Life goes on after cancer...

The people we call “survivors”!

Sometimes, people don’t like the name “survivor”, they just prefer “a person who has had cancer”. Everyone lives their cancer story differently, but almost everyone is ok to say that life changes after a cancer, that life seems different. There are different reactions after a cancer but some are common to almost all survivors: they become more worried about their health, they appreciate life and its benefits more, they feel lost after treatment and do not really know what to do….

Medical monitoring after cancer

The time that follows a successful cancer cure is called ‘remission’ and generally lasts five years. The patient must be medically followed very regularly. Medical examinations and blood tests are executed regularly to keep an eye on the patient’s state of health. Often, after cancer, patients are psychologically followed by specialists because this is not an easy period for them.

Side effects and risks of relapse

The body and mind have been confronted with violent traumas

The ‘survivors’ can have cognitive effects. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can affect the way the brain works, leading to problems with concentration, memory and the inability to do many things at the same time. We often talk about mental fatigue or cognitive dysfunction to describe this type of problem. There are long-lasting psychological effects like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. After the chemotherapy, you can feel bad physical effects like a deficiency of the immune system, infertility or hearing loss…

Depending on the types of cancer, possible recurrences occur in very variable delays (several weeks, months or more rarely years after the treatment) and in various locations. The task of oncologists is to assess the risk of recurrence as soon as possible.

After cancer you should

  • Take or regain strength
  • Manage stress
  • Reduce fatigue
  • Reduce the risk of second cancer or other problems
  • Reduce side effects
  • Enjoy life

Here are a few tips

  • If you need it, take a nap
  • Ask for help for everyday tasks that are difficult for you
  • Join a support group to speak with people who have the same experience
  • Stay active
  • If you return to work, do only a few hours a week
  • Consult a therapist if necessary

Cancer is no longer a synonym of death

Today in France, almost 60% of cancers are curable

Colorectal cancer: a relative survival rate of 80%

This percentage is calculated according to the age, sex and fragility of the patient. Mortality due to this type of cancer is decreasing day by day thanks to progress in medicine and in particular to organized detection.

Breast cancer mortality decreases

For example, in France, with the ‘Plan Coeur’, if the tumour is spotted in advance and the cancer is at a local stage, you have a 100% chance of surviving. But these figures are still depending on patients.

Thyroid cancer: doctors heal 9 out of 10 cases

If the cancer is detected before 40, nine out of ten thyroid cancers are cured. Women are more prone to this type of cancer than men. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a part or the totality of the thyroid is surgically extracted.

Pregnancy after cancer

Infertility in men or women can occur after cancer. In some people infertility will be temporary and in others it will be permanent. But there are certain ways to limit the risks or find solutions if infertility occurs. Infertility in women comes from a high radiation dose but it can be avoided if the ovaries are located higher in the womb. It is not recommended to get pregnant during chemotherapy. It is indeed possible that cytostatic (agents used during chemotherapy) cause damage to the future child, even if recent studies had reassuring results.

After a study...

According to a study, 63% of patients who have suffered from cancer believe that the period after cancer is more difficult than the treatment period itself. Patients say it’s an upsetting period they’re not prepared for. The difficulties encountered are many. They affect the patient’s employment: 17% of those who are used to exercise a professional activity never returned to work.