Today was my final radiation treatment. The Ironwoman Cancer Triathlon is over, and I’ve won.

I am no longer a “cancer patient.” As of now, I am officially a “cancer survivor,” a badge which I will wear proudly for the rest of my life.

Over the past eight months since this Triathlon began, so many people have commented on my attitude and asked me how I could be so positive and upbeat while facing this fight. The answer is simple.

Rage. And determination.

When I found out I had cancer, I wasn’t devastated. I was PISSED.

Not pissed at life, or fate, or medicine or the universe. I was pissed at CANCER.

Behind that smile, that upbeat attitude was an all-consuming obsession: Beat Cancer.

Cancer became my enemy, and I was determined to use every available weapon to eradicate it. No mercy. Failure was not an option.

And whenever I would hit a low point, either in recovery from the hysterectomy, during chemo and radiation, under “house arrest” due to a low white cell count, or in the bus station of a transfusion room getting platelets and red cells to restore my energy, I would remind myself of my goal: Beat Cancer.

Even when I had doubts, when I wondered whether the chemo would actually work, I was determined that cancer would not win.

I decided that if the time would come that the oncologists determined that these treatments were ineffective, I would devote my final months, weeks and days traveling and enjoying life for as long as I was alive.

Cancer would not defeat me.

Earlier this year, I saw a meme on Facebook about being strong enough to withstand the storm. (It’s called “I am the Storm.”) It really resonated with me, and I came up with my own version that I would recite to myself on the bad days. It became my mantra, my prayer and my vow.

And thanks to my quilting buddy Michele — a very talented graphic designer — that mantra is now my very own meme, which I will use to celebrate this milestone and all the milestones to come.

My name is Susan and I am a cancer survivor.