Taking Charge of Your Future as a Cancer SurvivorYou and your loved ones may have focused so muchon handling the immediate effects of your cancertreatment – chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery –that now that treatment is complete, no one knowswhat to do next.Managing cancer recovery is unique for each person.Although many focus on physical changes, you mayface unexpected emotional and social issues. Oneof the most challenging obstacles may be coming toterms with what is normal for you now.DEALING WITH EMOTIONSThe emotional effects of cancer can sometimes bethe most overwhelming. Worrying about cancercoming back is normal. As time goes by, you mayexperience this fear less and less, but some eventscan cause you to become concerned about yourhealth, such as follow-up visits, anniversaries andsymptoms like those you had when diagnosed.You may also feel angry, tense and sad. This may becompounded by your own or others’ expectations thatyou should be happy now that treatment is over. Copingwith treatment, changes to your body and alteredrelationships can all contribute to these feelings. Talk toyour doctor if your feelings don’t go away or lessen overtime. He or she can determine if you are suffering fromdepression and suggest treatment options.Loneliness is also common. You may miss thesupport you received from your health care team.And it’s normal to feel cut off from family and friends.Often they want to help but don’t know how or maybe scared of the disease.Because your body has changed, you may not beable to return to previous activities and you may feelembarrassed about the changes. Give yourself timeto get comfortable with your “new” body and shareyour feelings with loved ones.To help manage your emotional response to cancer,consider joining a support group (see page 6) ormeeting with a professional counselor or spiritual leader.CHANGING RELATIONSHIPSOften expectations about life returning to the waythings were before treatment are not realized. Yourfamily and friends may be disappointed when you can’ttake over roles you used to have, and you may wantmore from your loved ones than you receive. The wayFOLLOW-UP MEDICAL CARETalk with your health care team about what toexpect after cancer treatments end, so you canplan for medical care, adopt lifestyle changesand make informed decisions. Ask about:> Tests and care you’ll need and how oftenyou’ll need them.> Physical problems you may experience and whatyou can do to prevent, reduce or solve them.> Potential long-term effects of treatment andthe warning signs.> Symptoms that cancer may be returning andactions you should take.> Fears you may have about follow-up care.During checkups, your doctor is primarilylooking for signs of recurrence, cancer elsewherein your body and side effects from treatment. Tohelp your doctor assess your health, share anychanges you notice in your health and/or body,even if you think they are not related to cancer.Also discuss differences you notice in your bodyfrom how it was before your diagnosis.your family interacts may be permanently changed. Talkwith loved ones about everyone’s expectations and try tounderstand each other’s fears and feelings.In addition, sexual problems can affect how you relateto your partner. As you struggle to accept the changesyourself, you may worry about your partner’s response toscars, ostomies, sexual dysfunction and infertility. Oftensexual issues do not get better on their own. For help,talk with your doctor or consider seeing a sex therapist.LOOKING AHEAD<strong>Enloe</strong> understands how difficult it can be to be acancer survivor and is working with our professionalsand community to build a comprehensive survivorshipprogram. We also offer a variety of support groupsthat you can join at any time as well as acupunctureclinics to help with the effects of treatment. The <strong>Enloe</strong>Regional Cancer <strong>Center</strong> offers a library with manyhelpful resources. An online catalog for this library andthe <strong>Enloe</strong> Health Learning <strong>Center</strong> library can be foundat www.enloe.org/library.Although recovery can be challenging, it also presentsan opportunity to make positive changes in yourlife. You may come out of the experience with a newunderstanding of what is important to you and makechoices that support those values. zTri Counties Bank contributed $25,000 to <strong>Enloe</strong>’s Cancer Connections program as part of theorganizations’ “Partners in a Healthy Community” initiative. To learn more, visit www.enloe.org/news.ENLOE MEDICAL CENTERBOARD <strong>OF</strong> TRUSTEES<strong>Enloe</strong> <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> is a locally owned,nonprofit hospital governed by thegroup of citizens listed below.Matthews Dewayne Jackson Sr., ChairJudy Sitton, Vice ChairStephen Pearce, MD,Secretary/TreasurerTom Lando, Chair ElectWarren BrusieAttila Kasza, MD (Ex Officio)Eric LarrabeeMarsha MartinJoseph Matthews, MDValerie MillerCharles Merriman, MD (Ex Officio)Kenneth N. Derucher (Ex Officio)Monroe Sprague, MDMike Wiltermood,President/Chief Executive Officer (Ex Officio)ENLOE FOUNDATIONBOARD <strong>OF</strong> DIRECTORSSince its founding in 1986, <strong>Enloe</strong>Foundation’s success is due to the exemplaryleadership provided by our volunteer Boardof Directors. These men and womengive their time and talent to fulfillthe mission of the <strong>Enloe</strong> Foundation.Kenneth N. Derucher, ChairLaverna Hubbard, Vice ChairChristie Chrysler, SecretaryLiz FlemingDan HerbertMatthews Dewayne Jackson Sr.Sandy KalinowskiMelisse LarrabeeMichael E. MarksTom MartinReneé McAmisSusan R. MinasianSuzy RoachPatti SouzaDick SteinLance TennisMike Wiltermood,President/Chief Executive OfficerMyron Machula, Chief Financial OfficerRobert A. Adams, Vice Presidentwww.enloe.org 7