When Life Feels Different After Mesothelioma Treatment
Health & Wellness
Written by Dana Nolan | Edited by Amy Edel
Finishing mesothelioma treatment can feel like a major milestone. After surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy, many patients look forward to recovering and returning to a sense of normalcy. But the period after treatment can also involve unexpected emotions, including anxiety, uncertainty and confusion.
As a therapist who has worked with cancer patients throughout my career, I’ve seen how difficult this transition can be. In our monthly online Mesothelioma Support Group, I’ve heard from many people who feel grateful to be finished with treatment but still have questions about what comes next.
Why Life After Treatment Can Feel Uncertain
After mesothelioma treatment ends, patients may have fewer appointments with their health care team. Follow-up care, also called surveillance, typically involves periodic scans and other tests to monitor their mesothelioma. Even when patients feel relieved to finish treatment, the time between appointments can leave them feeling uneasy.
Common Questions From Support Group Members
- “Why does it feel scary not seeing my health care team as frequently as I used to?”
- “How do I know what physical symptoms to look out for?”
- “Why is it so long between checkups and scans? I wish I could be scanned every month.”
- “When will I feel normal again?”
During treatment, patients often have frequent contact with their medical team and a clear schedule of appointments. After treatment, they may need to adjust to a different routine while waiting for their next mesothelioma scan or checkup.
I encourage patients to ask their mesothelioma doctor about their follow-up care plan. Find out what the scans and bloodwork are intended to monitor, how often you should expect appointments and which symptoms you should report to your oncology team. Knowing what to expect can ease some of the anxiety that accompanies this phase of care.
Adjusting to Physical Changes
Mesothelioma treatment can change how people feel about their bodies. Some survivors have scars, lumps or other physical changes that take time to adjust to. They may need to develop a new sense of what feels normal for them.
Recovery can also take longer than people expect. Some patients continue to experience mesothelioma symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath and pain or side effects of mesothelioma treatment. These effects can limit daily activities and make it difficult to return to previous routines.
I’ve found that people sometimes expect to feel better or resume their usual activities soon after finishing treatment. Whether someone has surgery, radiation or systemic treatment, the body may need considerable time to recover and regain energy. I encourage people to be patient with themselves as they heal.
Give Yourself Time to Adjust
People can experience a wide range of emotions after mesothelioma treatment, from gratitude and relief to anxiety and uncertainty. You don’t have to feel only grateful or happy because treatment has ended. You can appreciate reaching this point while still having concerns about your health and future.
Be patient and kind to yourself as you adjust to this new phase of care. If you’re struggling emotionally, consider talking with a mental health professional or sharing your concerns in a support group on Facebook, online or in person. Talking with others who understand what you’re experiencing can help you work through these changes.
Keep communicating with your mesothelioma doctor about your concerns and follow-up care. Knowing what your care plan involves and which symptoms to report can help you feel more confident as you adjust to life after treatment.
