I just finished reading an interesting article about how the term “cancer survivor” belittles those who didn’t survive the disease.” And I have to admit I was a little stunned by it at first. I’ve never considered “cancer survivor” to be offensive. I guess it’s because I already suffer from survivor’s guilt caused by watching a disease I survived kill so many others I respect and love.
Honestly, I’ve never defined my life by the term anyway. To me, it is more a definition of the moment of impact. If my life is a ship’s journey, cancer was a rock I hit. I hit that rock on April 17, 2001 at 5:30 p.m. That’s when I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, an extremely deadly form of skin cancer. The rock was missed by three doctors until it was seen by a fourth — I should not be here. It could have (and probably should have) sunk me (think Costa Concordia). But instead, it cut gash in my side and pushed me in a different direction. I was like a rubber raft hitting a boulder in a stream before being shoved on a new course.
So if I use the term “Cancer Survivor” I mean no offense to anyone. For me, it is just a reminder for how lucky I am. How I need to keep working hard so others don’t have to use the term. And how much my life was changed for the better. But if it makes everyone happy, I’ll start using the term “Cancer thriver” instead. Because life is a precious gift that should be lived not just survived.
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