The long term outcome for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer is constantly improving. When I was a child the word cancer was whispered in a hushed and fearful voice because the very words were thought to be harbingers of doom. Most people were not even told that they had cancer – and even if they were suspicious or guessed, they were too afraid to ask for confirmation. Basically – hearing you had cancer was akin to being given a death sentence because generally, you didn’t survive this terrible disease.

I’m glad to say that things have changed now – and although the last thing any sane person would want to hear, is that they have cancer, it is now survivable. In fact the overall cancer survival rate is said to be 70% and for some paediatric cancers it is even higher.

Most of you will know someone who has died from cancer – maybe a friend or relative, or work colleague. Some of you will know several people who have, or have had the disease. Some of you will have been diagnosed yourself.

I have had cancer. My two best friends died of cancer. One of my friend’s sister died of cancer. My current next door neighbours (to the left and to the right) have both had cancer. My next door neighbour in my childhood home died of cancer. An old boss of mine had cancer. Another boss’s wife died of cancer. One of my friend’s lost her boss to cancer. Several of my relatives have died from cancer. One of my uncles is currently terminally ill from cancer and his wife died from cancer many years ago. Two of my work colleagues’ relatives have had cancer, one died and one lives still. My mother in law died from cancer. I could go on and on telling you how cancer has effected my life, and those I know. And of course, as the UK co-moderator of the Chondrosarcoma Support Group, I come into contact with people all over the world, every day, who have cancer.

You see, cancer touches many lives. It selects randomely. It picks the good, the honest, the kind, the gentle, the rich, the poor, the intelligent, the artistic, the creative, the ordinary people like myself, and even the innocent and young. It isn’t fussy. Anyone will do.

So why am I saying all this?  Well, as you logged on to my blog today, you may have noticed a new addition to my sidebar -  an “I survived cancer” ribbon. You see, it occurred to me that since cancer touches so many of our lives in so many ways – we should spread the word that it is possible to survive. And since it has now been 13 years since I was originally diagnosed with cancer myself and I am a survivor - I decided I would declare it to the world.

I’d like your help to start a campaign to encourage any bloggers who have had cancer to display the ribbon themselves - to spread the word. that people can and do survive. Because knowing that people do survive and go on to lead happy and fulfilled lives as a NERD (no evidence of recurring disease) can make all the difference to those who are newly diagnosed, or undergoing diificult and sometimes painful surgery and treatment. It gives them hope at a time in their life when they may be feeling there is no hope.

So if you have a blog site and you are a survivor - will you display the ribbon and help give others hope? Will you help spread the word?

If you have not personally had cancer yourself but know someone who has survived it, you could display the ribbon in the sidebar with the words: I know someone who has survived cancer.

If you decide to join this campaign would you please link to the page at the top of this blog entitled “I survived cancer” – and post the ribbon on your blog to help spread the word?  Let’s see if we can get the world (even if it’s only the blogging world) talking about the fact that cancer is survivable. A huge thank you!