I like Gary's answer. Every year I write an email to the 4 main doctors in my team. I used to do it every Thanksgiving, but I now do it at Xmas which was the anniversary of my treatment starting. (Merry F#$%^^& Xmas!) I tell them that while I have issues, life is productive and good. That I have learned through my experience that living part of my life (well perhaps a disproportionate amount of it) in service to others was a lesson that I needed to learn, and my cancer experience taught me that.

I thank them for making it possible for me to lead what I call a very rich existence now, and that without their knowledge, skills, and care I wouldn't have the chance to enjoy the fruits that life now holds for me. I tell them that my helping others through this process that they made possible, I hope honors them, and thank them for the gift of life that they directly gave me. I guarantee you it will beat the fruit basket every year.