Getting a cancer diagnosis is one of the most overwhelming and devastating experiences you can face in life. Once you begin your cancer treatment, it’s only natural that you can’t wait for it to be over, but the irony is that once treatment is complete, many cancer survivors aren’t sure how to get back to normal life. You need to remember that every emotion you feel right now is completely normal for cancer survivors. Here are a few ways to control your worries and fears and get back to your old self.
Take Care of Your Body
As a cancer survivor, your mind may be plagued with negative thoughts and feelings. Even after successfully completing treatment, you may fear that the disease will come back, so it’s important that you focus on keeping yourself fit and healthy. Whether it’s by following a balanced diet, incorporating regular exercise into your routine, or getting enough sleep, these actions may help your body when recovering from cancer treatment, as well as giving you a greater sense of control. If your treatment has stripped you of energy, try not to do too much at once. Pushing your body to its limits can do more harm than good, so only do exercise and workouts when you feel up to it.
Attend All Follow-Up Appointments
Although it can be daunting, it’s crucial that you attend every follow-up appointment. If you’re fearing the worst, don’t let that stop you from attending. Use this time effectively by speaking to your doctor about any worries or concerns that you may have. Having expert help at hand can put your mind at ease and make you feel more comfortable and relaxed. After getting the all-clear from cancer, many survivors tend to bury their head in the sand, since they’re worried about getting bad news. However, it’s always best to be in the know so you can take action if necessary.
Get All Your Follow-up Tests
It’s important that you discuss with your doctor all the plans for following up and monitoring your cancer. Working together, you can create a specific follow-up plan that’s tailored towards your specific situation. As many cancer treatments can cause side effects later down the line, it’s important that your doctor looks for these.
Be Honest About Your Fears
The last thing you should do is suffer in silence. Expressing your concerns with your nearest and dearest can take the weight off your shoulders. Going through cancer is tough, so once you’re out the other end, it can be hard to know where to place yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable discussing your fears, why not write them down in a journal? Also, keeping busy and getting out of the house and participating in hobbies you love can give you something to look forward to.
Pack a Treatment Bag
Life as a cancer patient is one long merry-go-round of appointments with specialists. Even after you have finished your chemo or radiotherapy, there will still be a slew of checkup appointments with your oncologist and other experts. Since many of these appointments will involve waiting around for hours on end, it makes sense to have a handy tote bag packed and ready to pick up on the way out of the door.
Take the things you need to stay relaxed and comfortable, such as a book, a drink, a water spritzer, some candy, a hand sanitizer, some hair bands, wet-wipes, and your smartphone charger. It makes life a lot less stressful.
Take Out Life Insurance
When faced with a cancer diagnosis, many people instantly think the worse and worry about not being around much longer for their loved ones. As you have beaten cancer, it’s important that you think about taking out life insurance. Depending on your medical situation, there is affordable life insurance available for cancer survivors. It can be a challenge to find the right cover, so filling out a medical questionnaire can help point you in the right direction.
Even once you’ve completed treatment for cancer, the long open road otherwise known as the future can be a frightening prospect. However, keeping yourself busy, doing the things that you love, and speaking to your nearest and dearest for help and support can go a long way and help you return back to your old self.
