Finding a way to feel normal again after cancer
There are an estimated 18.1 million cancer survivors in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. For them, there is life after cancer, but there is never life without cancer.
When a patient completes medical treatment, care is not complete. Working through remission, managing post-treatment effects, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding recurrence are a part of the patient’s wellness plan. However, the long-term emotional impact left behind can sometimes be forgotten.
“Survivorship is all-encompassing. Finding a way to be normal again can be optimized by focusing on treating the person as a whole, looking beyond just traditional clinical treatment,” says Dr. Meredith Witten, a breast surgeon at Aurora Health Care.
Among today’s survivors, the most common represented is women with breast cancer, accounting for 4 million Americans. Dr. Witten commits herself to presenting each of her patients with the appropriate survivorship opportunities and program offerings.
“Although the root cause may be dealt with, the completion of treatment does not equate to the patient and caregiver being free of challenges or concerns,” Dr. Witten continues. “I would even dare to say that after care for cancer, or any type of trauma for that matter, is just as important as the medical care I provide as a physician.”
Physical and mental recovery from cancer remain a lifelong aspect of living for all cancer survivors.
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health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
From my experience, 5 year breast cancer survivor, life after cancer does not get any easier. You smile and say you are fine, but on the inside you wait for the other shoe to drop. With every pain and little symptom your mind goes to cancer. I know I need help but feel like the world sees me as being fixed and I should just move on with my life. So I keep waiting afraid to move forward…..
Angie, as a cancer nurse navigator, I would encourage you to reach out to your treatment team to be linked with counseling services, either through Behavioral Health, or one of the Aurora Cancer Care Clinic supportive cancer counselors. It often takes a while after treatment to identify and process these feelings and they can assist you with ways to cope with the uncertainty you face as a survivor.