Cancer Labels: 'Survivor,' 'Patient' or Something Else?

The words used to describe a person with cancer, whether it's "survivor," "patient," "victim" or "warrior," carry more weight than many realize, according to the inaugural episode of "The After Cancer Podcast."

Host Leslie Waltke, an oncology physical therapist with more than three decades of experience working with people living with and beyond cancer, opened her new podcast by examining how cancer-related language has evolved and why no single label fits everyone.

"It's okay if none of these words fit you. It's okay if they change over time, and it's okay if you need something different altogether," Waltke said.

From 'Victim' to 'Survivor'

Waltke traced the history of cancer language back several decades, when the word "cancer" itself was rarely spoken aloud and people with the disease were most often referred to as "victims."

That word, she explained, framed cancer as something that happened to a person rather than something they moved through, leaving little room to acknowledge resilience or agency.

The shift toward "survivor" marked a turning point, Waltke said, transforming the cultural narrative from helplessness to ownership.

That shift also carried into how the medical field defines survivorship. Before 1986, a person was only considered a cancer survivor if they had completed treatment and remained cancer free for five years, according to Waltke. That definition excluded people still in treatment, those living with metastatic or chronic cancer, and many others navigating life after their last treatment.

In 1986, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship redefined the term, stating that survivorship begins at the moment of diagnosis and continues for the rest of a person's life. Waltke noted that this reframe also opened space for terms like "co-survivor" and "care partner" to recognize loved ones who experience the disease alongside patients.

Patient and Survivor Aren't Mutually Exclusive

Waltke clarified some of the terminology often used in clinical settings. Health care providers typically use "patient" to describe someone in active treatment, she said, while "survivorship" generally refers to the period after active treatment ends, including time spent on maintenance, hormonal or immunotherapies.

She pointed to the Institute of Medicine's 2006 report, "From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition," as a turning point that formally recognized survivorship as its own distinct phase of care, one that comes with its own gaps in guidance and support.

Importantly, Waltke said, a person can be both a patient and a survivor at the same time, since survivorship doesn't wait for treatment to end.

There's No Wrong Word

Throughout the episode, Waltke emphasized that whatever word a person chooses, whether that's "survivor," "patient," "thriver," "warrior," "human" or no label at all, is valid, and that choice can change over time.

Looking ahead, Waltke said an upcoming episode will dig into "battle" language often used around cancer, while episode two will explore why finishing treatment doesn't always bring the sense of victory many expect.

Editor's Note: This article was adapted from the podcast "The After Cancer Podcast" by Dr. Leslie Waltke. The transcript was edited for clarity.

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