A cancer survivor discusses the ongoing emotional roller coaster ride of cancer survivorship.
BY Barbara Tako
PUBLISHED February 20, 2020
Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools–We'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com, or www.clutterclearingchoices.com.
I dodged a bullet recently, a blood test result that led to a PET (positron emission tomography) scan. This was the same scan that found the metastatic breast cancer that killed my mom two years ago. I was worried, and kind of freaked out. However, my PET scan did not show cancer —this time.
As an almost ten-year cancer survivor, I know it will not be the last bullet that comes in my direction and that one day, one of those "bullets" may take my life if something else doesn't.
The fears and worries about cancer recurrence, a new cancer or side effects from past treatment are legitimate and ongoing for a cancer survivor. To manage, I have a follow-up plan that includes trying to do the following:
As an almost ten-year cancer survivor, I know it will not be the last bullet that comes in my direction and that one day, one of those "bullets" may take my life if something else doesn't.
The fears and worries about cancer recurrence, a new cancer or side effects from past treatment are legitimate and ongoing for a cancer survivor. To manage, I have a follow-up plan that includes trying to do the following:
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