What to expect after breast cancer

Breast cancer patients may endure a long road to recovery that could include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. But while the majority of the medical part of the journey may be over after treatment ends, patients could still experience a long emotional recovery as they try to adjust back into their day-to-day life.

 

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Once treatment ends, patients transition from breast cancer patient to breast cancer survivors.

 

After treatments, survivors may find their relationships with loved ones a bit changed, they might have to change their eating and fitness habits, and they might have to cope with lingering effects from treatment.

 

Some women might struggle with fatigue after treatments, while others might have something called “chemobrain” –which can include troubles remembering and a lack of focus.

 

To cope with fatigue, it’s suggested that survivors plan needed rest into their schedules and learn how much they can do before getting tired.

 

Some survivors might also struggle socially. Because survivors might look like they are physically healed, family and friends might think they can pick up where they left off before treatment. Survivors will need to learn how to balance and prioritize their social activities with their needed rest and recover y time.