What am I? My cancer status.

The belly button is often the last place to fully heal as it doesn’t get the air, bless you! For me I’m almost three years post op and usually refer to myself as “having had cancer and treatment”, ie in the past tense, and say “as far as I know, I’m cancer-free” but if the need arises, I’ll play the card and say I’m a cancer patient as having cancer to me is a bit like the Hotel California - you can check out but never fully leave. 

Hotel California - love it!

Hi Pendle,

I am 2 years post treatment and just tend to say that I am recovering from cancer. 

I still have still have side effects from the treatments. I am still under oncologist for another 3 years. 

So for me I feel its accurate. My medical notes have "history of endometrial cancer, chemotherapy, external radiotherapy, moved to patient led follow up Sept 2024" 

Jane

The radiotherapy consultant said that I'd be going back for tests every 6 months for 5 years, so yes, 'recovering from cancer' is a good description too. 

Just a quick note to say that what our community champion Jane says is usually what I say. It’s not always necessary to disclose medical information. For more advice on this, you might telephone the Macmillan support line - I did and they were so helpful. 

That's such a good question. I don't know what I am either! I'm thinking for me it might change over time, at the moment it's all very fresh in my mind. 

Hi. I was literally thinking about this the same time you posted this! “Recovering from cancer” sounds the most appropriate thing to say but like MarmiteFan59, I play the “I’m a cancer patient” card when the need arises.

I would normally stammer between “I had/have cancer” and it would be so awkward.