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Cancerversary Blog
Subscribe to our feedLife after cancer
Posted by Linah Lubin on January 13, 2010
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In a recent New York Times Well Blog post, Dana Jennings reflected on his life after cancer, sharing how the physical and psychological changes he’s undergone have affected him and how his outlook has changed. In his self-described “post-cancer life,” he is in the midst of a transitional phase; one that many cancer survivors can relate to. You may have heard the term living beyond cancer, but what does life after cancer really mean? Even if you’ve been told you’re “cancer-free,” that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re free of cancer. Maybe your surgery scars provide you with a constant reminder of what you’ve been through, or maybe the experience has left a more intangible imprint – like a time in your life when you realized the strength and resilience of your mind and body, or a spiritual awakening. Similar to cancer survivors, life after cancer changes for caregivers, too. As a caregiver, you have also become a survivor; facing many of the challenges, responsibilities and life-changing effects of cancer and its treatment. Perhaps you have resumed many of the everyday activities and hobbies you enjoyed so much before cancer entered your life. Or, just being able to return to a normal work schedule and daily routine is how you define life after cancer. Transitioning into life after cancer can be deeply personal. Whether you’ve completed a long and grueling period of treatment – or another significant moment – this transition can signify the end of one chapter and beginning of another; or it can just sort of flow without a definite start or end point. What does life after cancer mean to you? How has your outlook on life changed? Leave a comment and take our poll!
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