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Living Language Phrase of the Week: Previvor

01.21.2007

previvor [pree?vy?vur]

–noun
1. A person who does not have cancer, but who has either precancerous cells or a genetic mutation known to cause cancer. [Blend of pre- and survivor.]

Earliest Citation:

"At the beginning of this ordeal — when Friedman's doctor told her she had 'precancer,' the earliest stages of the disease — she began looking for support groups. ... Friedman calls her target audience 'previvors;' they don't have cancer, but there's a strong chance they might. "It's a very isolating thing because at this point there aren't a lot of women out there who have been tested" for cancer genes, Friedman said."


—Adam Marcus, "Creating a Force for Cancer 'Previvors'," Ethnic Newswatch, August 16, 2002

 

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