Life after treatment

For most people, the cancer experience doesn’t end on the last day of treatment. Life after cancer treatment can present its own challenges. You may have mixed feelings when treatment ends, and worry that every ache or pain means the cancer is coming back.

Give yourself time to adjust to the physical and emotional changes, and to establish a new daily routine at your own pace. Your family and friends may also need time to adjust

Finding a new normal

When treatment ends, you may see the diagnosis as an opportunity to make changes to your life. This process is often called finding a new normal. It usually happens gradually; even positive change can take time. You may:

• change the way you talk about yourself
• have a different perspective on life and seek out new experiences
• feel motivated to set up a support group in your community
• want to be more open about your sexual orientation, gender or intersex variation
• feel confronted by, or positive about, changes to your body
• place more value on spending time with family and friends
• focus on the relationships in your life that matter most
• reconsider your career goals and work values.

It may help to share how you’re feeling with your family and friends, your doctor, a psychologist or counsellor.

For more information, see Living well after cancer.

Follow-up care

After treatment, you will have regular appointments with your cancer specialists, cancer nurse or GP. These check-ups monitor your health, manage any long-term side effects from treatment, and check that the cancer hasn’t come back or spread.

Many people say they feel worried before routine check-ups. They often feel easier once you’ve been to a few and things are going well. In the meantime, finding ways to cope with your anxiety before check-ups may help. Learning mindfulness and meditation skills, or practising deep breathing, and doing activities you enjoy can help you manage stress and anxiety. Listen to Cancer Council's podcast series Finding Calm During Cancer.

Some treatment side effects can last for months or years. It can take time to adjust. Your treatment team can work with you to develop a plan to support your physical and emotional needs. Your GP or specialist can refer you to an allied health professional to help you manage side effects and improve your quality of life. For example, a psychologist can help with anxiety, a physiotherapist can help improve movement, or a sex therapist can help you deal with sexual changes. Some public health services also provide allied health care after cancer treatment ends.

Having to disclose personal details again and build trust with new health professionals can be stressful. It’s usually worth the effort because it can help you return to your usual activities.