The holiday season is often filled with family traditions, festive activities and gatherings with loved ones. But if you’ve recently gone through cancer treatment, you may be adjusting to changes in your body and energy levels, and a new understanding of what life looks like for you.
Here are some ways to look after yourself if you’re navigating the holidays post-treatment.
1) Give yourself time to adjust
A big part of adjusting is learning how to manage expectations – both your own and others. Family, friends and coworkers may need to be reminded that healing and getting back to normal is a gradual process. Have patience with yourself and remember that your physical, mental and emotional recovery is unique to you. See our resource on finding your new normal.
2) Ask for help when you need it
When we asked members of CancerConnection.ca – our online community for people who have been affected by cancer – to share how they’ve navigated holidays during difficult times, their advice was to lean on your support network and not put too much pressure on the holidays.
“Do what you are able to – don't overdo it and delegate when necessary. Put up lights, decorate, bake – do what makes your heart feel full and what you enjoy.”
3) Recognize and acknowledge your worries
After completing treatment, it’s normal for people to worry about cancer coming back. While this is something you can’t control, there are some things you can do to cope with your worries. This could include talking to your doctor during regular follow-up care and knowing what symptoms to watch out for. With time, the fear of cancer coming back should become easier to manage.
4) Care for your emotional health
While many people experience relief and joy after completing cancer treatment, it’s also normal to experience anger, grief, depression or anxiety. Talking about your emotions and thoughts could be helpful to your emotional and mental health – especially during the holiday season, which can bring added expectations.
You can confide in family, friends, other survivors or mental health professionals like a therapist or counsellor. If you think you may have depression, talk to your healthcare team. They can refer you to a specialist such as psychologist or psychiatrist for medicine or therapy.
5) Learn about available resources
As you recover physically and mentally, accepting support can help you while you heal. This could include communicating your limits as you get your energy back. You might also join a cancer support group, talk to a mental health professional or connect with a supportive online community like CancerConnection.ca.
While taking part in festive holiday activities, you might be focusing on practical, everyday concerns like finances, work or personal care after completing treatment. A social worker can tell you about the grants or programs in your province or community that you might be eligible for. This can include things like government benefits, financial support or housing programs.
Life after cancer treatment is often a time of change and adjustment. If you know someone who has cancer or has just gone through treatment, CCS also has advice to share for how to help that person in your life.
Browse the Canadian Cancer Society’s programs and services to help answer your questions, find community and connection, and manage life during and after cancer.