Overview
It can take time to adjust to life after cancer. You may be dealing with physical and emotional changes or managing long-term side effects.
Living in rural and regional areas may bring extra challenges, such as travelling long distances for appointments, or having less support close to home.
Learn more about living well after cancer and what support is available. At any stage, you can call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 to talk it through with one of our qualified professionals.
What's on this page
How you might feel
After treatment ends, it’s normal to have mixed feelings. You may feel relieved, anxious, or uncertain about what comes next.
If you live in a rural or regional area, you may also worry about:
- being far from your cancer specialist if something changes with your health
- who to contact between appointments
- where to find practical and emotional support in your area.
These feelings and concerns are common. You canto talk to your general practitioner (GP) or a counsellor about how you are feelings. You can also call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 to talk it through with our qualified professionals. This service is free and confidential.
It helps to focus on what is happening now, what is actually known – not all the possibilities. One step at a time.
What is "survivorship"?
Survivorship means living with and beyond cancer. It starts from the day you’re diagnosed and includes the time during treatment, after treatment, and living with ongoing cancer. Survivorship care focuses on your physical and emotional health, managing side effects, and staying well.
For people in rural and regional areas, survivorship can bring extra challenges. You may need to travel long distances to see specialists, and there may be fewer local health and support services. It’s also common to feel more isolated once regular contact with your cancer care team reduces, so finding the right support – whether close to home or online – can be an important part of staying well.
Adjusting to life after treatment
Life after treatment for cancer can feel different. It often takes time to adjust. You may be managing side effects from treatment, have worries about the cancer coming back, or be dealing with changes in how you feel physically and emotionally.
If you live in a rural or regional area, getting used to life after treatment may also include things like managing ongoing travel for follow-up appointments and tests, or having less support close to home.
Many people describe this time as finding a “new normal”, as they learn how to look after themselves and move forward
Support for carers
Carers in rural and regional areas can often take on more than people might realise. You may have spent months travelling to appointments, managing the home, farm or business, and being the main source of support.
Now that treatment has finished, you might feel relieved but also burnt out, worried, or unsure what comes next. If you are a carer looking for some support, you can contact:
- Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 – talk to a qualified professional about services for carers
- Carer Gateway – free counselling, respite care and practical support. Call 1800 422 737
- Your GP – they can help with your own health needs, including a mental health treatment plan for psychology sessions.
What to expect
Follow-up care and support
You may have check-ups for several years after treatment. Sometimes these can be done by telehealth or through your local GP.
Physical and emotional concerns
It’s common to have side effects that continue or start after treatment finishes, including fatigue and pain. You may also feel worried about the cancer returning or travelling to see doctors.
Living well after cancer
Practical concerns
Cancer can lead to financial stress, but support is available. If you need to travel for follow-up appointments, there are programs to help with transport and accommodation.
Looking after yourself
Healthy lifestyle habits such as moving more and quitting smoking can support your recovery and may lower the risk of cancer coming back.
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