Life after a cancer diagnosis or treatment is often not discussed, as the focus mainly centres on tackling the disease. The period after treatment can raise its own health questions and issues for some patients.
The healthcare pathway for a cancer patient can be difficult and time consuming, filled with appointments, operations, specialised treatments, and counselling. At Pink Hope, we have spoken to many women who say their breast or ovarian cancer journey was extremely busy, with no time to think about anything other than what was next in their medical calendar.
When treatment finishes; and life resumes to some sense normality, a cancer patient may find post-cancer life difficult period of time to navigate.
Start small.
While a cancer patients may find it tiresome to continue thinking about their health, post-treatment is a ideal time to put into practice many of the day-to-day moments and activities they missed. A short stroll along the beach, a park, or just playing outside with their children can help lift their spirits and form the beginning of new healthy habits.
Many women experience changes in their bodies after treatment, such as fatigue, hot flashes, or changes in their breast tissue. These can be difficult to adjust to, but it's important to remember that these side effects may be temporary and eventually subside. It can be powerful to acknowledge the strength of your body and thank it with regular massages, ocean or slow pool swims or gentle yoga. Moving your body regularly – even in small ways - can help reconnect your body and mind.
It is unlikely that someone undergoing treatment has much of an appetite for food, let alone nutritious, well-balanced meals. As you begin to recover, your appetite will slowly return. This can be an ideal time to develop a healthy eating plan; for you and your family. If you have a partner and children, encourage them to help prepare a healthy meal; or get together with friends for a healthy ‘potluck’ dinner – these good habits will last a lifetime.
Regular exercise and well-balanced, nutritious meals can help to restore your energy, improve your mood, lower stress levels and support a healthy weight. If you are unsure where to start, speak to your doctor for a dietitian referral.
Your mind matters.
When cancer treatment has finished, it may be tempting to catch up on everything you missed and throw yourself into a social life. However, it is important to be gentle and remember that you are still recovering; your energy levels may take some time to return to what they were – pre-treatment and diagnosis.
Catching up with friends and family is a wonderful way to reconnect with loved ones. Why not invite them to a yoga or meditation class? This way you’ll both receive some much-needed calm downtime while paying attention to your body and mind.
A positive mindset is vital during treatment, but little is said about how you may mentally and emotionally feel post-treatment. It's common to feel sadness, anxiety, or even post-traumatic stress disorder after your experience. Acknowledging the journey you have just experienced, along with the fears, worries and stress, may only be happening now. Speak to your medical team for advice on how to tackle this mindset. However, mindfulness activities such as walking, yoga, meditation, pottery, painting, or reading can help to calm a busy mind.
It is common to feel anxious or depressed after cancer treatment., While you may feel relieved that treatment is over, you may also have mixed emotions about what comes next. For some women, you may need to continue to take medications to manage the side effects of treatment, which can affect their emotional and physical state.
Some women report feeling ‘lost’ or ‘isolated’ after the intensive round of treatments has finished. In some cases, relationships with your partner, family members and friends can come under scrutiny and suffer. It may even be that with cancer you may feel that you have lost your identity.
It’s important to speak to your doctor or carer about how you are feeling, emotionally or physically, for help and advice.
Remember: there is no race to be won when it comes to recovery and life after cancer. Taking the time to learn your new ‘normal’, adjust to any physical changes and recover from the physical and mental toll won’t happen overnight. With love, care and a little patience, you can look toward the future with optimism and renewed vigour.
At Pink Hope, we understand whysupport from other women who have been through cancer treatment is so important. If you are struggling emotionally after cancer treatment, don't hesitate to visit our support groups. On these private groups you will find other women who have likely experienced similar emotions to you.
As a leading not-for-profit organisation in Australia, Pink Hope is committed to providing resources and community support to all people affected by cancer. We are here to provide hope, inspiration and empowerment every step of the way.
This content is brought to you in partnership with Eli Lilly Australia and developed independently by the team at Pink Hope.
