Continue Living the Good Life

First, CONGRATULATIONS to all of you who have made it through your treatment! It’s been a tough journey and you hung in there. You’re probably asking yourself, now what? 

After you have finished all of your treatment you will probably be faced with mixed emotions. Happy that chemotherapy is over, anxiety over the side effects that are still lingering on, and a fear of cancer returning. This is normal.

You will also realize it is a slow process of recovery. You will most likely still be suffering from fatigue. As always, listen to your body. If you are very tired throughout the day, rest. Your body needs the rest to heal itself. Your hair may continue to fall out for months after chemotherapy. You may also continue to have issues with your memory, attention span and thinking capabilities (chemo brain). Some may experience ongoing pain due to surgery. Some of your side effects may stay with you for weeks, months, years, or permanently. And as your body begins to heal, your muscles strengthen, and your energy levels pick up, you will still need to meet with your doctor periodically for checkups. This follow-up care may transition over time to your family physician. You’ve beat breast cancer, but there will be ongoing challenges.

Talk with your doctor about what to expect. Keep in touch with others who have been through the same emotional roller-coaster. Remember, there are many support groups for cancer survivors, and chances are there are some in your neighborhood. Lean on your friends, family, religious groups or professional counselors. Do not be afraid to discuss your feelings. It is not healthy to hold them in.

See the Take Care of Yourself Inside and Out section, here, within this site for details of how you can find help. Whether it be emotional or financial, there are many groups to help.

The American Cancer Society has a Cancer Survivor’s Network(1) that you can join.

Another great publication from the NIH National Cancer Institute is Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment(2) There is a wealth of information here. Check it out.

Many breast cancer survivor’s look forward in life and look forward to life after cancer. They find it gives them a new perspective, a new lease on life, or a jolt to live life to its fullest. Little things that may have mattered a lot to you in the past now seem small and unimportant. It is a freedom and recognition for life that they haven’t felt before. 

Occasionally you may relapse and break down like you may have done in the past when you first found out you had cancer or during treatment. This is normal too. Don’t be afraid of your feelings. These are release valves of emotions that you may need from time to time. Continue to stay positive and look forward in life. Take it day by day. Both physically and mentally you are exhausted. You have been through a lot over the months from when you first were diagnosed with breast cancer and throughout treatment. You need the recovery time. Everyone’s recovery will be different. Your weight may have changed, a full head of hair lost along with your eyebrows and eyelashes. And for those with mastectomies, you will have other challenges or decisions to make.

You will be living your life from now on with a bit of uncertainty of cancer returning. After the process of going through cancer diagnosis and treatment you are now more in tune with your body. You are also more informed, knowing that there may be late effects that occur after your chemotherapy has ended, possibly years later. You might flinch at the slightest bump or pain here and there. Don’t panic. Cancer treatment has gotten better and better over the years. Trust that and stay calm. Get whatever you found checked out, but stay positive.

If you are having trouble sleeping, talk it over with your doctor.

Exercise can help with depression and sleeping problems. Walking can be the best medicine. Build up your strength by starting with small walks. Your muscles will be weak and those muscles are helping to hold your bones and joints together. Watch out for discomfort in your knees while walking. Gradually increase the amount of time you walk. Keep this in mind when lifting, cleaning, climbing, balancing yourself, or doing things you ordinarily did with breeze in the past. It will take time to rebuild your overall strength. Be patient and take appropriate care.

After the strict diet, personal care, and safety concerns practiced throughout treatment, survivors have a better idea of what to look for in healthy food choices, the importance of exercise, the importance of keeping your body as well as your home and environment clean, and how important it is to keep stress levels down. It’s a good idea to continue these basic steps, while treating yourself every once in a while.

There are your physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs to look after.

Keep in mind that smoking and alcohol may contribute to certain types of cancers. 

Here’s a list from the NIH National Cancer Institute on how to alleviate the fear of cancer returning:

Coping With Fear of Cancer Returning

• Be informed. Learning about your cancer, understanding what you can do for your health now, and finding out about the services available to you can give you a greater sense of control. Some studies even suggest that people who are well-informed about their illness and treatment are more likely to follow their treatment plans and recover from cancer more quickly than those who are not.
• Express your feelings of fear, anger, or sadness. People have found that when they express strong feelings like anger or sadness, they’re more able to let go of them. Some sort out their feelings by talking to friends or family, other cancer survivors, or a counselor. But even if you prefer not to discuss your cancer with others, you can still sort out your feelings by thinking about them or writing them down.
• Look for the positive. Sometimes this means looking for the good even in a bad time or trying to be hopeful instead of thinking the worst. Try to use your energy to focus on wellness and what you can do now to stay as healthy as possible.
• Don’t blame yourself for your cancer. Some people believe that they got cancer because of something they did or did not do. Remember, cancer can happen to anyone.
• You don’t have to be upbeat all the time. Many people say they want to have the freedom to give in to their feelings sometimes. As one woman said, “When it gets really bad, I just tell my family I’m having a bad cancer day and go upstairs and crawl into bed.”
• Find ways to help yourself relax. The exercises on pages 60–61 have been proven to help others and may help you relax when you feel worried.
• Be as active as you can. Getting out of the house and doing something can help you focus on other things besides cancer and the worries it brings.
• Look at what you can control. Some people say that putting their lives in order helps. Being involved in your health care, keeping your appointments, and making changes in your lifestyle are among the things you can control. Even setting a daily schedule can give you a sense of control. And while no one can control every thought, some say that they try not to dwell on the fearful ones.

After treatment your life will never be the same. Some call it the new normal. Others will say it is a gift of a new life. However you view it, make it a positive one. Enjoy every single day. You are in control. You have shown you have the strength to overcome the hardest of obstacles. The strength and the courage. You now know that you can make anything happen. Fill up that glass.

I had my first mammogram since the cancer diagnosis in November 2019 and it showed normal. So I am cancer free after the surgery, chemotherapy and ongoing treatment. I have one Herceptin infusion left – in December. After that I will remain on the Anastrozole hormone inhibitor for up to 5 years total. My port will remain in my chest for another year as the type of cancer I had was aggressive, and the oncologists want to be sure I am cancer free for another full year before surgically removing the port.

This was a big milestone and I broke down; it was such a relief. I remain cautiously optimistic and will continue to take care of myself as always.

Update February 2023: I am four years cancer free. After this next year, if my mammo is clear, I have passed the biggest milestone of 5 years given my cancer was also aggressive. I remain on Anastrozole for at least this remaining year. The Anastrozole has resulted in numbness in my fingers and toes. I was told this will probably not go away after getting off the drug. I have had to resort to self-treatment products (like Replens) for some of the other side effects.