DOB: 7/22/1980

I feel like I have been asked my date of birth (DOB) a million times in the past year.  Every time the nurses give you chemo or any medication they have to verify your DOB.  Or even just checking you in for an apt, before they put your ID bracelet on you have to recite it.  Even just to make an apt or ask a Question, it's always ok, DOB please.  I feel like I have a new perspective on birthdays now.  They have never really haunted me or phased me In the past.  I am so fortunate to have found my husband by the age of 23.  I was married by age 26 and had my first beautiful healthy baby by age 28.  I've never felt like I should have done more than I had at each birthday and didn't mind turning 30 when I had everything I had ever wanted.  I know a lot of people dread birthdays but consider the alternative to not having one, yeah now be happy and celebrate that you just survived another year no matter what age because that's how I will feel next year!

I used to like to go out to eat for my birthday.  I have to admit I don't enjoy going out to eat as much now that I'm following a vegan diet.  I have to be one of Those people who picks and chooses things off the menu and alters their selection.  I want to explain to the poor waitress that I'm trying to save my own life and whip out an article on how vegan diets and juicing beets fights cancer because I'm a "cancer warrior" now!  (More on that term later)
I have had so many internal arguments with myself over calling myself a cancer survivor or using the phrase that I am "fighting cancer".  I have read that using negative connotation with cancer is not beneficial.  Having negative thoughts of any kind is not good for the head, body or soul.  We all know when you have cancer you dont need anything else against you, the cancer is enough.  So I have come up with the phrase that I have on the template of my blog "encounter with cancer".  I had journey on there for a while but felt that was too fun of a term.  I mean there's being positive and there's making cancer look like fun, lets be reasonable folks.  

So what's my problem with the term "cancer survivor"?  I don't have any issues with it except that I dont think it applies to me yet.  Technically I think I fall within the definition, at least  Wikipedia thinks so.  I just feel like I'm still currently "fighting" so I have dubbed the term "cancer warrior".  Feels more like an appropriate phrase and I think it's positive.  Now I just have to have my t-shirts made with the logo idea I have In my head.  No I'm not kidding, you want one?
Anyway I digress, happy birthday to me, the cancer warrior And may I soon feel like a cancer survivor who has won all the battles and the war!