Home
Share
Forum
Cancer Forum
Living with cancer
Cancer "survivor": How do you feel about this term?

Back

Patients Cancer

Cancer "survivor": How do you feel about this term?

266 views
40 times supported
19 comments

JosephineO

Community manager

10/07/2019 at 16:45

Good advisor

JosephineO

Community manager

Last activity on 15/07/2024 at 09:21

Joined in 2018

989 comments posted | 41 in the Cancer Forum

6 of their responses were helpful to members

Rewards

Good Advisor
Contributor
Committed
Explorer
Evaluator
Friend

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

Hello Carenity members,

In thinking about cancer and reading about recent health articles, it seems that "survivor" is a term used for those recovering/defeating cancer... cancer survivor. For example, people who have survived a heart attack are not deemed heart attack survivors or people who overcome diabetes or any other ailment, etc., are not termed "survivor".

Survivor is a very powerful word and, has a deep meaning of someone who is strong and overcome the toughest obstacle... a word that rightfully describes those who recover/defeat cancer. What are your opinions on the use of the word in relation to cancer.

Do you use it as a word to describe yourself?

Do you think there is a stigma attached to one saying they were diagnosed with cancer?

Where do you think use of the word came from?

I look forward to your opinions and views.

All comments

Go to the last comment

JosephineO

Community manager

10/07/2019 at 16:52

Good advisor

JosephineO

Community manager

Last activity on 15/07/2024 at 09:21

Joined in 2018

989 comments posted | 41 in the Cancer Forum

6 of their responses were helpful to members

Rewards

Good Advisor
Contributor
Committed
Explorer
Evaluator
Friend

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

What about you? What do you think about this term? It would be wonderful to hear everyone's different opinions.

@Charlee73‍ @Jo1977‍ @Dustylady‍ @sallygood‍ ‍ @maddoglady‍ @robjmckinney‍ @candle76‍ @jools06‍ @herbert37‍ @Tigger.co.uk‍ @Sandie7‍ @raymondwalley‍ @Itadee01‍ @Amanda28‍ @Magsd14‍ @mikesalmons‍ @Jellag‍ @Sara65‍

See the signature

Josephine, Community Manager

Cancer "survivor": How do you feel about this term? https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/cancer/living-with-cancer/the-term-survivor-what-are-your-thoughts-and-feelings-regarding-it-2890 2019-07-10 16:52:53

Unregistered member

15/07/2019 at 09:59

Thank you for this discussion as it was something I used to think a lot about when I was first diagnosed. I feel like the title "survivor" comes because cancer can come in waves...remission and then back again...so getting through that feels like a long, drawn out war.

I'm not against the use of the word but it isn't one I would use for myself.

Cervicaldystonia

15/07/2019 at 11:05

Good advisor

Cervicaldystonia

Last activity on 13/12/2020 at 12:40

Joined in 2019

34 comments posted | 1 in the Cancer Forum

Rewards

Good Advisor
Contributor
Messenger
Explorer

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

My mother very much disliked the phrase "survivor" she would always brush that comment underneath the table. However, she is quite a private woman and always kept any of "real" feelings about her disease secret because she didn't like to talk about it with her children.

Brigde

16/07/2019 at 09:20

Brigde

Last activity on 08/12/2024 at 16:03

Joined in 2019

2 comments posted | 1 in the Cancer Forum

Rewards

Explorer

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

Survivor is not a word I use , I got over it just in my mind. Surviving to me is like drowning type of thing surviving a drowning.. . I just got over and on with it.. lol everybody is different.

sugarpuff67

16/07/2019 at 10:26

sugarpuff67

Last activity on 30/09/2024 at 12:54

Joined in 2017

2 comments posted | 1 in the Cancer Forum

Rewards

Explorer

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

I would not use that word either, I have been clear now for 2 years, being diagnosed and treated in 2 months I really never got time to process having cancer. Being told I had it for approx 2 years, I had no symptoms, but I am now dealing with all the side effects from the treatment everyday

Tigger.co.uk

16/07/2019 at 12:27

Good advisor

Tigger.co.uk

Last activity on 19/12/2024 at 10:28

Joined in 2016

747 comments posted | 29 in the Cancer Forum

41 of their responses were helpful to members

Rewards

Good Advisor
Contributor
Messenger
Committed
Explorer
Evaluator

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

I dont class myself as a survivor as I still have nine years to wait for the all clear ,I class myself as a strong willed woman as I have so many other illnesses I feel like screaming at times as I still am worried about my cancer sometimes I find it hard to sleep incase I dont wake up so I'm not a survivor I am a fighter and a walking miracle because of everything I have had to deal with in my life ,I have been bullied ,raped,in domestic violence in my first marriage, I have 3 bad marriages, been stalked ,had my life threatened ,lived on the street for 3 months ,and had loads of other things in my life but I am still not a survivor I am a walking miracle and a fighter I never let anything beat me

See the signature

D M A

maddoglady

16/07/2019 at 15:17

Good advisor

maddoglady

Last activity on 04/01/2023 at 12:00

Joined in 2016

109 comments posted | 41 in the Cancer Forum

Rewards

Good Advisor
Contributor
Committed
Explorer
Evaluator

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

Personally I hate the term 'survivor' I never use it and would hate to be referred to as a Cancer survivor.

See the signature

Maddoglady!

Gedsbones

17/07/2019 at 09:51

Gedsbones

Last activity on 23/10/2021 at 12:39

Joined in 2019

3 comments posted | 2 in the Cancer Forum

Rewards

Explorer

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

I would never use the word survivor and feel that you have to fight so hard with the treatment and side effects which go on after the treatment ends.

byrneann22

17/07/2019 at 12:41

byrneann22

Last activity on 10/11/2024 at 15:28

Joined in 2017

5 comments posted | 1 in the Cancer Forum

Rewards

Explorer

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

I was diagnosed.and on daily treatment so survivor is not a word I use yet, I still get anxious, most days , it is the treatment that worried me

Sandie7

01/08/2019 at 22:08

Good advisor

Sandie7

Last activity on 27/10/2023 at 11:15

Joined in 2016

68 comments posted | 12 in the Cancer Forum

Rewards

Good Advisor
Contributor
Committed
Explorer
Evaluator
Friend

View profileView Add a friendAdd Write

I have survived it for just over 9 years so far so yes i think i am a survivor and a strong woman

See the signature

Ms s lovatt

Members are also commenting on...

Articles to discover...

12/07/2019 | Nutrition

Cancer and food: advice from a dietician (1/2)

28/06/2019 | Testimonial

Personalised Ovarian Cancer Medicine

24/04/2019 | Testimonial

Breast Cancer patients discuss the impact of their illness

07/03/2019 | Testimonial

Examining "alternative treatments" against Breast Cancer

04/10/2018 | News

Telling patients to 'fight' cancer puts them under pressure

26/10/2015 | Nutrition

Hot dogs, bacon and other processed meats cause cancer, WHO declares

04/02/2019 | News

World Cancer Day: Facts and Insights!

21/05/2018 | News

Lung cancer destroyed with tea leaf nanoparticles

Cancer "survivor": How do you feel about this term?

All comments

Give your opinion

What do you think about the Carenity Forum and community?

What are your expectations from Carenity and what would you like to see in the future?

How were you diagnosed?

Members are also commenting on...

Articles to discover...

Medication fact sheets - patient opinions...