Healing: Life After Cancer
Nobody wants to have cancer, and you wouldn’t wish it on your most bitter enemies. It is painful, and the treatment process is an agony. However, once you survive all the treatments and get the all-clear, it will not only boost your mood; it will change how you look at life as a whole.
You’ve gone through severe pain due to cancer, and now you’re done with treatments. Now what? What do you need to do? What else is there to life? There’s more to life after cancer, and now that you got a second chance, here’s how you can make the most out of it.
Start Better Self-Care
The first concern you need to have is yourself. Sure, you have other problems that you likely need to attend to over time. Those can wait. Now that your body is healthier than ever, it’s time to think about you. Self-care is love, and it needs to start now if you haven’t been doing it before.
Be aware of what you can and can’t do. If you don’t have time, energy, or interest in something, say “no”. Don’t take tasks that can overly stress you out and cause anxiety issues to resurface. Self-care means you’re making your that your physical and emotional needs are met.
Even the slightest skin concerns are essential to your overall healing. You want to tend to yourself in all categories, as you’ve been through enough. If you want to look beautiful or feel fresh and clean, that’s all up to you.
Prioritize Physical Healing
One part of your self-care is making sure you get your system back to normal. For a long time, your body likely passed through a lot of obstacles. Treatments ruined your immune system, and it’s hard to imagine the pain you went. It’s time to repair it and get you back in shape.
If you were sedentary before you had cancer, it’s time to get moving. Do physical activities to keep your body healthy, especially cardio, to regain the stamina you lost. Do your best to adjust the intensity as carefully as possible. Start with a shorter distance run or some lower reps and build on it from there.
Drink fruits and veggies into a smoothie to ensure you get as many vitamins and minerals into your system. Make sure to wash the produce to cut down contaminants. If there are dishes that you can’t eat when you were taking treatments, it’s time to enjoy them once again in moderation.
2. Start Dealing With Your Anxieties
One common issue for patients after cancer is the level of anxiety they experience. After brushing elbows with potential death, some patients worry about an uncertain future. It’s easy to say that they’re safe now, but there will always be potential tragedy ahead.
Patients need to start accepting that life can be uncertain, and feeling anxious about it is normal. Then again, cancer survivors need to enjoy life more than ever. Spend more time with family and friends, together with your beloved pets and hobbies.
If you’re experiencing some type of fear or trauma, it’s best to visit a therapist. Worries about cancer recurrence, body image issues, and anxieties about the future are something you need to deal with other people. Have a strong support network if you can.
3. Work Towards A New Normal
Going back to normal is something people have to deal with. For so long, you’ve had an entire cancer care team took care of your health; now you don’t have them. You would also need to reassume your responsibilities at home, whether you’re a parent or a child. Ask yourself if you’re ready to do so right now.
Going back to your family role won’t be as easy as it used to be. Things you did before your cancer are now other people’s responsibility. Even the people who love you the most will likely have qualms giving you your tasks back to prevent overtaxing your body.
You would also have to deal with some feelings you held back during your treatment. If you tried to be strong and spartan to yourself, new feelings make sense. You want to talk to people - family, friends, and those around you - some time to readjust and go back to things pre-treatment.
4. Try To Take Back The Agency You Lost
One of the most painful things you lost during your time having cancer is your agency. More than some physical functions, the loss of agency and control of your life is something you have to take back. Do something to help you feel like you’re “steering the ship” once again.
Look at ways to manage your holistic wellness. Make lifestyle changes that can help you cut down on the symptoms you still feel. Stop vices where you can, especially smoking if you already do. Start relaxing too.
Do some hobbies that you left behind while you were doing treatments. Read, play video games, do hikes, and volunteer. Help charity institutions and foundations to let yourself spend what extra time you will likely have now that you’re better.
5. Keep Doing Follow-Up Tests and Appointments
Even after you complete your treatments and you’re listed as cancer-free, you would still need to get follow-up tests and appointments with your oncologist. If you feel like you’ll get a piece of bad news if you visit again, don’t stop visiting. You need to know the truth - whatever it may be.
Use the time you see your doctor to ask questions about signs and symptoms still ailing you. Ask if they can formulate a follow-up plan for you based on what you feel and experience right now. Ask for the long-term effects of the treatment you had on your body.
Check with your treatment team about your risk of recurrence and learn more about your condition. If you have to manage your side effects, try to get some medication to help yourself heal. Keep your doctors on speed dial if you have things you want to ask.
The Bottom Line
Life after cancer is an entirely new phase. Being alive is fantastic, and you did a great job battling cancer. Now is the time not only to celebrate but put a new direction to your life. Enjoy it. Do things that you haven’t done in the past.
While you enjoy a new lease on life, these tips above will give you a few ideas of what you can do next.
