Preparing for Survivorship

When treatment ends and survivorship begins, how do those with cancer make the transition? In this post, one survivor shares her findings.

BY Bonnie Annis

PUBLISHED April 26, 2019

Bonnie Annis is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in 2014 with stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes. She is an avid photographer, freelance writer/blogger, wife, mother and grandmother.

In a few months, I’ll celebrate 5 years since being diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. As a breast cancer survivor, I am amazed at the possibility of reaching this milestone while remaining cancer-free. When I initially received a diagnosis of cancer, I wrongly assumed I’d been handed a death sentence. Being cancer naïve, I assumed my life would be cut short by the disease but I am happy to say, it hasn’t been. I am still living. I am a survivor! I was diagnosed at the age of 56. Today, I am 61.

It seems the number of cancer survivors is growing. Perhaps it’s due to the advances we’ve seen in modern medicine, or perhaps it’s due to earlier detection. Whatever the case, the bottom line is that a cancer diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean imminent death.

According to the American Cancer Society, “There are more than 15.5 million cancer survivors alive in the US today, and that number will grow to more than 20 million by 2026. This includes everyone who’s ever had cancer, from the time of diagnosis for the rest of their life.” Those statistics are staggering.

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