Hil Moss: My six-year cancerversary

Hil Moss, Co-Founder and CEO of OncoveryCare, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“In the cancer community, we mark something called a ‘cancerversary’—a date that is meaningful to the survivor’s journey. Because of the differences in folks’ cancer experiences, the milestone marked can vary, whether one’s end-of-treatment date, surgery anniversary, etc.

I mark the anniversary of my date of diagnosis—September 25, 2018—and, so, today is mine. My six-year cancerversary.

The photo below was taken shortly after I finished active treatment, at an event celebrating breast cancer survivors. I always feel like this particular shot sums up well the mix of emotions I feel on my cancerversary.

On the one hand: joy, relief, immense gratitude for the slew of experiences that come with six years—six whole years!—of life. Graduate school, moving back to Boston, starting a company, meeting my partner, countless moments with family and friends … all the gifts of a second chapter of life after an aggressive cancer diagnosis.

On the other hand, there is always a quieter side to this day, too: reflection, and an acknowledgement of the way life changes after a critical illness.

The other day, I was explaining how, at this stage, survivorship can feel like carrying a backpack. Some days, the load feels light, light enough to just be a hum in the background. Other days, even six years out, it feels heavier. The more time goes on, the more light days there are. But it’s always there.

Today, I’ll be celebrating the milestone with gratitude, but also thinking of every single person—whether survivors or ‘co-survivors’—carrying a cancer experience with them, too.”

Source: Hil Moss/LinkedIn

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