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What is Normal After 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.

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.

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. It covers 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

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.

Keep in Mind

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.

Copyright 2006 Body and Skin Care - Fields of Blue.net All rights reserved   Content's source: www.nci.nih.gov.