The end of treatment is a time when people often expect to feel relieved, happy and able to get on with life again, but it can take some time for your body and mind to recover and to adjust to life after cancer treatment. Here you will find support and information to help you in this phase.
Life after cancer treatment
We have information for cancer survivors including coping with side-effects and emotions, follow-up care, dealing with practical issues and living a healthy lifestyle.
Coping after cancer
It isn’t unusual to feel quite low and lost after your treatment has ended, especially during the first few months. You may find that feelings you bottled up during treatment may hit you afterwards – sometimes months or years afterwards.
Remember that healing your mind is also part of recovering from cancer. This may take some time.
A common concern for people who have had cancer is that it may come back (recur) in the future.
When cancer comes back, this is known as recurrence. A fear of recurrence can affect you both emotionally and physically. Some people may experience emotions such as worry, fear, anger and sadness. This fear can affect the way people behave and how they respond to situations. Some people may be on high alert and others may avoid following up on concerns or avoid talking about cancer.
Follow up care
After your cancer treatment has ended, you will still need regular check-ups. This is called follow-up.
We have information on what this care might include for you and how to get the best out of your follow-up appointments.
Life after cancer programme
Our Life and Cancer – Enhancing Survivorship (LACES) programme is for adult patients who have finished treatment or who are on maintenance therapy and living well with advanced cancer. The LACES workshop can help you to adjust, live well, and feel your best, physically and emotionally.
Our cancer nurses deliver workshops online and face to face in some of our Daffodil Centres.
To join a workshop, email us at patienteducation@irishcancer.ie
You can also watch our LACES videos online in your own time
Watch the full series of 8 videos covering topics such as diet and exercise, mental health, self-confidence and supports available to you.
LACES was developed by the Irish Cancer Society in partnership with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
Healthy living
Many people want to live a healthy lifestyle after a cancer diagnosis. A healthy lifestyle can help your recovery and support your health into the future.
Visit our healthy living page to find out more.
Fertility
The effect that cancer treatment has on fertility can vary. There are many factors that affect it such as age, type of cancer, type of treatment and how long you have treatment for.
Visit our fertility page to find out more.
Returning to work
When you have finished cancer treatment, you may want to go back to your old way of life and return to work straight away. But this may not happen in the way you expect.
Our Welfare and Supports team can help
Get help and support
Support Line
Our Cancer Nurses offer confidential advice, support and information for anyone affected by cancer. Call or email supportline@irishcancer.ie. Video calls available. Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Our Daffodil Centres
Our Daffodil Centres in 13 hospitals nationwide are staffed by Cancer Nurses and trained volunteers who provide face-to-face advice, support and information for anyone affected by cancer.
