Ok…so i am 6 months post MX, recon and axillary clearance…tamoxifen is my treatment. I have a BIG family get together in the New Year, and I think mostly, they all know…some are people that I have not seen for YEARS! But my question is (as they will ask)…what do I say? Do I say " I have cancer"…or “I HAD cancer, and now cured”…or " I’m in remission"…How do I describe myself now?? I know it sounds daft, but I have a big family, and this is one thing that the books don’t tell you about…how do you describe yourself??
u2girlie
Since my op I have always said I had breast cancer and active treatment finished. My onc told me that I was cancer free when I saw him in March of this year xxx
Hi U2girlie
Deffo past tense in my book! I tend towards the “had cancer but I’ve finished the treatment and all being well it won’t come back” sort of thing. I may or may not mention the hormone tablet I’m on, but as it is preventative, (rather like the case of someone on warfarin to avoid a stroke, or anything like that), I don’t always see it as relevant to my “past tense” stance. I don’t consider myself “cured” of course! But I don’t have any evidence cancer at the moment either. Hope you have a lovely big family party - get 'em all tiddly, including yourself, and they won’t even think about cancer. xxxx