Life After Breast Cancer: The Next Steps Post Recovery

By Vera Viner

Eight months ago, you felt a lump during your monthly self-exam. You went to see your doctor who scheduled you for a biopsy.  After several tests, your physician told you that your left breast had a malignant tumor. You underwent all of the chemotherapy, surgery, and other assigned procedures to fight your cancer and come out on the other side.

Yesterday, the oncologist said that you are now cancer-free. Tears of joy filled your eyes. You couldn’t be happier. You’re a survivor! Now what?

Even if you overcame this disease, life will not be the same. It never is. Instead of returning to your life as it once was, you will have to get used to a “new normal.” WebMD explains that some of the biggest issues you will have to tackle as a breast cancer survivor is the side effects of treatment. You will need to take time to recover from the battle your body has just been through.

You’re likely to still feel significantly tired and experience “chemobrain,” which may include the inability to focus and some memory lapses. It may take the same amount of time as treatment itself did before you begin feeling closer to your old self.

You must understand that even though treatment is over, you will not be able to jump right back into your old lifestyle. Your boss and co-workers need to know that you won’t be able to sit in on all of the same conferences and meet the strictest deadlines because of your ongoing fatigue. Your children’s schools need to know you won’t be able to participate in the same car pools and bake sales as usual. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center provides ten tips for breast cancer survivors to follow after treatment. Below is an outline of some of these recommendations.

1. Have a brief overview of your breast cancer treatments.

2. Talk to your doctor about monitoring your long-term side effects of treatment.

3. Keep exercising and moving to lower your risk of cancer recurrence.

4. Eat a diet of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.

5. Manage your worst symptoms with your doctor – you don’t have to suffer!

6. Talk to other cancer survivors to gather more support and advice.

If you’d like to learn more information about breast cancer and what the Breast Health and Healing Foundation is doing to battle the disease, please sign up to receive our newsletter. You can sign up here: http://breasthealthandhealing.org/im-in/.