This archive report was first published on 28 October 2021.
Being declared cancer-free is a reassuring milestone for breast cancer patients and survivors. However, the journey to recovery is far from over.
According to mental health experts, breast cancer survivors often struggle with fears of life not returning to normal after treatment. This fear is rooted in the uncertainty of the future and the drastic changes that come with the disease.
Shock, denial, and disbelief are common emotions experienced by breast cancer patients, especially if they have been healthy their entire lives. The diagnosis can leave them feeling unsure of how the future will be and sad that their life will have to make a drastic change.
Some survivors may feel emotionally numb, even if they are determined to conquer the disease. However, it's essential to acknowledge and address these emotions to restore confidence and self-esteem.
Mental health experts advise that the sooner one confronts the physical changes of breast cancer treatment with support, the faster the confidence restoration will be. This can be achieved by talking to a doctor, engaging with survivors in support groups, and sharing feelings with friends and family.
Additionally, breast cancer survivors may experience changes in their sexuality and intimacy due to the disease and its treatment. Body changes, scars after surgery, and hair loss can be outward signs of a battle with cancer, leading to feelings of incompleteness, unfemininity, or unattractiveness.
Some survivors may experience vaginal dryness, pain, and low libido as side effects of treatment-induced early menopause. Others may opt for reconstruction procedures and wearing prostheses to restore their appearance after surgery.
It's essential to note that reconstruction does not bring back the sensation of the breast as one would experience with the natural one.
Another concern for breast cancer survivors is the fear of recurrence. According to the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, only about five to 10 percent of women with stage 1 or 2 breast cancer have a recurrence in the same breast, chest wall, or lymph nodes after initial treatment.
Despite being declared cancer-free, survivors may find themselves with more time to worry about when the other shoe is likely to fall. They may feel pressured to feel and behave like life is back to normal because they are 'cancer-free.'
However, it's not uncommon for breast cancer survivors to rush to the doctor at the slightest unrelated symptom, fearing that the cancer has come back. This fear is understandable, given the uncertainty of the disease.
Thanks to advances in medicine and healthcare, women can preserve their eggs to postpone childbearing until after cancer treatment is achieved. According to Fertility Point Kenya, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may affect reproductive health by damaging the ovaries.
Increasing research continues to confirm that pregnancy does not elevate cancer recurrence after successful treatment, according to the American Cancer Society. Additionally, there is no proof yet that links any direct effect on babies of women with a history of breast cancer.
