Coping With Your Emotions as a Stomach Cancer Survivor

After defeating stomach (or gastric) cancer, acknowledge the physical and mental strength it took to go through life with cancer. You overcame a challenging period that included active treatment, and it’s natural to feel a sense of relief and joy.

However, as you transition into the post-cancer phase, you may feel overwhelmed by the changes in your life. You are navigating uncharted waters but remember that this is a new phase of your life, and it’s okay to take your time adjusting to your new normal.

In this article, we will explore some tips for coping with survivorship and adjusting to life after cancer while covering the worries and fears that may come along with the possibility of cancer recurrence.

As a gastric cancer survivor, your everyday life will undoubtedly be different from when you were receiving active treatment. Immediately after treatment ends, you may see your doctors fairly often to discuss and develop a survivorship care plan encompassing suggested schedules for follow-up appointments and future tests. This allows your cancer care team to monitor you closely and ensure any signs of cancer recurrence and second cancers do not go unnoticed. Even in your post-cancer journey, they will continue to be present to ensure your overall well-being. Over time, you may see your doctors less often if there are no worrying signs.

> Learn more about the changes you can expect in life after gastric cancer

Cancer survivors may go through a range of emotions, from joy and relief to guilt, fear and concern. The next sections are some examples of the difficult feelings that gastric cancer survivors experience in their life after the disease.

Fear and concern

More often than not, one of a cancer survivor’s greatest concerns is having to go through cancer again. Receiving a cancer diagnosis is scary and undergoing treatment can be extremely difficult. For this reason, many survivors struggle with their fear of cancer recurrence, which refers to cancer that has returned after completing treatment. Others may worry about the possibility of developing a second cancer that is unrelated to gastric cancer.

If you’re a gastric cancer survivor, please know that these fears and concerns are understandable and normal. However, if these emotions become too overwhelming, they may end up interfering with your everyday life. Speak to your cancer care team about these concerns and they will take the time to explain any issues you may be experiencing. They will also take necessary precautions and monitor you closely to make sure any cancers are detected in a timely manner.

Stress and anxiety

While completing treatment can be an exciting time for many gastric cancer survivors, you may also feel stress and anxiety during this part of your cancer journey.

If you have a fear of cancer recurrence or second cancers, the anticipation before a follow-up test or waiting for your test results may be a major source of worry for you or even your family members. This is sometimes casually called ‘scanxiety’. The uncertainty and lack of control that you have regarding the course of your health after ending treatment may also make you very anxious.

If you find yourself feeling anxious or stressed, take a deep breath and surround yourself with your loved ones. Accept that you cannot control the outcome of test results, but you can control your reaction to them. Try listening to calming music or engaging in other relaxing activities to help ease your mind and reduce your stress levels.

Loneliness

Making the transition to survivorship can be a lonely experience. Many cancer patients form close relationships with their doctors and cancer care team over the course of their treatment regimen. When treatment ends and your medical visits become less frequent, it is normal to miss the comfort, security and support that your cancer care team provided. This may be especially true as you try to navigate worries and difficulties that you’ve never experienced before, such as the late effects of treatment and a fear of recurrence.

You may also feel cut off from your family and friends because they may not be able to truly understand what you’re going through as you navigate life after gastric cancer. Experiencing these feelings of loneliness and isolation is completely normal. However, it can lead to greater depressive and anxiety symptoms and a poorer quality of life.

Acknowledging the difficult emotions that come with survivorship is an important first step to managing them. Apart from that, here are some tips to cope with your emotions as a gastric cancer survivor.

Reach out to family and friends for support

Spending quality time with loved ones can help to relieve the emotional and mental burden you experience. As some of your most trusted confidants, they can offer emotional support by means of providing comfort and a listening ear. Some may even be able to give you more tangible forms of support, such as attending follow-up appointments with you if you feel ‘scanxiety’.

Seek advice from your care team

While you may not see your doctors and cancer care team as often during survivorship, speaking to them about your emotions can be very helpful in alleviating some of the mental distress you might be facing. If you have fears about cancer recurrence or second cancers, you can ask them the following questions:

• What are my chances of recurrence?
• What can I do to lower my cancer risk?
• What signs or symptoms do I need to keep an eye out for?

Knowing the answers to these questions can minimize the uncertainty and anxiety you have over your health. Alternatively, if you are struggling with the difficult feelings that are affecting your day-to-day life, your doctors can help to refer you to other medical professionals, such as licensed counselors and social workers. These trained experts will work with you to improve your mental and emotional health.

Join a support group near you

Support groups are a great way to meet other people who have similar, first-hand experiences with navigating cancer survivorship. They provide a safe space to talk comfortably about your feelings and concerns. This is useful in relieving stress and helping you feel more understood and less alone. Support groups are also a place to discuss practical information, such as managing the late effects of treatment or overcoming emotional challenges. Talking about these topics could ease your feelings of fear and anxiety.

If you’re interested in joining a cancer support group, ask your care team if your hospital or medical center is hosting any for cancer survivors. Apart from that, social workers can also connect you to cancer support groups in your wider community.

As a gastric cancer survivor, know that there are resources available that are relevant to this next stage of your cancer journey. Use those resources and continue relying on the people who supported you. It will be difficult, new, and maybe even scarier, but find ways that work best for you in order to cope healthily.