Forum Discussion
Remission versus Survivorship
Just wanted to get a feel from you all about the above words. I was stopped in the street the other day by a lady I hadn't seen for a few years. She remarked that I had achieved a lot during this tim...
I have secondaries - never experienced a "remission" - I am, as far as i am concerned still a "sruvivor" because I am alive. Other people may feel I am not worthy of such a title, some prefer to use the word warrior.
They are just labels. I would love to hear I was in remission (drs don't even really use the word - they use, "NED - No Evidence of Disease" - that would be amazing.
As for 5 year survival stats - they simply look at who is alive 5 years post diagnosis - not who is NED, many people, alive 5 years after diagnosis are living with secondary disease.
I don't know of an appropriate "label" - perhaps warrior is better for those of us still living with the disease. But labels can be divisive - do we need one at all?
Interesting question.
A xx