{"id":16627,"date":"2022-10-18T14:38:25","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T19:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=16627"},"modified":"2022-10-18T14:38:25","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T19:38:25","slug":"when-are-you-considered-a-cancer-survivor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/when-are-you-considered-a-cancer-survivor\/","title":{"rendered":"When are you considered a cancer survivor?"},"content":{"rendered":"

For most cancer patients, especially those with an early stage of cancer, surviving cancer is the goal of treatment. You want to go from being a cancer patient to being a cancer survivor.<\/p>\n

At what point does a person achieve the status of cancer survivor, and what does life after cancer look like?<\/p>\n

The definition of \u201ccancer survivor\u201d can be different depending on whom you ask and why. It\u2019s not completely black and white.<\/p>\n

According to the American Cancer Society<\/a>, the term \u201ccancer survivor\u201d is defined as anyone with cancer regardless of what stage of treatment they are going through.<\/p>\n

Erin Mclaughlin is an oncology nurse navigator for OSF HealthCare whose job is to support cancer patients and serve as their advocate through every step of their cancer journey.<\/p>\n

\n

You are not alone<\/p>\n

Get expert cancer survivor support<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe have cancer patients who are going through maintenance therapy as part of a palliative care<\/a> plan,\u201d Erin said. \u201cTheir cases may be handled differently than other survivors because they are still in active treatment, but as long as they are alive and fighting, being a cancer survivor is a badge of honor, and I don\u2019t take that away from anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re discussing your care plan with your medical team, the term \u201ccancer survivor\u201d has a more practical clinical definition: A survivor is someone whose cancer is in remission following the conclusion of treatment.<\/p>\n

In that case, \u201csurvivor\u201d is a status that means you are ready for the surveillance stage of care, which involves periodic visits to the oncologist for an examination or blood test to make sure the cancer has not returned.<\/p>\n

What is remission?<\/h2>\n

Remission means that you have no \u2013 or fewer \u2013 remaining signs or symptoms of cancer. Either your tumor is gone \u2013 known as complete remission \u2013 or it has shrunk or shows no signs of growing \u2013 known as partial remission. Having your cancer in remission does not mean that you are cured, however.<\/p>\n

Because some cancer cells can remain after treatment, there is the risk that cancer can return, especially within the first five years. That is why surveillance of your condition is important following treatment.<\/p>\n

For breast cancer patients at OSF HealthCare, a survivorship care plan is created if the cancer remains in remission six months after treatment. That plan details how often you will need to follow up with a provider, which specialists you will need to continue to meet with and what testing will be needed to monitor your health.<\/p>\n

Cancer survivorship programs<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve achieved cancer survivor status, and you have a surveillance plan laid out to monitor your health, how do you deal with post-treatment life? There may be physical, mental or financial challenges to face as a result of cancer and cancer treatment.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, there are cancer survivorship programs that can provide the support you need. You don\u2019t have to try to go it alone. It can be difficult, but the proper help just might make all the difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For most cancer patients, especially those with an early stage of cancer, surviving cancer is the goal of treatment. You want to go from being a cancer patient to being a cancer survivor. At what point does a person achieve the status of cancer survivor, and what does life after cancer look like? The definition […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":16629,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[259,898],"coauthors":[692],"class_list":["post-16627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cancer","tag-cancer","tag-cancer-treatment"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen are you considered a cancer survivor?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What does live after cancer look like, and at what point are you considered a cancer survivor? 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