year as a survivor of stage three colon cancer. I did it one year at a time just like you are doing,best wishes Ron.

Thanks, Ron....That puts my one year at January 20th.
I aspire to be a 10 year survivor such as yourself....Congratulations!

My tumor was discovered on April 6, 1999. My surgery was April 20, 1999. I consider the 20th as my anniversary date. Congratulations on your 1st....it is a big deal! Best wishes for continued good health.

Sincerely,
Terry

My understanding is the clock starts at first treatment. For me that was surgery. That puts me at 9 months and change. I was diagnosed on 3/10 and had surgery on 3/20. Chemo started on 4/24. Ended 10/11. Avastin will continue until the end of March. The One Year Mark.

Operation was 12/6, but diagnosis was 12/31. What date would mostly likely encourage a party?

Did the operation remove the tumor? If the operation was theraputic, and treated your tumor, I'd say that was the day.

Thank you all for your responses. It is very inspiring for me to hear long-term survival stories.

Terry--Thank you for your good wishes.....I hope that 2007 will be a healthy year for you as well.

Edward-- I think a party is encouraged for both those dates!!! I was diagnosed Jan. 5th, 2006 so I plan on celebrating this Friday...Surgery was on the 20th so another celebration will be in order! I will also celebrate on the days of my first and last chemo treatment I wish you good health this year!

Every day is a reason to celebrate!

Hey! My oncologist told me that the day of my diagnosis is my anniversary date. Soooo, I'm planning a 2 year celebration this January 13th. Life's goooood !

Margot,

Congratulations on your survivorship! Sounds like you are eager to get your post chemo party started! Though many will have differing opinions as to what day specifically is your "versary", What day feels right to you? That is the day it shall be...and it my hope that you will cherish every moment. Trust me when I say that you will remember the day for always!

Holly

My date of diagnosis and my date of surgery were just 10 days apart, with my wedding anniversary in between! March is a going to be a memorable month from now on! Not to mention colon cancer awareness month. Worked for me!

Thank you all for your responses and well wishes! On Jan. 5 it was a year since my dx and I had plans to go out on the town....dinner, comedy show....but I ended up with the stomach flu...there is a strange irony in that! My kids were very worried to see me sick again but I am much better today. I will try again on Jan. 20 which will be a year from surgery.

Magnolia -- Yes, it seems March should be a celebratory month for you...many anniversaries to celebrate, Colon Cancer Awareness, and the end of Avastin! Yay for you

Tonja--A big congrats on your 2 years!

Holly-- I find any reason to celebrate...I truly enjoy being with friends and having fun. You are right...I will never forget any of the days (dx, surgery, beginning/end of chemo). I am REALLY hoping the best for you!! Sending you a special "kick a little cancer @$$" back at ya!

Hi guys,

Regarding survivorship in the long term, an old hero of mine from back in the eighties, Dirk Benedict (Faceman from the a-team) is currently on our screens over here in England in a show called celebrity big brother, where he and 12 other minor celebs are stuck in a house and filmed 24/7 for two weeks. I caught it yesterday and he was talking how he got prostate cancer when he was 30. Now i know its not ours, but i must admit it felt good hearing him talk about it. The guy is now 60, so he's survived 30 years!!! He was alson talking about a macrobiotic diet that he believes in. A bit of yin and yang. Quite interesting really.
Anyway i have my scan (ct) next tuesday so fingers crossed.

best wishes to all

Nick

Wow! Prostate cancer in young men is usually much more aggressive than it is in older men. Older survivors are all over the place, but younger ones really have a tale to tell. I know it's not colon cancer, but it's one of the ones no one wants to talk about. Icky body parts and all. it just goes to show that awareness has to be raised for ALL cancers. Early detectection, public awareness,and research funding are vital for all. AND survivorship is possible for any cancer.

I've gone with the date of my operation. My date of diagnosis was 2/4/04 and 2/9/04 was my surgery. I'm a few weeks from my 3 year anniversay! Yippie! Ms. December 2006!