4 / 8
O
F e a t u r e
A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS
Tips for managing your life after cancer treatments end
A DAY THAT SEEMED
so far away is finally here: You’ve
finished your last cancer treatment. You’re elated and
eager to get back to your everyday life—one that doesn’t
revolve around chemo, radiation or cancer itself.
Still, you may have moments of intense uncertainty.
In fact, along with relief, you may also wonder, “Will my
cancer come back?”
It may help to know that worries like this are an entirely
normal part of surviving cancer. Usually, these worries
are most severe in the first year after treatment—but they
get better as time passes. In the meantime, here are ways
to feel less anxious and more in control:
Get accurate information.
No one can predict with
absolute certainty what the future holds. Still, cancer
often follows a predictable pattern of recurrence. So be
sure to talk with your doctor about how likely it is that
your cancer will return—and what symptoms to watch
for. You may be worrying unnecessarily.
Practice letting go.
When fears about cancer’s return
enter your mind, try not to let them linger. Some survivors
picture their fears floating away—or even being vapor-
ized. This might work for you. Others turn their worries
over to a higher power.
Reach out.
Rather than bottling up your concerns,
share them with a trusted friend, family member, or
spiritual or mental health counselor. The simple act of
talking openly can make worries less intense, especially
when you’re comforted by a caring listener.
You might also turn to a support group for cancer sur-
vivors, either one that’s nearby or one that’s online. The
emotional support of people who know what you’re going
through from firsthand experience can be tremendously
helpful. Fellow survivors may also share practical infor-
mation about what to expect after treatment and how to
manage worries that cancer may return.
Make positive lifestyle changes.
Healthy habits can
help you feel in control, and they’re especially important
for cancer survivors. Regular exercise, for example, can
help you feel less anxious and fatigued, while a nutri-
tious diet can help you regain strength after treatment.
And studies suggest that both may help prevent certain
cancers from returning.
Finally, do your best to celebrate and embrace this
new chapter in your life as you join the roughly 14 million
Americans alive today who’ve had cancer.
Sources: American Cancer Society; American Society of Clinical Oncology
Reclaim your life, and be as
healthy as you can be. Learn healthy lifestyle
tips at
www.samaritanhealthcare.com/recovery.YOU MAY
NOT KNOW
Breast cancer
Of all the diseases we face as women, few may con-
cern us more than breast cancer. Almost certainly,
you know someone—a loved one, a friend, a neigh-
bor—whose life has been touched by the disease.
✦
Even though breast cancer is far too common,
some facts about it may still surprise you. Here’s a
look at five of them:
5 FACTS
4
W I N T E R 2 0 1 7
T H E
S A M A R I T A N