Cancer Recovery: A Pathway for Survivors and Caregivers

Coping with a “new normal” after a cancer diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing process. For many people, life just doesn’t feel the same after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Taking care of your mind and body should be the first step to healthy coping. Ask yourself these questions: What brings you joy? What inspires you? Who or what makes you smile the most? What helps you feel grounded?

The answers to those questions can help you identify effective coping mechanisms to help you adjust to your new reality. Here are some additional suggestions from the American Cancer Society to help you remain positive and focus on wellness:¹

• Try relaxing through yoga, meditation or prayer
• Share your feelings with friends and family
• Join a support group and share your story to find comfort in knowing that you’re not isolated
• Try simple exercises like walking, biking and swimming to improve your mood
• Speak with a nutritionist about foods that can keep you healthy and strong
• Find connection through clubs, classes or social gatherings like church or community events

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with decisions when going through cancer treatment, but creating a personalized treatment plan can help you gain more control over the outcome of your diagnosis. Be sure to discuss your treatment plan with family, friends, and your doctor to identify any possible complications or obstacles that you may have overlooked.

If you need help getting started, the American Cancer Society provides helpful resources on treatment types and planning. Once you have established a plan that addresses your primary concerns, you will be better equipped to navigate your cancer treatment journey.

Preparing for Potential Side Effects

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy often take a toll on the body. Learning about potential side effects ahead of time can help you and your family feel more comfortable with the treatment process. Common side effects of cancer treatment include pain, fatigue, anemia, mouth soreness or dryness, nausea, and vomiting.²

If any of these symptoms are disrupting your daily life, experts recommend speaking with your doctor. Small adjustments to your treatment plan, like dosage changes, may help you manage side effects more effectively. If any side effects feel like they could be a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

Managing Side Effects

The first step to managing the side effects of cancer treatment is to formulate a strategic plan that includes the following information:

• A list of side effects that would prompt you to call your doctor’s office
• Major side effects that would require immediate treatment at an emergency room
• The name of an emergency contact on your care team who you can reach if your medical offices are closed

When it comes to managing the side effects of cancer treatment, your best resource will always be your care team. However, you may also find value in hearing the stories of other cancer survivors who have gone through this experience before you.

Although there is no substitute for modern medicine to treat cancer, there are several all-natural home remedies that oncology experts recommend to help you cope with the side effects of your treatment. These types of “complementary” and “integrative” methods include massages, essential oils, nutrition changes, and exercises. Always consult with your doctor and care team first before pursuing any of these suggestions to manage your side effects.

Whether you’re a cancer survivor or a caregiver, overcoming distress and other mental health hurdles is a huge component of life post-diagnosis. Survivors and caregivers often experience a range of emotions after a diagnosis. Some of the most commonly reported feelings and reactions to a cancer diagnosis include:¹

• Overwhelmed
• Fear and Worry
• Stress and Anxiety
• Hope
• Anger
• Sadness and Depression
• Gratitude
• Loneliness
• Guilt

One of the most prevalent concerns among cancer survivors who have completed their treatment regimen is a relapse or recurrence of their cancer. This is a normal and valid concern, and the American Cancer Society has several suggestions on how to reduce these feelings of unease:³

• Practice self-compassion
• Utilize relaxation techniques like focused breathing
• Try completing a focused meditation
• Exercise while doing things you love such as dancing to your favorite song
• Create small, achievable goals

Everyone’s journey is different—and each day is different. No one feels positive and hopeful all the time, but taking small steps like these can help you overcome the periods of negativity and sadness when they occur. For caregivers, you don’t always know what your loved one is going through, but we can all show support and guidance as they travel along their unique path to recovery.

Cancer Navigators

If you have a loved one going through cancer treatment, approach them with empathy. Communication can be a powerful connection tool throughout cancer recovery. In fact, the American Cancer Society recommends using cancer navigators to help you.

These people are trained to help with:

• Screenings
• Financial planning
• Treatment decisions
• Scheduling follow-up appointments

The goal of cancer navigation is to find ways to overcome issues that keep people from getting access to quality cancer care.

Navigating Labels

When speaking with someone impacted by cancer, be sure to choose your words delicately. While some people enjoy positive affirmations and feel empowered by terms like “fighter,” “warrior,” and “survivor,” others may feel that these descriptions place a heavy burden on them and serve as an unpleasant reminder of their new way of living. If you are currently fighting cancer yourself, be open and honest about which labels feel authentic to you and which labels make you feel uncomfortable.

Sisters4Prevention founder Judy Medeiros Fitzgerald shares this perspective: “Rather than assigning labels that may not encompass the breadth of experience, we should focus on promoting individual narratives. Encourage patients to share their stories without the pressure of fitting them into predefined molds. Language is powerful; using terms like ‘person living with cancer’ respects an individual’s journey while leaving space for differing experiences.”

After cancer treatment, life doesn’t just return to the way it was before. Cancer survivors often have trouble adjusting to new routines, rethinking their priorities, and figuring out what comes next. We discussed the importance of establishing a treatment care plan earlier, but there are two other key components to this process that can help you better prepare for a life after treatment:⁴

1. Treatment Summary – A treatment summary describes the process of transitioning off of active treatment once your doctors and health care providers have determined that your cancer is in remission. This summary should include a list of medications you are taking, describe the types of care and procedures you underwent during treatment, and list any ongoing issues you continue to experience.
2. Follow-up Survivorship Care Plan – A painful truth of cancer treatment is that cancer survivors usually need to be monitored for the rest of their lives. By establishing a follow-up survivorship care plan, you can better prepare yourself to address your future health care needs.

Another resource available is the Cancer Care Toolkit provided by the American Cancer Society. It allows you to download worksheets and questions to help you stay organized and encouraged. The future may feel uncertain, but planning for it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Think back to the questions we asked you earlier and reflect on them once more. What brings you joy? What inspires you? Who or what makes you smile the most? What helps you feel grounded? Start small. Think about who and what matters the most to you in this new phase of life. Picturing those things while incorporating a strategic care plan can help improve your outlook on the future.

Navigating Cancer and Your Career

You might be surprised to learn how many resources are available through your employer benefits. Some benefit programs are designed with long-term wellness and financial protection in mind to ease the financial burden during and after cancer treatment.

Examples of Helpful Employer Benefits

• Cancer Insurance – pays cash benefits after a diagnosis of cancer to help reduce financial stress so you can focus on treatment and recovery
• Critical Illness Insurance – provides a lump-sum payment to help cover costs like follow-up care or travel for treatment
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance – offers financial assistance for inpatient hospital stays during treatment or recovery
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) – provide access to mental health counseling and emotional support
• Wellness reimbursements or health savings accounts (HSAs) – may cover therapy, nutrition services, or fitness programs that help with cancer recovery

If you’re not sure which benefits are available to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to your HR team or benefits provider.

Planning for the future doesn't mean that you have everything figured out; it’s about making healthy decisions to support the life you want to live. Start by taking small, meaningful actions and steps that help you focus on your health, your family, your career, and your peace of mind. There are plenty of resources and organizations to help you and your loved ones move forward with your lives.

A Proud Partner of the American Cancer Society

Allstate Benefits is a proud partner of the American Cancer Society, an organization committed to providing vital support for people navigating their cancer journey through its dedicated 24/7 Cancer Helpline, 877.511.2578.

The American Cancer Society does not endorse any product or service.

Life after a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but there’s also room for hope, healing and new possibilities. To learn more about how Cancer Insurance from Allstate Benefits can support you in your time of need, please reach out to a sales representative. Remember that help is always available—from mental health resources to financial tools that help protect your future.

Whether you're adjusting after treatment or standing beside someone who is preparing to embark on their own journey of recovery, you don’t have to navigate cancer alone. As we honor National Cancer Survivors Month, we’re reminded that survivorship is a journey that deserves to be filled with continuous care, compassion and empathy.