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Ronny Allan
I wasn’t supposed to be here but I am.
I was diagnosed with metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) on 26th July 2010. Until I arrived at my 5th anniversary, I hadn’t thought much about how (or if) I should mark these occasions. I never thought I would dwell on such things as ‘Cancerversaries‘ but I now totally get why many patients and survivors do.
There are several types of ‘Cancerversary‘ that for some, could trigger a mix or range of emotions including gratitude, relief and fear of cancer recurrence or growth. These milestones could be the date of a cancer diagnosis, the end of a particular type of treatment (anniversary of surgery etc) or a period since no signs or symptoms of cancer were reported. Everybody will handle it their own way – and that’s perfectly understandable.
The 5-year milestone was significant, I suspect, because it’s a period very frequently used in cancer prognostic outcome statistics. When I was researching after my diagnosis, the 5-year figure for metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumours (NET) wasn’t that great, in fact, it looked less favourable than some cancers known for their aggressiveness. Then I gradually worked out that the prognostic figures for NETs were very dated (like many other things about NETs online) and did not consider improved diagnostic techniques and the introduction of a plethora of new treatments, in particular somatostatin analogues. However, in cases of metastatic NETs, I have since deduced that 10 years is frequently touted as a surveillance window, an estimate suggested to me by my surgeon.
I quickly came to the conclusion that my particular cancer based on my own diagnosis is incurable but treatable, but I can no longer call my diagnosis terminal based on any definition of the latter term given that I’m still here.
Consequently, I no longer pay any attention to prognostic statistics – I’m more influenced by the substantial number of long-term survivors I see out there.
Despite some issues so far, I’m still here and I intend to be here next year ready for my next three major milestones – Chris’s 70th birthday in December this year, my Golden Wedding Anniversary in March 2025 and my 70th Birthday in October 2025. A trio I would hate to miss!
Check out and join in my Facebook annual cancerversary posts
Other than this original post, I didnt really do much on Facebook until the 7th year. In those days, I didn’t have a big Facebook outlet so I guess I was focused on the blog site as a way of telling these stories.
However, see Facebook posts from year 7 onwards:
Check out the fantastic response to my 7th year ‘cancerversary’ post. Click here to be inspired.
Check out the fantastic response to my 8th year ‘cancerversary post’. Click here to be inspired.
Check out the fantastic response to my 9th year ‘cancerversary post’. Click here to be inspired.
Check out my “10th cancerversary I’m still here” post. Click here.
Join in the “11th cancerversary I’m till here” post. Click here.
The 12 year point – Click here
The 13 year point – Click here
………………… The 14 year point – not there yet!
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor or any form of medical professional, practitioner or counsellor. None of the information on my website, or linked to my website(s), or conveyed by me on any social media or presentation, should be interpreted as medical advice given or advised by me.
Neither should any post or comment made by a follower or member of my private group be assumed to be medical advice, even if that person is a healthcare professional.
Please also note that mention of a clinical service, trial/study or therapy does not constitute an endorsement of that service, trial/study or therapy by Ronny Allan, the information is provided for education and awareness purposes and/or related to Ronny Allan’s own patient experience. This element of the disclaimer includes any complementary medicine, non-prescription over the counter drugs and supplements such as vitamins and minerals.
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