Post Treatment 0 - 6 Months

It takes time after treatment ends to recover physically, emotionally and financially. How much time, what happens in the meantime and what to do, is as individual and unique as each of us are. The following discussion presents an overview and guidelines that have helped other people:

Emotionally:

  • In the short term:
    • Emotions which have been held in check since diagnosis have an opportunity to surface.
    • There may be depression instead of the feeling of relief or high that may be expected at the end of treatment. The constant reassuring words from the cancer center staff will mostly be gone. You are suddenly left on your own to deal with uncertainty and fear as well as ongoing physical and emotional issues. There may even be continuing anti-cancer therapy.
  • Emotional swings can continue for years. The severity of emotional swings generally lessens over time, but can re-surface at unexpected times.
  • There is generally the fear of your cancer returning, or another cancer appearing. The fear can pop up unexpectedly, or be triggered by symptoms such as a flu.
  • You also likely feel out of step with the healthy world.
  • Do what you can to stay positive. Let go of fear.

Physically: There may be physical disfigurement to live with, at least on a short term basis. Fatigue, raw skin from radiation and/or chemo brain may continue for a while. Some effects may not show up until years after the end of treatment. If they do, speak with your doctor.

Medically:

  • Do not be surprised if symptoms continue.
  • Get a cancer follow-up plan from your oncologist that includes steps you should be taking to help prevent and/or catch a recurrence early, as well as symptoms to watch for. Once you have a plan, stick to it.
  • Prepare for follow up visits with your doctors - and show up.
  • With respect to medications:
    • Comply with drug regimens. (To learn about how do to this, click here.
    • If you want to save money when purchasing drugs, consider such tips as buying online.
    • Store and dispose of drugs safely.
  • Do your best to live a cancer prevention lifestyle. There is no guarantee that your cancer will not return or that another cancer will not appear or that something else will not happen. You can help prevent another cancer occurrence, maximize your body's fighting ability, and help feel in control on a daily basis by adopting a cancer prevention lifestyle. If you are overweight, lose the extra weight.
  • Consider taking supplements.
  • Take care of your mouth. Oral infections can spread quickly through the body, lowering your immune system's ability to fight disease.

Financially: It is time to focus on paying off your medical bills and other debts and to get your finances in order to withstand the possibility of a recurrence or other unexpected expense. The same kind of planning will also help you meet your retirement and other goals.

On a day to day basis:

  • Reclaim your life.
  • Let family and friends know when you need assistance. You do not need to be super-peson.
  • If you have underage children:
    • Keep your children informed.
    • Continually monitor their reactions.

Planning Ahead:

  • If you haven't before, now is a good time to get your legal affairs in order. Be sure you have Advance Directives which keep you in control of your medical care even when you cannot communicate. And, of course, everyone should have a valid, unchallengeable, will. Also consider creating an Ethical Will.
  • If you have underage children and haven't made plans to protect them if something happens, now is a good time to do it.
  • Thinking about, and talking about, funeral plans will save unnecessary stress and a good deal of money.

Our discussion of these suggestions is divided into eight categories which we cover in alphabetical order: Day To Day Living, Emotional Well Being, Finances, Government Benefits, Insurance, Medical Care, Planning Ahead, and Work Issues. We recommend that you skim the content in each area, then return to each subject as it works for you. Each subject starts with a summary. Links take you to the depth you want at any given moment, down to form letters and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

NOTE:

  • If your cancer recurs, see: Recurrence
  • If you believe you are within six months of the end of your life, see: End of Life.