Cancer Survivorship

A new normal

The end of cancer treatment is often a time to rejoice. Most likely you’re relieved to be finished with the demands of treatment. You may be ready to put the experience behind you and have life return to the way it used to be. Yet at the same time, you may feel sad and worried. It can take time to recover. And it’s very common to be thinking about whether the cancer will come back and what happens now. Often this time is called adjusting to a “new normal.” You will have many di­fferent feelings during this time.

One of the hardest things after treatment is not knowing what happens next. Those who have gone through cancer treatment describe the first few months as a time of change. It’s not so much “getting back to normal” as it is finding out what’s normal for you now. People often say that life has new meaning or that they look at things diff­erently.

Your new normal may include:

• Making changes in the way you eat and the things you do

• New or di­fferent sources of support

• Permanent scars on your body

• Not be able to do some things you used to do more easily

• Emotional scars from going through so much

You may see yourself di­fferently, or find that others think of you diff­erently now. Whatever your new normal may be, give yourself time to adapt to the changes. Take it one day at a time.

Coping with fear of cancer recurrence

When cancer treatment is over, patients are often faced with mixed emotions. While there is happiness and relief that come with the end of treatment, survivors may also feel fear and anxiety. Probably the most common fear is that the cancer will come back (a cancer recurrence). 

Fear of recurrence is normal and often lessens over time. However, even years after treatment, some events may cause you to become worried. Follow-up visits, certain symptoms, the illness of a loved one, or the anniversary date of the date you were diagnosed can all trigger concern. 

One step you can take is to be informed. Understand what you can do for your health now, and find out about the services available to you. Doing so can give you a greater sense of control.

Even though you can’t control whether or not your cancer recurs, there are steps you can take to help cope with your fears.

Talk to Your HealthCare Team

• Let your health care team know your concerns. Be honest about fears of your cancer coming back so they can address your worries. The risk of recurrence diff­ers in each patient. Your healthcare team can give you the facts about your type of cancer and the chances of recurrence. They can assure you that they’re looking out for you.

• Know that it’s common for cancer survivors to have fears about every ache and pain. Talk to your healthcare team if you’re having a symptom that worries you. You can get advice about whether or not to schedule an appointment. Just having a conversation with them about your symptoms may help calm your fears. And, over time, you may start to recognize certain feelings in your body as normal.

• Keep notes about any symptoms you have. Also take notes about any anxiety you feel. Write down questions for your healthcare team before follow-up visits so you are prepared to tell them what you’ve been going through since your last check-up or conversation.

• Talk to a counselor. If you find that your fears are more than you can handle, ask for a referral for someone to talk to. If thoughts about cancer recurrence interfere with your daily life, you might feel better seeing a counselor or therapist. A professional may help you put your concerns in perspective.

• Make sure you have a follow-up care plan. A plan may give you a sense of control and a way to feel proactive with your health after treatment. Good questions to ask about your follow-up plan:

  • How often should I see the doctor?

  • What follow-up tests should be done? How often?

  • Are there symptoms I should watch out for?

  • If I develop any of the symptoms, whom should I call?

Physical changes

Some have described survivorship as being “disease-free, but not free of your disease.” What you experience with your body may be related to the type of cancer you had and the treatment you received. You may find that you’re still coping with the side effects of treatment on your body. It can take time to get over these effects. It’s important to remember that no two people are alike. You may experience changes that are very different from someone else’s, even if that person had the same type of cancer and treatment.

• LIVESTRONG PROGRAM: You want to reclaim your health, but where to start? This program can help by fulfilling the important need of supporting the increasing number of cancer survivors who find themselves in the transitional period between completing their cancer treatment and the shift to feeling physically and emotionally strong enough to attempt to return to their normal life. The program is conducted outside of medical facilities to emphasize that LIVESTRONG is about health, not a disease. This twelve-week, small group program is offered in Siouxland at the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA. Learn more about LIVESTRONG at the YMCA that is specifically designed for cancer survivors and patients following the American College of Sports Medicine and American Cancer Society exercise guidelines.

Relationships

When active treatment is over, some survivors need di­fferent types of support than they had before. Some friends may become closer, while others may distance themselves. Families can become overprotective or may have exhausted their ability to be supportive. Ignored relationship problems prior to cancer diagnosis can surface. The entire family changes from the cancer experience in ways in which they may not be aware. You need to recognize and work through these changes to get the support you need.