Improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer mean more people are surviving and living with cancer. Over time, breast cancer survivors often adjust to new living conditions. Aside from finding a new normal, here are some adjustments after treatment and ways to improve your lifestyle.
Am I a breast cancer survivor?
Research has shown that getting informed on what to expect after completing primary treatment can help you prepare for life after cancer. This stage is known as the survivorship phase. Survivorship care aims to maintain your emotional and physical health. This may involve help in dealing with the side effects of treatment and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Reconsidering your outlook
Many people find cancer as a life-changing experience. Although having cancer can be exceptionally challenging, some discover positive aspects and inner strength they did not know they had. Others develop new friendships during treatment and find other sources of support. Developing cancer may prompt you to reconsider your outlook. You may:
- Have a new focus or goal for healthy living
- Place more value on time spent with family and friends
- Choose to focus on more meaningful relationships
- Spend a significant amount of time doing things you enjoy
- Start new activities or take on a different work nature
- Visit new places
- Rethink your career goals and work values
Common reactions to finishing treatment
There are a lot of common reactions you may feel after concluding primary treatment, including:
Anger – you may feel resentful about your cancer experience and how it has taken a toll on your life.
Anxiety – you may feel anxious before your follow-up appointments or while waiting for your test results.
Delayed emotions – you may realise your emotions are catching up with you. Many do not expect negative feelings after the treatment, so they find it confusing.
Fear – you fear that the cancer might come back (recur).
Frustration – you may feel discouraged because you cannot resume doing things you have been doing.
Heightened emotions – you may become emotional quickly, especially when asked about your current condition.
Hope – you may feel hopeful and happy to return to your normal routine.
Isolation – you may feel nervous or lost when regular appointments stop – a feeling of losing a safety net. You may also feel lonely if people do not understand what you have been through or if your relationships have changed.
Lack of confidence – you may feel indifferent about your health. You may not trust your body or worry about the impact of cancer on your ability to remember and process information. Many people may feel vulnerable and self-conscious about their image.
Relief – you may feel relieved that the treatment has ended and seems successful. You may welcome the opportunity to live life anew.
Survivor guilt – you may feel guilty about surviving cancer while others did not.
Uncertainty – you may avoid planning for the future because you are uncertain about your health.
Worry – you may worry about the side effects of the treatment, how long they will last, and whether they have a significant impact in your life. You may also be worried about finances and being a burden to your family. Others are concerned about returning to work and dealing with numerous questions from colleagues.
Some emotions are very challenging, while the others are positive and uplifting. You will learn to manage them effectively.
Useful tips for adjusting after treatment
Your cancer experience does not end after treatment. It can be helpful to give yourself time to adjust and consider the following tips:
- Talk about your emotions. Acknowledging your feelings and sharing your concerns and worries with family and friends or with your doctor, counsellor, or psychologist, is important.
- Make efforts to improve your quality of life by taking full control of your wellness. Being physically active and enjoying healthy food can help your body cope with physical and emotional tension and make you feel like you are doing something practical to help yourself.
- Complementary therapies, such as yoga, may heighten your sense of control, relieve anxiety and stress, and improve your mood.
- Connect with others who have been through a similar experience. You may join a support group, read online stories from other survivors, or attend a survivorship program.
- You may have side effects from the treatment, so it is crucial to communicate effectively with your healthcare team about ways to manage or improve existing symptoms.
Follow-up care
Once your treatment ends, it is important to have regular appointments with your breast cancer specialist to monitor your health, manage any long-term side effects, and check that the cancer has not returned or spread. Your follow-up schedule depends on the cancer type and treatment, the side affects you are experiencing, and other health conditions you are managing. Some people have check-ups every three to six months for the first few years after treatment and then less often after that.
Conclusion
Knowing what to expect and do after cancer treatment can significantly prepare you to make necessary changes in improving your lifestyle and coping with the potential distress you may experience post-treatment.
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