Anniversary Date

[supportive wife]

My husband is nearing his one year survivor anniversary and I would really like to do something special for him. However, I have one question?!?!? What date do I celebrate?

Do you count your anniversary from:

~ Date of diagnosis?
~ Date of orchiectomy?
~ Date of 1st chemo treatment?
~ Date of last chemo treatment?
~ Date of first post-chemo check up showing no cancer?

Thanks for your help!!

[jdunn]

That's a good question...waiting to hear responses.

[Mom]

I think everyone is going to have a different response to your question, I celebrate every day with my husband because he is always surviving something. With my son, I always think of the day he ended chemo as his anniversary and the day to celebrate. I like to forget about the day he was diagnosed. I went to church yesterday and the sermon was on "count your blessings." The priest requested that before the day was ended to tell someone you love that he/she is a blessing and that you thank God for them. I walked in the house and my husband was sitting at the counter eating lunch. I went over to him and kissed him and told him he was a blessing to me and that I loved him. He was really overwhelmed. If any of you are reading this, please do the same while you have the opportunity. Dianne

[jdunn]

Dianne,
I like your response.... I too would like to forget the day Josh was diagnosed.
I also like the sermon from your priest. We need more sermons like that!!

[Don]

Well said Dianne!!!! I was going to say something similar---celebrate all of them the first year...each is a reminder of how your husband CRUSHED cancer!!!! I liked the celebration for the one year all clear and look forward to celebrating that each year and hearing of all the other members here doing the same on there cancer-free anniversaries!!!!

[Chris'Mom]

Very nice thoughts Dianne.....we celebrate the day Chris was cleared after his RPLND by Dr. Sheinfeld that he was hopefully done with everything....so for Chris and us it is July 22nd that we got the all clear....but lets all enjoy every day.....this may sound corny, but my daughter was reading "Our Town" and was telling me that in the play, the young girl goes back in time and says, if only I had just appreciated the regular days....eating dinner with family, etc...I would have drank it all in...I guess we have to live like that...appreciating the ordinary....Mary Ellen

[supportive wife]

Thank you so much for all your advice! I truly appreciate it. So his anniversary is December 14th :-)

[Hopeful]

Just go out and celebrate life. Be grateful he's reached the one year.

Life is very short and very beautiful and should be celebrated everyday.

patti

[Scott]

celebrate all of them the first year...each is a reminder of how your husband CRUSHED cancer!!!!

I'm with you, Don! (And with all the rest of you, as well.)

[Jilleighn]

We celebrate all the time. I remember all the dates so clearly. August 23th he went to the doctor because of the problem had surgery august 27. Started chemo on Sept 13 (our anniversary) and finished 11/8. was given the clean bill of health 11/17