We did it! We finished our cancer treatment! Last-day-of-treatment celebrations have begun, my hair is growing in on my back not my head, and our bodies are healing oddly we survivors. In fact, some of us feel more dead than ever have before. We have gained a whole lot more weight on our lives and we are scared of the world and not ready to resume living our lives again.

While cancer may have been the greatest struggle of our lives, we gain from it a tangible support system in the cancer survivor community. The same types of resources and support systems we used during our treatment are also available in our life after treatment. Whether our needs are great or small or somewhere in between, there is always someone there for us.

Life after treatment

It is often difficult to return to our “old selves” after completing cancer treatment. Many of us have an entirely new sense of self that's better, bigger and bolder than anything we experienced prior! We’ve gone through a life-changing event that was both physically and mentally demanding on us. We need to give ourselves time for the lengthy, laborious and tedious process of The question of recurrence

While our initial cancer diagnosis came as a surprise to many of us, a recurrence can be even more shocking or devestating than the initial diagnosis. We thought we were over it! We didn't think it would venture back into our lives and our bodies. Though there is progress towards a cure for cancer each and every day, we are still years away from a cure. It’s important to be aware of the risks and likelihood of recurrence, while continuing on with and enjoying our day-to-day lives.

Getting active

Many of us feel bonded to our fellow cancer survivors and enjoy giving back to the cancer community. There is an endless amount of ways we can help, whether by donating money, participating in cancer events, volunteering, or lobbying. By giving back, we help others who are only just being diagnosed and undergoing treatment.

Remembering friends

All of us have been touched by cancer -- we've either been the person who was diagnosed or supported someone who was. Sadly, cancer takes the lives of many of our precious, important and dear friends each year. The memory wall is our place to tell your stories.

Staying informed

There is progress being made towards a cancer cure each and every day. Researchers around the world are working towards better cancer treatment and a cure. Keep up with the latest cancer news and research, including signing up for CURE, a free patient magazine and Heal, a magazine for cancer survivors.

Connecting with cancer survivors

Connecting with other cancer survivors can be a source of inspiration and a good way to share information on treatment options and coping strategies. Leave a comment to connect with other cancer survivors and continue building your support network.


See also

• Adapting to life post-treatment
• The fear and reality of recurrence
• Giving back
• Cancer News, Cancer Research