Saturday, June 24, 2017

Being a Breast Cancer Survivor Is a Relief, but It Takes Time to Re-adjust

Hearing the words that you are breast-cancer-free is a huge relief. You have finished your final chemotherapy or radiation treatment, or your reconstructive surgery is complete. Congratulations. It is definitely a time to rejoice and celebrate. But as you will quickly discover, no one is completely finished with breast cancer.
Lifestyle choices, mental status, outlook on life, and just about everything else have changed once you’ve had breast cancer. If you are having difficulty returning to the life you once had, you are not alone.
After my double mastectomy, I thought my life would go back to the way it always did. I was wrong. Recovery lasts forever, or so it seems, because you have to regain muscle strength, manage your pain, and deal with other physical and emotional effects. Do not be hard on yourself for having feelings or being frustrated. You are completely normal. Being a survivor is a huge blessing, but it comes with strings attached.


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