Living in “Watch and Wait”
Tell us about your experience with active surveillance.
Hearing “We’re going to monitor things for now,” can stir up so many emotions. Relief, anxiety, confusion, even frustration. Living with a diagnosis while being told to “watch and wait” is its own kind of journey—one that’s often invisible to others.
We want to hear your story.
No script. No pressure. Just you and your story.
- Answer a few short video prompts
- Respond by video, audio, or text
- Get featured on our website, YouTube, or social media to reach others who need to hear it.
Why We’re Asking This Question
For many cancer survivors, the experience of living through watch and wait is one of the most difficult parts of the journey. It’s a time marked by uncertainty, hope, and careful preparation. It’s a phase where strength is built quietly, often without others realizing the mental and emotional work it takes to live each day under the weight of “not yet.”
Survivors who used that time to focus on their health—to strengthen their bodies, prepare mentally, and set themselves up for future treatment—carry a story that deserves to be told. It’s a story of resilience, of making invisible battles visible, and of showing that action comes in many forms, even when it doesn’t look like it from the outside.
After moving through treatment and reaching remission, there’s an even greater calling to share that journey. Telling the full story—from active surveillance to active treatment to life after—can offer real hope to others who are just starting down the same uncertain path. It shows that waiting doesn’t mean giving up, and that survival is shaped not just by medicine, but by mindset, preparation, and perseverance.
Sharing these lived experiences helps others feel less alone, more empowered, and better prepared for whatever lies ahead. Every voice makes a difference. Every story lights the way for someone else.