Anniversary of NED...when does the count begin?

[mmoons]

Hi all-

I am sorry if this has been covered before. I searched the forum but probably used the wrong search terms.

I had surgery in May 09 but won't finish Herceptin until this coming May 2010. What date would be considered by cancerversary?

My surgeon says the count begins at surgery...lol...of course. What else would a surgeon say? :) (I do love him!)

Or does the countdown begin once I complete Herceptin?

Thank you for your help!

Love to all of you,
Maureen

[Becky]

Dear Maureen

Your cancerversary is your surgery date.

[bejuce]

I'm counting from my diagnosis date.

[nitewind]

I count from the day I found the evil little devil. Easy for me to remember, it was mothers day 2006. I figure, I've been surviving ever since so that's the date.

[Becky]

However, it is formally the surgery date, whether or not chemo was given before or after.

[ElaineM]

I think you are a survior beginning from day one when you where diagnosed. You took action and started doing something about your health problems right away. That makes you a survivor.

[flynny]

I have been told by a number of doctors and nurses that it is the day you had your surgery. You are correct about being a survivor, but once its out you no longer have breast cancer, you are now a survivor! I'll be celebrating mine tomorrow!!!

[juanita]

i was told the date of surgery. i remember that and the date i found it even after 5 years. even when chemobrain was at it's worse i could still remember that.

[MJo]

My oncologist is both aggressive and conservative. He told me he counts survival anniversaries from end of Herceptin treatment for Her2s. So I celebrate two anniversaries -- from the date of my surgery and from the day I finished Herceptin.

[VirginiaGirl]

Funny, I've always wondered this, too, but never thought to ask a doctor about it. I went back & forth on whether I wanted my cancerversary to be my diagnosis date or when I found the lump. I've decided to consider the date I found my lump to be my cancerversary - and I just passed my 5 year mark (2/10/05)! As I see it, the cancer was there for who knows how long before I found it, before it was formally diagnosed, before I had surgery, before I had treatment, so I'm a survivor the WHOLE damn time. If I wanted to commemmorate surviving chemo, then maybe I would start the countdown after that. Choose the date that means the most to you!

[Yorkiegirl]

LOL, I guess most Onc's have different idea's.I was told my surgery date. I will hit 5 years this coming April.

[suzan w]

I count from my surgery date...when the buggers were exorcised!!