Walking In Cancer’s Shoes

WALKING IN CANCER’S SHOES

Guest Post by Shirley Ledlie

For anyone lucky enough not to have suffered from cancer it’s an understandable assumption that survivors, with a good prognosis, can go back to their normal carefree lives. Wrong. The ‘new normal’ is exactly that – new.
After much research and first-hand experience, I’ve found a big black hole where mental health support should be for ‘life after cancer’ or the ‘new normal’.

It’s simply not possible to get over the trauma in a few weeks or months after you have finished your last treatment. And if you are one of the lucky ones that have not been diagnosed with secondary cancer at the time of your first diagnosis, you are scared it’s going to return, each twinge, pain, or anything new sending you into a blind panic. Going for your yearly mammogram it’s a terrifying ordeal, convinced they will find something and then there’s scan-anxiety, yes that’s a word on all our lips, it does exist. It doesn’t get any easier with each passing year. In fact, for some of us, it can get worse because you think you’ve been lucky and that will run out, with this scan. You are paranoid each time a loved one gets something wrong with them, thinking the worse. You think you are pushing your luck by planning anything special too far in advance. Survivors I personally know never book anything more than three months into the future for fear of bringing bad luck.

Although everyone’s cancer journey is different, if you have surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy it’s usually around a year of your life. A year of tears, trauma, sleepless nights, and black thoughts. Of course, we get on with our lives, but the PTSD is real, and survivors are left to deal with it the best way they can. And we do get on with muddling our way through, grateful for each and every day. Things that were once taken for granted are now cherished.

If left unchecked these feelings, for some, can get out of control but many will at least use support groups even if the majority are online, they can help, immensely.

Survivors should be routinely offered support for their mental health and if they don’t want it initially after finishing treatment, at least they know where to turn to if they need it in the future. It’s hard for family and friends to understand, if they haven’t walked in cancer’s shoes, and it’s understandable to expect the patient to forget it and move on. If only it were that easy.

12 Things You Should Avoid Saying to Someone Newly Diagnosed with Cancer

1. Don’t worry you’ll beat this!
2. I know someone with the same cancer as you, and they are fine.
3. Suggest trying unproven treatments they’ve read about on the internet.
4. Stay positive!
5. It’s only hair.
6. You’re brave.
7. You don’t look ill.
8. What stage are you?
9. OMG, that’s terrible.
10. It could be a worse type of cancer.
11. So many more people survive cancer these days.
12. You’ve lost so much weight.

Of course, it’s natural not knowing what to say to a friend who unexpectedly tells you they have been diagnosed but you can listen to them and not pry, they will tell you what they feel like disclosing. Let them know you are there for them, to listen to them, and most importantly offer practical support. Do they need driving anywhere, you will drive the kids to their swimming lessons, and tell them what meal you will make for the family and do it! Don’t ask because they will probably say no that they can manage so you can say, ‘I’ll bring a lasagne round tomorrow at lunchtime’ and never let them down.

Reliable practical support is vital!

Do remember that when their treatment is over, life doesn’t go back to normal for the survivor, but it does move forward and with the right mental health support in place, if it’s needed, there is a bright future.

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About the author –

S. A. Ledlie
Writer and a former weekly columnist for the Bella UK magazine
Author of four books including Naked in the Wind – chemo, hair loss, and deceit.
smarturl.it/NITW
www.saledlie.com

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