Cancer Survivorship
Introduction
Cancer survivorship is the aim of all cancer patients and their healthcare professionals; and these days, more and more patients become cancer survivors. Australia has a 5-year cancer survival rate of approximately 70%. However, the quality-of-life cancer survivors enjoy does depend to a great extent to their survivorship care plan.
A “Cancer Survivorship Plan” is a personalised roadmap given to a patient after active cancer treatment ends. It summarises the treatments received and outlines a structured schedule for follow-up appointments, screenings, and guidance on managing potential long-term physical, emotional, and practical side effects.
Living Beyond Cancer
Living beyond cancer begins at diagnosis and lasts for the rest of your life. It involves transitioning from active treatment into post-treatment life, managing any long-term physical or emotional side effects, and establishing a tailored wellness and follow-up plan. This plan needs to include both physical and mental health aspects of life.
Fear of Recurrence
The fear of metastasis or recurring cancer is always a factor, because the likelihood of a recurrence is a real possibility. Anxiety and preoccupation with the possibility of a cancer recurrence can be managed and should not stop you from living your life to the fullest or return to work.
Fear and anxiety often spike before medical scans or on the anniversary of diagnoses, but there are proactive ways to manage it.
- Activity such as work or engaging in a hobby focuses your mind on a positive activity and prevents you from focusing on cancer related issues
- Physical exercises, such as Yoga, Tai Qi, etc., not only distracts you from fear and anxiety about recurrence of cancer, but also works positively towards maintain good health and mindfulness. This in turn promotes quality and enjoyment of life.
- Meditation is another way to control fear and anxiety. You may need to learn how to do this, but there is plenty of good quality information online or you can simply joint a meditation class.
- Talk to your healthcare professionals to get advice on what is available in your area that can help you.
Ongoing Health
This is really a key part of long-term cancer survivorship. Post-treatment cancer recovery support is an ongoing and important part of regaining good health and quality of life.
All the aspects outlined above are also relevant here, however, additional factors come into play. In order to regain optimal levels of health, fitness and mental wellbeing, factors such as diet, herbal and nutritional supplements as well as complementary medicine should be included in your cancer survivorship plan.
For example, acupuncture, herbal medicine (Chinese or Western), high quality nutrition and mental/physical exercises such as Yoga or Tai Qi are excellent inclusions in your survivorship plan. In combination they are able to help with long-term side-effects from chemotherapy and/or radiation. They can assist with chronic fatigue, loss of physical strength and stamina, as well as regulate and improve digestion.
Cancer survivorship and ageing
Cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy, can induce premature biological ageing, accelerating issues like muscle loss, neurocognitive decline, and osteoporosis. Older survivors frequently juggle multiple comorbidities, requiring specialised, holistic care to maintain their physical function and quality of life; again, this is where acupuncture, herbal medicine, etc., can help.
Mental/Emotional Factors
The mind is a powerful tool; it can however work for or against you. If your focus is predominantly on “what if I get another cancer, or what if I get metastases etc., then your mind is working against you. However, if your mind is focused on positives and concentrating on you improving your health and vitality, then the most powerful tool at your disposal will work for you and help you achieve your health goals.
In my opinion as a cancer survivor, the mind is what you need to control first and foremost. A ‘get on with it’ attitude is vital to a successful survivorship plan. Nothing is as powerful as a healthy positive mental attitude. My surgeon told me that following my operation, I would be in intensive care for about 2 weeks and then on the wards for several weeks after. My answer to him was “I’ll be out of here in 2 weeks”. He smiled. I was out of hospital in 15 days. Pre-operation complementary treatments, willpower and a positive mental attitude made that possible.
Late Effects of Cancer Treatments
Your cancer treatment is over, but the effects of treatment might continue. The treatments that may have saved your life may also cause side-effects going forward.
Late effects are health conditions that emerge months or years after cancer treatment concludes. Triggered by therapies like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, they can manifest as heart disease, cognitive impairment (“chemo brain”), neuropathy, fatigue, infertility, osteoporosis, or secondary cancers.
Because these risks can surface decades later, survivors often require long-term monitoring and survivorship care plans.
Some late effects from chemo and/or radiation therapy are listed below (Mayo Clinic):
Treatment | Late effects |
Chemotherapy |
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Radiation therapy |
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Surgery |
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Hormone therapy |
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Immunotherapy |
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Targeted therapy |
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