When cancer patients finish treatment, they enter a new phase: learning how to live after cancer. When you ring that Victory Bell, life does not necessarily return to normal. You must adjust to managing the long-term effects of treatment to ensure a healthy, happy and active life.
Survivorship
A healthy body weight is not just about your physical appearance; it is a general reflection of your overall health. Obesity is a prevalent problem in the United States. Nearly 69% of adults and 32% of children in the United States are considered overweight or obese, according to data from 2009-2010. Obesity is linked to increased risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease — and cancer.
As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to stress the importance of long-term follow-up care and the benefits of the pediatric survivor’s clinic.
At age seven, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. After my main surgery to remove the cancer, I had to go through weeks of chemotherapy and never stopped asking questions during the process.
When asked to speak about my experience with cancer, I often struggle to find the right words. There is so much to say and sometimes there aren't words for the emotions attached.
Many people affected by cancer are intent on strengthening their immune systems in order to fight the disease, tolerate treatment or prevent infections. These are worthy goals that should be approached with the same thought and caution you use to make other important medical decisions.
In July of 2011, I discovered a lump in my breast.
Once cancer treatment is completed, survivors often experience a whole new set of challenges that can be related or unrelated to the treatments they have undergone.
Cancer devastates lives, and that devastation isn’t limited to physical health. Many cancer patients find their disease has an impact on their finances, personal relationships and even careers.
“You have to stay mentally engaged in something,” advises Kevan. “Don’t concentrate on the negatives. Make yourself a goal, and picture that goal every day.”