Living With Cancer

Living with cancer is becoming more common. Treatments are improving survival rates. More people are managing cancer as a chronic condition.¹

Treatment may go on for varied lengths of time. Doctors may be unable to guarantee that cancer will go away. You may need to make tough decisions about treatment options. This uncertainty can be stressful.¹

Learning to live with cancer and coping with cancer can be hard. Cancer can affect almost every part of your life. This article covers some common challenges. Talk to your healthcare team about how cancer is affecting you.

Managing side effects of cancer treatment

Managing side effects of cancer treatment is an ongoing part of living with cancer. Side effects can be physical or emotional. They can range from mild to severe. They can also change over time.^2,3

Side effects depend on your specific type of treatment and other factors. Some common side effects are pain, infections, hair loss, and nausea. Managing these side effects may include:³

• Getting regular bloodwork and other tests
• Washing your hands often to prevent infection
• Using a cooling cap during treatment to keep more hair
• Taking anti-nausea or pain medicines

Many other side effects are possible. Before treatment, ask your healthcare team about potential side effects. Ask how to prevent or manage them. During treatment, tell your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms.²

Staying active with cancer

Exercise is safe and beneficial for most people with cancer. The best type of exercise is different for everyone. Physical activity can:⁴

• Improve quality of life
• Give you more energy and reduce fatigue
• Help you cope with side effects
• Reduce your risk of new cancers
• Help you maintain a healthy weight
• Strengthen your muscles, bones, and immune system
• Relieve stress
• Improve sleep

Expert groups publish guidelines for people with cancer. Talk to your healthcare team about an exercise plan that fits your needs and schedule. They can also connect you with personal trainers or physical therapists. These professionals can help you exercise safely.⁴

Managing mental health during treatment

Cancer can affect your mental health at any point. It is common to struggle at diagnosis, during treatment, or after treatment. The first few months of treatment often come with large changes. You may deal with changes in how you look and feel. It can feel like this uncertainty never goes away.⁵

Cancer affects each person in different ways. Some common feelings can be:^5,6

• Shock
• Anger or frustration
• Anxiety
• Sadness or hopelessness
• Lack of confidence
• Shift in identity

Coping with these feelings is important. Mental health professionals and counselors can help. They can help you process and express feelings. They can also suggest coping strategies. This may include:^1,5,6

• Talking about your emotions with friends and family
• Getting involved in your local community
• Making time for hobbies and interests
• Exercising
• Focusing on the present and what you can control
• Techniques to remain positive and hopeful
• Yoga, meditation, and other relaxation therapies
• Therapy or medicines for anxiety or depression

Financial impact of cancer

The costs of cancer can add to stress. About 75 percent of people with cancer worry about paying for treatment and day-to-day costs.⁷

Even with health insurance, cancer treatment is costly. New treatments are getting more expensive. Insurance plans may require out-of-pocket costs. You may have extra costs for travel, childcare, and home care.⁷

Some people with cancer have a lower income. This can force tough decisions about treatment. Some tips for managing the financial impact include:⁷

• Ask your healthcare team about the costs of treatment.
• Ask if less expensive treatment options will work just as well.
• Make sure your health insurance is active.
• See if your insurance has a case manager who can handle medical bills.
• Ask if there are resources to help with treatment costs.
• Talk to a financial counselor or social worker.

Traveling with cancer

Many people with cancer can travel safely. There may be certain times when your risk of side effects is highest. Talk to your doctor about the best timing for travel.⁸

Infection is a common risk during travel. Chemotherapy or other treatments may reduce your ability to fight infections. Make sure you are up to date on vaccinations. Consider avoiding areas where outbreaks are common, such as cruise ships.⁸

Talk to your doctor about your travel plans. They can suggest ways to stay healthy while traveling. Bring extra medicine on a trip in case there are travel delays. Carry a summary of your condition with you. This could help in an emergency.⁸

Working with cancer

Cancer and treatment may change what work looks like. Some people still work the same schedule. Some people work with special conditions (called accommodations). Others need to reduce how much they work.⁹

How much cancer treatment affects your work depends on:⁹

• The stage of your cancer
• Your type of treatment
• Your overall health
• The type of work you do
• Your treatment schedule

Talk to your healthcare team about your plans to work during treatment. They can tell you what side effects may affect your work. Try to time treatment so that you have time to recover. Getting help at home can save energy for work.⁹

People with cancer have legal protections in the workplace. For example, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations. This can include modified schedules, assistive equipment, or restructured jobs. Talk to your human resources department about your options.⁹

Routine scans and remission

If cancer has gone into remission, you may feel relieved and hopeful. You may also be worried about cancer coming back.¹⁰

Regular follow-up appointments are important for people in remission. Check-ups spot issues early. They manage any long-term side effects of treatment.¹⁰

At these check-ups, you will have tests like the ones used for diagnosis. Routine scans and bloodwork will look for any signs of cancer returning. You may get these routine tests every few months. After a long time, you may only need follow-up tests every year.¹⁰