How do you describe yourself?

[Rachael47]

I've just been reading the thread about the Battle, Warrier and other words. It leads me to ask, do you think of yourself as a cancer victim, a cancer patient, or what? I prefer 'person with cancer' myself, as victim and patient seem a bit dehumanising.

[keeponkeepingon]

Have never though of myself as warrior, victim or even a patient,just me a person who was unlucky enough to have had an illness,however I do feel a special connection to people that have cancer and slightly isolated from those that have not.x

[HogwartsDK]

I don't have any particular affiliation to any label but I do think of myself as a survivor!!!

Dx

[Hidden]

I am still me but living with Cancer. Can't say I am a survivor as still have OC but it's stable

[Yoshbosh]

I'm in a weird bit of limbo at the moment, where I might once again be living with cancer. I think that's how I prefer to see it, rather than fighting or battling it. I don't mind warrior as a term, because warriors are pretty hardcore and I think anyone who goes through this is too.

As Sophie Sabbage says, "I have cancer, it doesn't have me."

[Tesla_7US]

I think of myself as still in a state of disbelief that I'm now a breast and ovarian cancer survivor. I definitely don't see myself as a victim and I'm only a "patient" when I'm in the doctor's office. Other than that, I'm enjoying my life, hoping remission continues, but knowing at some point, I'll have to battle OC again.

[Avis52]

I always say to people I am living with cancer but I do say every day to it "that you are off". I am not sure what good it does but it makes me feel like I am fighting the devil that is inside me.

[Lily-Anne]

I don't think I really describe myself as anything. I like to think that I'm just ticking along. Even though my frigging pains are back this week making me unsure if the chemo is working I'm still in ostrich mode. Maybe running against the conveyor? Houser of alien community maybe?

LA xx

[Hidden]

Hi

I had breast cancer in 2001 and a recurrence in 2004 and the term cancer survivor fitted the bill in the intervening years until I was diagnosed with OC

Now for me, the description living with cancer seems appropriate - everyday can different for me at the moment, but I do my best to live my life to the best of my physical and mental abilities - depending on the day!

Juliet

[Hidden]

I'm me most days! If I do want to label myself in terms of cancer I'm a Granulosa Cell Tumour survivor sister. The term I hate with a passion is "so and so lost their brave battle with cancer". The BBC love this phrase and it annoys me intensely. I haven't had a battle. I've had treatment and been ill and the whole thing about cancer is it is a great big crock of shite.

We each find our own ways of coping. No way have I ever woken up and felt brave and ready to do battle. Most days with cancer you feel pretty scared and you just try and get through it as best as you can.