For the first few years after my diagnosis, I avoided using the word ‘survivor’ in relation to my incurable cancer. I had no idea what was going to happen. It just didn’t seem to sit right despite the fact I’m a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy.

However …….. I was studying the term ‘Survivorship’ and found it also applies to those living with incurable and long-term cancer. This piece of research totally changed my thinking.

Today is National Cancer Survivors Day (which seems to have turned rather international) – well done NCSD.Org – you should check out the site and sign up for their newsletter.

What is ‘Survivorship’?

The definition differs slightly between national cancer advocacy organisations but it would appear it also means “Living with, through, and beyond cancer“ which is a UK term. According to these definitions, cancer survivorship begins at diagnosis and includes people who continue to have treatment over the long-term, to either reduce the risk of recurrence or to manage chronic disease.  It follows that those with incurable Cancers such as my own (Neuroendocrine) should be included under the term ‘Survivorship’.

Here’s a great quote I found in relation to the term ‘survivor’:

Times are changing

I think it’s useful to look at overall statistics for survivorship to contextualise why the word ‘survivor’ might actually be more apt than it was 20 years ago.  For example, in the UK, more than one in three people (35%) of those people who die having had a cancer diagnosis will now die from other causes. This is up from one in five (21%) 20 years ago. By 2020 this will improve further to almost four in 10 people (38%).  This means the number of people who get cancer but die from another cause will have doubled over the past 20 years.   I’m seeing similar reports from USA too where, for example, the number of cancer survivors is predicted to rise by a third by 2026 (15 million to 20 million).  Almost half of the current survivors are aged 70+.  In another example, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) is predicting:

‘Silver Tsunami’ of Cancer Survivors in the next quarter century (read here).

There is also a very recent article which confirms this thinking, let me quote a bit of it: The cancer death rate has dropped by 23 percent since 1991, with some even larger gains in types of cancer that used to be extremely lethal. This means there are more and more patients like Thornton who are neither dying from cancer nor defeating it entirely. Instead, they’re learning to live with it.  Full article here.

Of course, it must not be forgotten that many people will need support to maintain a decent quality of life and be supported with ongoing and long-term treatment.  These are both challenges global health systems need to face with rising cancer prevalence.  And both of these challenges will greatly affect my own type of cancer – Neuroendocrine. This is why I’m a very strong advocate for more focus on some of these support-type issues and unmet needs, and the resources to deliver them.

So, does that mean I’m a SURVIVOR?   

My research indicates this can be a very individual thing.  I guess ‘survivor’ does not appeal to all people who simply have a ‘history of cancer’; and most likely for different reasons. For those with incurable or long-term cancers, some people might not think of themselves as a survivor, but more as someone who is “living with cancer.”  Some may feel like they’re living but not surviving. I get that and it potentially resonates with my reluctance to use the ‘S’ word for a short period after my diagnosis. Thinking this topic through has made me compare where I was at diagnosis and where I am now. Also, I’ve considered what I’ve been able to do and what I have plans to do, despite my condition. I’ve done so much, been to so many places since I was diagnosed, and got plans to do much more, I must be surviving!  Perhaps the phrase “I got this” was my subconscious thought in the picture I’ve used below.