So now what? You’ve had your surgery, or the last treatment is over. You’re out on the other side of the wild ride of cancer treatment and the dust is settling, even though you’ll still have follow-up visits to your doctors.
Though you’ve come through, you may feel just as uncertain now as you did when you began your journey. You may have a new perspective on life, perhaps you want to live it more fully, to give something back, to find your true calling.
You may feel fear, depression, hope, and a desire to pursue your dreams all at the same time!
As you move towards your new normal, it’s helpful to look at your thoughts and feelings now.
Thinking tools to try:
Try these thinking tools to help you figure out how to have more good days in your new normal. They’re good, for example, if:
Try these thinking tools to solve problems relating to a specific issue. They’re good, for example, if:
Try this if you’re having fears of your cancer coming back.
It’s common for supporters to think they’re not needed any longer once treatment is over and the cancer is gone.
Rather, the kind of support the survivor needs has changed. As a co-survivor you can help them find their new normal in life. You can help them to work through the thinking tools we’ve suggested above, and to put any decisions into action.
Don’t forget to think about the support you need too: you’ve been through cancer as a co-survivor.
