Today, the termbreast cancer survivoris one that means different things to different people.
There are also people who avoid using the term altogether.
The definition applies those who have just been diagnosed and those who are 20-year survivors into the same group.
asiseeit / Getty Images
From a clinical standpoint, not all breast cancer survivors are alike.
Breast cancer needs time to grow.
Why Do Oncologists Rarely Say Someone Is “Cured?”
Your healthcare provider may say you are inremissionor that you are NED (no evidence of disease).
With breast cancer, the termcuredis usually reserved for those withductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Breast cancer can hide andcome back years or even decades later.
Therefore, in addition to living with and managing cancer, planning your life after cancer is equally important.
But you may be anxious about the future and the possibility of recurrence.
Speak to your oncologist about such options in your area.
NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.Survivor.
2022;128(2):383-390. doi:10.1002/cncr.33937
American Cancer Society.Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS).
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.Whats Your Cancerversary ?
31(4):409-11.
34(28):3372-4.
2014, 24(10):2468-71.
