When you first began your cancer treatment, you could not wait for the day you would finish. Now that you have completed your treatment, you are not sure if you're ready for life after treatment as a cancer survivor.

With your treatment now completed, you may see your cancer care team less often. Though you, your friends and your family are all eager to return to a more normal life, it can be scary to leave the protective cocoon of doctors and nurses who have supported you through treatment.

Everything you are feeling right now is normal for cancer survivors. Recovering from cancer treatment is not just about your body — it's also about healing your mind.

It is important to take time to acknowledge the fear,  the grief and the loneliness you may be feeling at this time. Then take steps to understand WHY you feel these emotions and what you can do about them.

Fear of Recurrence in Cancer Survivors

Fear of recurrence is common in cancer survivors. Though you may go months without any sign of disease, many cancer survivors say the thought of recurrence is always with them. You might worry that every ache or pain is a sign of your cancer recurring. Eventually these fears will fade, though they may never go away completely.

Cope with your fear by being honest with yourself about your feelings. Try not to feel guilty about your feelings or ignore them in hopes that they'll go away. Ask your doctor for advice on what you can do to reduce your chance of a cancer recurrence.

Once you've done all you can to reduce that risk,  it is okay to acknowledge your fears. 

Stress in Cancer Survivors

When you were diagnosed with cancer, you might have focused completely on your treatment and getting healthy. Now that you've completed treatment, all those projects around the house and the things on your to-do list are competing for your attention. This can make you feel stressed and overwhelmed.

Try not to feel you need to tackle everything at once. Take time for yourself as you establish a new daily routine. Try exercising, talking with other cancer survivors and taking time for activities you enjoy.

Depression and anxiety in cancer survivors

Lingering feelings of sadness and anger can interfere with your daily life. For many people these feelings will dissipate. But for others, these feelings can develop into depression. You may also experience worry and anxiety and not feel as though you can relax into your life again.

If you are experiencing these feelings, consult your doctor. If needed, you can also see a therapist who can help you through psychotherapy, medication or both. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are keys to successful management of depression and anxiety.

Loneliness in Cancer Survivors

After your cancer treatment journey and now that you are a survivor, you might feel as if others can't understand what you've been through, which makes it hard to relate to other people and can lead to loneliness. You might feel no one understands where you are.  Friends and family might also be unsure of how to help you, and some people may even be afraid to reach out or discuss as you have had cancer.

You don't have to deal with loneliness on your own. Consider joining a support group with other cancer survivors who are having the same or similar emotions that you are.   Allow yourself to grieve what you have lost and do not be afraid to seek out counselling or other informal supports.

Where to Go for Help

Sometimes talking with close friends or family members can help. But you might feel like those people cannot truly understand what you're going through if they haven't had cancer. Other options you might consider consulting:

• A therapist. Your doctor can refer you to a professional or you can also self refer to a therapist who can help you sort through your emotions and come up with ways to deal with your feelings.

• Other cancer survivors. Support groups, whether in your community or online, provide a great place to share your feelings and hear from others who are going through what you're experiencing. You can learn new ways of coping with fears.

• You can also offer your own expertise to other patients who are going through active treatment and help them in their journey by being a peer support volunteer.

You can create your own plan for coping with your emotions. Have an open mind and try different strategies to find out what works best for you.

Remember always that you are not alone on this journey!  At HopeSpring we offer Cancer Care Counselling, Support Groups, Peer Support and may be able to suggest options to try. We are here to support you! 😊

Amy, 

Cancer Care Counsellor