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Reconnecting with Cancer Survivors:
Suggestions on adjusting to life after
treatment
Newswise — More people in the U.S. are
living longer after a cancer diagnosis. For
this increasing number of cancer survivors,
living a better quality of life is just as
important as living through the disease.
Improving communication and acknowledging
stress can enhance the quality of life of
cancer survivors and those who support them.
“Connecting with others can be vital to
effectively adapt to what many term as a
‘new normal’,” said Frances A. Zandstra, RN,
OCN, director of the Cancer Survivorship
Program at The University of Texas M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center.
A cancer survivor is commonly defined as
anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer,
from the time of diagnosis and treatment
through the remaining years of life. M. D.
Anderson uses the term “cancer survivor” to
describe people who have been diagnosed with
cancer and the people in their lives who are
affected by the diagnosis, including family
members, friends and caregivers.
Finding new ways to connect with a doctor or
health care provider, spouse, caregiver,
family members, friends and coworkers takes
time and effort on both sides.
Find Ways to Regain Closeness
“As a cancer survivor, it’s important to let
people know what you need. This is the first
step to reconnecting,” Zandstra said
For spouses, friends and family members,
finding new ways to generate closeness also
is important. “It’s important to ask the
cancer survivor ‘What do you need?’,”
Zandstra said. “Showing them you’re willing
to make that effort is crucial to building
strong relationships.”
Connect With Your Doctor
For cancer survivors, developing a dialog
with a health care team member can help take
away that fear of the unknown. A health care
provider can help survivors develop a
follow-up plan with a suggested schedule for
exams and check-ups to screen for cancer
recurrence, as well as diseases/side effects
that may result from treatment.
“If you have a new question or concern,
please contact your health care team,” said
Zandstra. It is a patient’s right and
responsibility to ask questions. “Keep
asking questions until you understand what
your health care team is saying and what you
need to do to take care of yourself.”
Small Actions Make a Big Difference
Connecting with cancer survivors can mean
understanding and acceptance. Take the time
to learn what that person needs and what
feels good within the “new normal.”
Ways for friends, family members and
caregivers to reconnect with survivors
include:
* Talking
* Listening
* Finding humor
* Creating memorable moments
* Touching
* Sharing moments of silence
“It’s the little things that people often
take for granted that can really make a
difference,” Zandstra said.
New and improved therapies are allowing an
increasing number of people to enjoy a full
life after cancer treatment. According to
the National Cancer Institute, more than 10
million cancer survivors are alive in the
U.S. today. About 14 percent of those
survivors were diagnosed more than 20 years
ago. Sixty four percent of adults diagnosed
with cancer today can expect to be alive in
five years.
For additional information on cancer
survivorship, visit
http://www.mdanderson.org/cancerawareness.
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