Second Spring Survivorship

By Heather Nemec, LCSW

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma & Breast Cancer Survivor

by Shalini Reddy, MD

Breast Cancer Survivor & Internist

The term “cancer survivor” has true relevance when you complete active treatment. For many of us, it’s hard to think of ourselves as survivors while still in the depths of active treatment. In reality, the term survivor applies to anyone who has or had cancer.

The cancer experience is different for everyone. For some, it’s a brief course of treatment that has minimal impact on your day to day to life. For others living with metastatic disease, it’s been awhile since you lived life like you did pre-cancer. Your experience impacts every facet of your life: past, present, and future.

As I embarked on survivorship, I was gifted a book from a longtime survivor and mentor who was part of clinical trials for rituximab, the magical medication that obliterated my small intestine non-Hodgkins tumor. She also happens to be the mother of a close friend and colleague. Dr. Wendy Schlessel Harpham’s book, “After Cancer: A Guide to your New Life” was exactly the message I needed to begin the survivorship phase of my life.

“Despite meeting the challenges of treatment, your situation is like that of a marathon runner, whose efforts are not over at the end of the race”, Dr. Harpham reminds us. “Successful runners are careful about their recovery. For days, they focus on getting extra fluids, nutrients and rest. They know it takes weeks to get their bodies completely back to normal.” Like a runner, as a survivor you will feel better and heal faster if you learn about the changes in your body and the ways to help it recover. Keep in mind that losses may be temporary or permanent; they may be visible to or unseen by others. They are all losses and should be acknowledged as just that.

The most common question I get from family and friends is, “what happens now?” Unfortunately many people view cancer as a short-term, temporary disease. Many feel that the cure can be worse than the disease. You may feel shame from others about the decisions you made to pursue traditional or holistic treatments. Regardless of their opinions, remember you’re the driver of the recovery bus. Educate yourself about the power of prevention, recognize the signs of a possible recurrence and learn how to cope with the aftereffects of treatment. Equipping yourself will reduce the anxiety when the unexpected arises. The fear of recurrence can be debilitating and compromise your quality of life. Dr. Harpham reminds us “repression is a healthy way of coping with physical and emotional pain as long as it does not prevent you from doing the right thing.”

When there are abnormal results or concerning findings that catapult you back to those vulnerable days of treatment, don’t let those events monopolize your mind. Remember that surviving cancer is not just being alive, it’s about how you live life!

Personally, I’ve accepted the collateral damage of lymphedema, suboptimal blood counts, prolonged physical therapy, routine imaging, chronic medications and port flushes. Push yourself to celebrate those baby steps in therapy, lab improvements and weeks without medical appointments. As your care team becomes less involved in your recovery, you will be more responsible for your own health and recovery. Adopt that renewed autonomy and control over your health.

You’ve now entered the threshold of a new journey to a new life, a “second spring” of sorts. A second spring represents choosing to live life while recapturing the zest and vitality of life. You can do whatever you want, dress the way you want and spend time with the people you love most. In essence, focus on controlling the controllable while accepting the things you can’t control. Focus on who you are now and make yourself better than before.

Many ask me, how do you get back to “normal”? For me, acknowledging the power of gratitude, strength, growth, joy and hope is key. Forming a constant evolving, better normal is the goal!