“I believe I will still beat it again.” These are the words of a Nigerian woman, Didi, who feared a recurrence of her cancer – but saw herself as a survivor.
Her attitude is becoming more common everywhere as more people are living after a cancer diagnosis. Though populations are growing and ageing, and cancer incidence is therefore rising, it’s also true that the likelihood of surviving is greater than before.
And identifying as a survivor, rather than a “victim”, matters. Studies show that it’s associated with better health outcomes.
