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Facing Forward Series: Life After Cancer Treatment
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This publication covers post-treatment issues such as follow-up medical care, physical and emotional changes, changes in social relationships, and workplace issues.
Part of the Facing Forward Series for cancer survivors, family members, and medical professionals. The series is designed to educate and empower cancer survivors as they face the challenges associated with life after cancer treatment.
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| To order a hard copy, call the ACS National Cancer Information Center
at 1-800-ACS-2345, and ask for a copy of Facing Forward: Life After Cancer
Treatment, Publication No. 9522.00-HCP |
Printable version |
Introduction
 Download
a PDF version of the Introduction.
What Is "Normal" After Cancer Treatment?
| Congratulations on Finishing Your Cancer Treatment!
Ending cancer treatment can be both exciting and challenging. Most people
are relieved to be finished with the demands of treatment, but many also
feel sadness and worry. Many are concerned about whether the cancer will
come back and what they should do after treatment. |
When treatment ends, people often expect life to return to the way it was before
they were diagnosed with cancer. This rarely happens. You may have permanent scars
on your body, or you may not be able to do some things you once did easily. Others
may think of you--or you may view yourself--as being somehow different.
"While I was having chemo I just quit doing most anything
... so, the challenge for me was, what am I going to do now with my life?
What should I go back to doing?"
Len, colon cancer survivor, 60
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One of the hardest things after treatment is not knowing what happens next. "Because
the doctors and nurses never told me the range of what to expect, I had expectations
of wellness that were absolutely unrealistic," one woman said, "and so
did my family and friends. This . . . led to a great deal of worry."
What is "normal" after cancer treatment? Those who have lived through treatment
talk about the first few months as a time of change. It is not so much "getting
back to normal" as it is finding out what is normal for you now. You can also
expect things to keep changing as you begin your recovery. As one man put it,
"I thought when I had finished treatment--when they looked at my tests and
they said it looked good--I thought, 'OK, this is done'. . . [but] it is not over."
Your new "normal" may include making changes in the way you eat, the activities
you do, and your sources of support, all of which are discussed in this document.
How to Use This Document
The information in this document is designed mainly for cancer survivors who have
recently completed their cancer treatment, but you may find the information helpful
even if you were treated a long time ago. The purpose of this document is to give
cancer survivors and their loved ones a better idea of what to expect during the
first few months after treatment ends. Its five main sections cover what may happen
with:
- Your medical care
- Your body
- Your mind and your feelings
- Your social relationships
- Practical matters such as job and insurance issues
Do not feel you have to read the whole document at once. It is meant for you to
use over time. Flip through to see what may be helpful to you, or check out topics
as they come up in your life.
As you'll see, this document talks about many concerns of those who have been
through cancer treatment and offers suggestions that have helped others move forward.
As you read, you may find yourself saying, "That's just how I feel."
Although this document describes issues that are important to many survivors,
each person has a unique response to having cancer. While some of the issues covered
in this document may reflect your experience well, other issues may not concern
you. Focus on finding what works for you. The information in this document is
not intended to be all-inclusive. Resources are provided if you need more information
on a given topic or one that is not included. We encourage you to be active in
getting the information and support you need.
We use two symbols to help you find your way through this information:
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means that this section discusses medical approaches to addressing
this problem.
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means that this section has helpful hints. |
Keep in Mind
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| In this document, the term cancer survivor is used to include anyone
who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of diagnosis through the
rest of his or her life. You may not like the word, or you may feel that
it does not apply to you, but the word survivor helps many people think
about embracing their lives beyond their illness. |
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