Post treatment resources

1knightsjourney

I am at the end of a long year of intensive cancer treatment. I've had something on my mind a lot today, and I'm wondering who else is feeling lost after cancer treatment. Does anyone feel like your community has support and resources available to you AFTER treatment? It seems that, as a lot of us are finishing our active treatment, we feel overwhelmed and lost as to what is next. There was support during treatment, but it kind of feels like they send us on our way when we are done and there doesn't seem to be much support for post-trauma or survivorship issues to get us back on track. What are you all doing to address the next step?

Janetanned

I found myself asking the same question - what next?  After such intense care and support during treatment, I felt very vulnerable once active treatment ended.  To address this, I made an appointment to see a therapist to help me put things in perspective.  While she was not specifically trained to help cancer survivors, she had experience treating PTSD.  It was exactly what I needed for a few months. 

Most medical centers have social workers or psychologists who see cancer patients to help them deal with all of the issues that arise.  That probably would have been better, but my center was undergoing some staff changes and the people they had in place were not available when I was.  It was also suggested by my MO that I find a group at the center or in my community.  The times they met didn't work with my schedule either.

There are recourses out there.  The trick is to find how to access them.  Maybe your MO has some suggestions?