Cancer: What You Need to Know during Diagnosis, Treatment, Remission, and Long-Term

BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

By January 1, 2024, it is estimated that the population of cancer survivors will grow to almost 19 million: 9.6 million females and 9.3 million males. Being diagnosed with cancer will rock your entire world. Knowing it is the second leading cause of death in the United States, suddenly everything you loved and perhaps took for granted is in jeopardy. Having cancer can feel like a trespasser has invaded your life and you don’t know if it will ever truly leave. Patients diagnosed with cancer often find themselves feeling anxious, depressed, and unable to adjust when presented with their diagnosis. The damage only intensifies when being presented with the treatment procedures including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, among others. Thinking of all the severe side effects that put the patient at greater risk for developing emotional and psychological stress, as well as all the huge cost involved, it just adds to the emotional distress. However, the art of keeping calm, staying positive, feeling encouraged and think rationally is the most important key when presented with the news. Fortunately, survival rates for cancer patients are increasing as technology makes it easier to diagnose earlier, and treatments improve. So always stay faithful that your life will soon be back to its normal state!

SELF-CARE WHEN FIGHTING CANCER

While modern medicine is crucial for treatment, a key to making it through cancer treatment lies within the patient. They must have the will to survive that drives them to care for themselves and look after their spiritual wellness. While that may sound obvious and over-simplified, the truth is that the disease can take a huge toll on a person’s emotions and psyche. During a battle with cancer, many patients are so focused on beating the disease that other areas of their lives sit on the sidelines. Self-care makes you focus on you, helping you to enjoy living the life you fought so hard to save.

Here are some ways to practice self-care and look after one’s spiritual health while being treated for cancer:

• Spend time with loved ones! Make time for friends and family that bring you joy and happiness.
• Take a walk outside! Enjoy all the pleasures Mother Nature has to offer and take in the beauty of the earth. The gentle exercise also releases feel-good endorphins into the body, which is a plus.
• Meditate often! Spend time enjoying and appreciating the simplicity of a moment.
• Play with you pets! Take some time to spend with your pets and relax with them. Pets are proven to help reduce stress.
• Cut out social media! It only adds to stress and dissatisfaction.
• Flex your creative muscles! Paint a picture, dance, play an instrument…tap into any artform that brings you happiness.

 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING REMISSION

“You beat cancer,” there is probably no more comforting or reassuring statement than hearing a doctor say that your cancer is in remission. If you have been fighting a long battle, these words may come with a huge exhale of relief. Even though there is plenty of reason to smile and celebrate, you still have much to consider about how cancer will affect your future. Nearly 40 percent of Americans will experience some form of cancer in their lifetimes, with 14.5 million of them living into remission. Whether you or a loved one has won their fight against cancer, there is still a long road to a healthy recovery. You may be thinking, But, I’m in remission! Why would I need emotional help? It is easy to assume that remission means you are not only cancer-free, but stress-free, as well. However, it is common for survivors to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), after cancer. If you are experiencing guilt, worry or anxiety with such intensity that it affects the quality of your life, you may want to consider getting emotional support during remission. Here are a few signs and symptoms that you might be emotionally overwhelmed:

• Depression that comes from dealing with major life changes. Even positive news, when it results in a major shift in the way we live, can result in fluctuating emotions.
• Paranoia that your remission is only temporary and that cancer is lurking around the corner. This is especially problematic if your way of coping is to become obsessive about keeping cancer at bay. While living a healthy lifestyle is a beneficial mindset to have during remission, obsession resulting from a fear of recurrence is not.
• An emotional shutdown that can inhibit your ability to feel excited or even happy about remission. For many people dealing with PTSD, closing themselves off from dealing with the emotions of their trauma can actually prolong their healing process.

A happy, healthy life after cancer includes self-care, emotional support and understanding long-term medical concerns. Getting emotional support will help you work through the ups and downs of both cancer and survival. Now that you are in remission, self-care is vital to ensure that you keep living a life filled with positivity by:

• Getting back into the activities you love but haven’t been participating in.
• Trying something new– a new adventure, a new class, a hobby or even a new career.
• Giving back to a cause or your community.
• Prioritizing good sleep and exercise you enjoy.

LONG-TERM MEDICAL NEEDS AND ISSUES

While you are in remission, both the cancer and the methods used to fight it, like radiation or chemotherapy, can have long lasting effects on your body. That is why it is so important to maintain your regular follow-up screenings and pay attention to signs of recurrence. A lump under the arm may be nothing more than a fatty cyst or swollen lymph node, but to a breast cancer survivor, it is a red flag that warrants a doctor’s visit every time. Other long-term medical concerns include:

• Complications from any surgeries you may have had.
• Medications you need to take if you had any organs or internal body parts removed.
• A potential for developing diabetes if steroids were used in cancer treatment.
• Incontinence or bowel movement issues if any parts of your colon were removed or altered.
• Nerve damage and memory issues resulting from chemotherapy.
• Sexual dysfunction if tumors were removed from reproductive organs.

Though reflecting on your battle with cancer has its merits, there are plenty more reasons to look forward when you enter remission. The important thing to remember is that, even though the priorities have changed, your health–physical, mental and emotional– should still be a priority.

“A happy, healthy life after cancer includes self-care, emotional support and understanding long-term medical concerns. Getting emotional support will help you work through the ups and downs of both cancer and survival.”