Feelings after breast cancer

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It’s likely that women will experience a range of emotions once treatment for breast cancer is over. Feelings can range from relief that treatment is over, happiness about being able to return to things that are important, nervousness about what the future holds, or a sense of isolation because regular appointments with the treatment team have stopped.

Some women feel uncertain about the future and worried about life after breast cancer. Women manage these uncertainties in different ways. Living with uncertainty can be upsetting or overwhelming. For some people, uncertainty can be the motivation to make changes in their life.

It’s important that once treatment is over you continue to share your feelings with those close to you and seek help from a health professional if needed. Some women find it helpful to join a support group or talk to other women who have been through a similar experience.

This section talks about how women and those close to them may feel once treatment is over. There are pages that deal with specific feelings and issues such as fear of recurrence, loss, depression, isolation and sense of self. Links are provided to additional resources and sources of information.

If any of your feelings are overwhelming you or preventing you from sleeping or doing everyday activities, talk to your doctor, nurse or another health professional. Treatments and therapies are available and can help.

Treatment for breast cancer can last for some time and some women find it hard to come to terms with treatment ending. Some women say they feel like a different person after breast cancer. 

Family, friends and colleagues may expect you to be ‘back to normal’ when treatment is over. But for you, ‘normal’ may not mean quite the same thing as it did before your diagnosis. You may feel differently about your body, your relationships or you may have different priorities now that treatment is over. Some people find it hard to manage these changes.

It can be helpful to talk to friends and family about how you’re feeling. If you’re anxious or worried about what the future holds, talk to a member of your treatment team. Remember, the feelings of anxiety, sadness, fear or worry will not last forever. Most people find that things improve with support and with time.

Some women find that a diagnosis of breast cancer gives them a new perspective on life and makes them rethink what is important to them. You may find yourself considering new directions for your work or social activities or you may find you make new friends through your cancer journey. For some women, the experience of being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer provides opportunities they would not have considered before their diagnosis.

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