Survivorship for Breast Cancer
So your breast cancer treatment is over. The many physician’s appointments has now slowed down. No more back and forth or back to back appointments and screenings. Now what; what happens next? Some people return to their pre-cancer lives, while others are tremendously changed by their journey.
The challenge for me way how to return back to my normal everyday life while adjusting to everything that has occurred. My hope, is that this blog will help you and motivate you to keep pushing even when life happens. I challenge you to push yourself even when you do not feel like it. May this message help you on your breast cancer survivor journey.
What is Survivorship?
Many survivors view Survivorship in a different way. However, it’s it’s often defined as the process of living with, through, and beyond cancer. While some people continues to receive treatments for a long time to reduce the risk of recurrence or to manage the cancer, others experience a mixture of strong feelings, such as joy, concerns, relief, guilt and even fear. Some say they appreciate life more after a cancer diagnosis and have gained a greater acceptance of themselves. While others become anxious about their health and are uncertain about coping with everyday life. There are those who prefer to put the experience behind them and feel that their lives have not changed in a major way.
My definition of survivorship is being cancer-free and thriving in life. Become patient with myself and taking every step to be more proactive while attaining a ne perspective on my health and wellbeing.
Fear of Recurrence
Having a fear of recurrence is only natural if you ask me. After being diagnosed, how can you not feel scared that cancer might come back? The critical thing to do is not let it stop you from living a life you love. Don’t let your fear stop you from thriving, achieving your goals in life or stopping your purpose for which you are here on earth. Trust me, it’s only natural and forever in the back of our head; this is one reason why we as survivors must not miss our doctor’s appointment after treatments are completed. Follow-ups are very crucial so continue to follow-up and stay on course with your oncology team.
Life After Treatment
After treatment, a person may feel both optimistic and scared. They will appreciate life more but can be afraid. Especially, when they have to manage their health by themselves now that the frequent doctor’s visits are over.
Scared the Cancer Might Return
Being scared that cancer might return is very real and entirely normal. Thoughts like have my cancer returned often pop into your head quickly since they’re so easily triggered by something as simple as an ache or pain.
Additionally, it may come up before follow-up appointments and tests or even on your diagnosis anniversary. It’s all-natural; however, don’t let these feelings take control. You cannot directly control whether cancer returns, but you can control how much the fear of recurrence affects your life. Don’t live in fear of recurrence.
How to Cope With Fear of Recurrence
Develop a positive mindset and focus on your ability to move forward with your life. For me, that was going back to work part-time. This made me feel like my old self again and gave me something to keep my mind and thoughts occupied. Finding things to keep you busy is key to coping with the fear of recurrence. You have to decide what that means for you.
Fear of recurrence is a common phenomenon for survivors. You may experience these emotions from time to time, but they should not be constant in your life. It’s normal if you feel most anxious about cancer coming back during the first year after treatment; however, it usually gets better over time with some help! Here are a few ideas that might work well for you:
Talk With Your Doctor
Talk to your healthcare team about the possibility of recurrence. The doctors will give you accurate information about how likely it is that a repeat will happen and what signs you need to watch for if one does occur. Unfortunately, no one can predict whether or not new cancer may form. But having some knowledge on this subject might help ease any worries you have in anticipation of an event like this occurring again.
Recognize Your Emotions
When you face feelings of fear, it is essential to open up about your feelings and thoughts. Doing so allows for a more productive discussion between yourself and others who care about you, such as friends or family members. It can also be beneficial to take some time by yourself to explore the roots of these emotions privately through journaling. You can also talk with someone else who understands what it feels like when confronted by this emotion.
Take Care of Yourself
Exercise more, eat healthier meals, and get proper sleep. These habits will make you feel better as they can help improve your health both physically and emotionally!
Reduce Stress
Finding ways to manage your stress will help you cope. Try different ways of reducing stress to find out what works best for you. For me, it’s doing activities I enjoy like taking a walk in the park, indoor and outdoor cycling, mindfulness app, adult coloring and just a self care pampering.
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Survivorship
- Will I need to have any additional treatment after my current treatment has finished?
- Who will be part of my health care team after my current treatment ends, and what will each member do?
- How likely is it that my cancer will return?
- What symptoms may be signs of a potential recurrence?
- What can I do to lower my risk of cancer coming back after treatment?
- How often should I return for a follow-up visit?
- Are there any survivorship clinics or other resources you would recommend?
Conclusion
Surviving breast cancer is a long terrifying journey. You deserve to know what the next step in your life will be like after you complete treatment. The end of one thing means something new can start, and it’s okay if that scares you at first. If this post was helpful, please share with friends who are going through their own breast cancer survivorship journey.
Monique R. Wilson, Survivor ~ President of Sisters Network, Inc Chapter of SWGA
Sisters Network Southwest GA Chapter 