The post-cancer phases
When you began your cancer treatment, you couldn’t wait for the day you’d finish. But now that you’ve completed your treatment, you aren’t sure if you’re ready for life after treatment as a cancer survivor.
With your treatment completed, you’ll likely see your cancer care team less often. Though you, your friends and your family are all eager to return to a more normal life, it can be scary to leave the protective cocoon of doctors and nurses who supported you through treatment.
Everything you’re feeling right now is normal for cancer survivors. Recovering from cancer treatment isn’t just about your body — it’s also about healing your mind. Take time to acknowledge the fear, grief and loneliness you’re feeling right now. Then take steps to understand why you feel these emotions and what you can do about them.
Fear of recurrence is common in cancer survivors. Though they may go years without any sign of disease, cancer survivors say the thought of recurrence is always with them. You might worry that every ache or pain is a sign of your cancer recurring. Eventually these fears will fade, though they may never go away completely.
Cope with your fear by being honest with yourself about your feelings. Try not to feel guilty about your feelings or ignore them in hopes that they’ll go away. Ask your doctor about what you can do to reduce your chance of a cancer recurrence. Once you’ve done all you can to reduce that risk, acknowledge your fears. Take control of those fears and do what you can to influence your future health. Try to:
Take care of your body
Focus on keeping yourself healthy. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fit exercise into your day. Go easy at first, but try to increase the intensity and amount of exercise you get as you recover. Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling refreshed. These actions may help your body recover from cancer treatment and also help put your mind at ease by giving you a greater sense of control over your life.
Have a balanced and restful sleep
Sleep is essential for the body and allows it to recover from the treatment as well as maximizing a delicate, much needed psychological balance.
Go to all of your follow-up appointments
You may fear the worst when it’s time for your next follow-up appointment. Don’t let that stop you from going. Use the time with your doctor to ask questions about any signs or symptoms that worry you. This appointment can also be an opportunity for you to discuss the side effects – incontinence, erectile dysfunction – you’re concerned about and talk about solutions. Write down your concerns and discuss them at your next appointment. Ask about your risk of recurrence and what signs and symptoms to watch for. Knowing more may help you feel more in control.
Be open about your fears
Express your concerns to your friends, family, other cancer survivors, and your doctor or a counselor. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of discussing your fears, try recording your thoughts in a journal. Get out of the house and find activities that will take your mind off your fears.
Most cancer survivors report that the fear of recurrence fades with time. But certain events can trigger your fears. The feelings might be especially strong before follow-up visits to your doctor or the anniversary of your cancer diagnosis.
And remember: we are here for you!
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