The end of cancer treatment is often a time to rejoice. You are probably relieved to be finished with the demands of treatment and are ready to put the experience behind you. Yet at the same time, you may feel sad and worried. It’s common to be concerned about whether the cancer will come back and what you should do after treatment. When treatment ends, you may expect life to return to the way it was before you were diagnosed with cancer. But it can take time to recover. You may have permanent scars on your body, or you may not be able to do some things you once did easily. Or you may even have emotional scars from going through so much. You may find that others think of you differently now—or you may view yourself in a different way. 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 now. You can also expect things to keep changing as you begin your recovery. All cancer survivors should have follow-up care. Knowing what to expect after cancer treatment can help you and your family make plans, lifestyle changes, and important decisions. Some common questions you may have are: ■ Should I tell the doctor about symptoms that worry me? ■ Which doctors should I see after treatment? ■ How often should I see my doctor? ■ What tests do I need? ■ What can be done to relieve pain, fatigue, or other problems after treatment? ■ How long will it take for me to recover and feel more like myself? ■ Is there anything I can or should be doing to keep cancer from coming back? ■ Will I have trouble with health insurance? ■ Are there any support groups I can go to? Coping with these issues can be a challenge. Yet many say that getting involved in decisions about their medical care and lifestyle was a good way for them to regain some of the control they felt they lost during cancer treatment. Research has shown that people who feel more in control feel and function better than those who do not. Being an active partner with your doctor and getting help from other members of your health care team is the first step. After cancer treatment, many survivors want to find ways to reduce the chances of their cancer coming back. Some worry that the way they eat, the stress in their lives, or their exposure to chemicals may put them at risk. Cancer survivors find that this is a time when they take a good look at how they take care of themselves. This is an important start to living a healthy life. When you meet with your doctor about follow-up care, you should also ask about developing a wellness plan that includes ways you can take care of your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. If you find that it’s hard to talk with your doctor about these issues, it may be helpful to know that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. You may worry that having cancer might increase your children’s risk. It’s important to know that most cancer is not passed down through families. Only about 5–10 percent of the most common cancers (such as breast, colon, and prostate) are inherited. In most of the families that have inherited cancers, researchers have found relatives who may have had: ■ Cancer before they were 50 years old ■ Cancer in two of the same body parts (like both kidneys or both breasts) ■ Other risk factors for cancer (such as prostate, colon polyps or skin moles) If you think that your cancer may be inherited, talking with a cancer genetic counselor can help answer your questions and those of your family. He or she can also help you and your doctor decide on the medical care that you and your family might need if a genetic link is found. Genetic testing can determine whether the cancers that occur in your family are due to genes or to other factors. 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. It’s important to remember that no two people are alike, so you may experience changes that are very different from someone else’s, even if that person had the same type of cancer and treatment. You may find that you are still coping with the effects of treatment on your body. It can take time to get over these effects. You may wonder how your body should feel during this time and what are signs that cancer is coming back. This section describes some of the problems that can occur when treatment is over. Some of the most common problems that people report are: ■ Fatigue ■ Memory and concentration changes ■ Pain ■ Nervous system changes (neuropathy) ■ Lymphedema, or swelling ■ Mouth or teeth problems ■ Changes in weight and eating habits ■ Trouble swallowing ■ Bladder or bowel control problems ■ Menopause symptoms Just as cancer treatment affects your physical health, it can affect the way you feel, think, and do the things you like to do. It’s normal to have many different feelings after treatment ends. Just as you need to take care of your body after treatment, you need to take care of your emotions. Each person’s experience with cancer is different, and the feelings, emotions, and fears that you have are unique. The values you grew up with may affect how you think about and deal with cancer. Some people may feel they have to be strong and protect their friends and families. Others seek support from loved ones or other cancer survivors or turn to their faith to help them cope. Some seek help from counselors and others outside the family, while others don’t feel comfortable with this approach. Whatever you decide, it’s important to do what’s right for you and try not to compare yourself with others. Worrying about the cancer coming back is normal, especially during the first year after treatment. This is one of the most common fears people have after cancer treatment. For some, the fear is so strong that they no longer enjoy life, sleep well, eat well, or even go to follow-up visits. “If I get it again, what am I going to do?” one woman said. “I never thought I’d make it through the first time.” Others may react in a more positive way. As one survivor put it, “Cancer is just part of life, and we always have hope.” As time goes by, many survivors report that they think about their cancer less often. However, even years after treatment, some events may cause you to become worried. Follow-up visits, symptoms similar to the ones you had before, the illness of a family member, or the anniversary of the date you were diagnosed can trigger concern. After treatment, you may miss the support you got from your health care team. You may feel as if your safety net has been pulled away and that you get less attention and support from health care providers now that treatment is over. Feelings like these are normal any time your regular contact with people who mean a lot to you comes to an end. It’s also normal to feel somewhat cut off from other people—even family and friends—after cancer treatment. Often, friends and family want to help, but they don’t know how. Others may be scared of the disease. You may also feel that only others who have had cancer can understand your feelings.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:26:07 +0000
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