A breast cancer diagnosis is a transformative experience that can elicit a wide array of emotions, circumstances, and changes. While the treatment process is undeniably difficult, we often find that the time after remission can be just as tough. Life after breast cancer can be lonely, and many survivors are left to navigate a whole new assortment of emotional and physical challenges. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why the time after a cancer diagnosis can be so solitary and why it’s crucial to develop a community to help you heal and recover.
Why The Time After Survival Can Be So Lonely: A Breast Cancer Non-Profit Perspective
1. The Body After Breast Cancer: How Patients View Themselves
Perhaps the most noticeable consequence of breast cancer is the effect on a survivor’s physique. Mastectomies, lumpectomies, and reconstructive surgery, as well as the physical ramifications of chemotherapy and radiation, can change the way a woman looks and even how she feels inside her own body. These effects can have a profound impact on self-perception and confidence, and can contribute to feelings of loneliness. Breast cancer charities work hard to educate women on how to cope with the body after breast cancer and enhance their view of their new image. There are also support programs to assist women through these difficulties.
These support programs are crucial in helping women navigate the physical and emotional challenges after breast cancer, providing the necessary assistance and resources.
A survivor may feel awkward in public or uncomfortable in social situations, and often avoid events where they feel like they don’t fit in. This can be harmful and only exacerbate the feelings of loneliness and depression.
2. The Mind After Breast Cancer: Metastatic Patients Face Unique Emotional and Psychological Challenges
An additional emotional and psychological challenge for breast cancer survivors is the aftermath of treatment. Many women suffer from anxiety, depression, and even PTSD as they attempt to put their lives back together in the time after breast cancer. The constant, looming fear of a recurrence is paired with an exhausting effort to reclaim their identity after survival.
Promising research is being conducted to improve the emotional and psychological well-being of breast cancer survivors, highlighting the importance of addressing these challenges.
Family and friends often cannot grasp these emotional difficulties and challenges, and this can create a rift between loved ones and the survivor which only serves to deepen feelings of loneliness.
3. The Relationships After Breast Cancer
A breast cancer diagnosis can also cause tension in personal relationships. A partner or friend or family member may not understand how to help, or they may do or say something that inadvertently makes the survivor feel more alone. Some relationships may even end completely in the stress of it all, leaving a survivor to start from scratch building a new group of friends and social connections. How to end breast cancer must include a focus on these relationships as well. Community is a vital part of allowing a survivor to rebuild after treatment.
The pain and suffering of breast cancer and its treatment spreads beyond the individual to affect personal relationships as well, and comprehensive support must include all of these aspects.
Why Community Matters
To combat these difficult and challenging issues, access to breast cancer resources and a supportive, engaged community and support programs is vital. There is something special and uniquely comforting about connecting with others who have gone through the same difficulties and come through to the life after breast cancer stronger and more resilient. Nothing can replicate the comfort, companionship, and practical support that can be found in a breast cancer support group.
In addition, finding the right breast cancer charity can provide invaluable resources, support, and hope for breast cancer patients and survivors.
1. Common Experience and Compassionate Understanding
Breast cancer survivor communities offer something unique and incredibly valuable. The collective and shared experience of those who have undergone the trauma and tumult of diagnosis, treatment, and survival create a space where survivors can openly discuss their fears, frustrations, and triumphs without judgement. This shared experience fosters belonging and lessens feelings of loneliness. Shared experiences can also be a valuable resource for breast cancer research.
2. Emotional and Psychological Assistance for Breast Cancer Patients
For many survivors, support groups and breast cancer charities like Image Reborn Foundation offer much needed emotional and psychological assistance. Image Reborn offers free retreats that seek to refresh and empower breast cancer survivors.
Image Reborn’s retreats provide a safe and relaxing environment for women to remove themselves from the stresses of everyday life and begin the difficult process of healing. Survivors are able to share their stories, and hear the stories of others. They learn and grow together, and foster a sense of sisterhood and belonging. These retreats and support groups can save lives through their emotional and psychological assistance. A primary focus of these retreats and support groups is to improve emotional wellbeing.
By engaging with this type of community, survivors can also find counseling services, mindfulness and stress-reduction exercises, and more to help deal with the psychological aftermath of surviving.
3. Restore and Rebuild Relationships
A sense of community can also assist the survivor in relational healing, as well as rebuild and strengthen personal relationships. Support groups often include communication and relationship workshops to help navigate the complexities of changed relationships with friends and family. Breast cancer charities like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation also work to support survivors in their efforts to restore and rebuild relationships.
Practical Ways To Create A Supportive Community and Support Programs May Seem Overwhelming, but There are Tangible Ways Survivors Can Engage with Others and Build a Network of Love and Support.
There are additional resources available to help survivors engage in support groups, retreats, and online communities. Partnering with a breast cancer foundation and charity is an excellent way to find the resources and support that you or your loved one need.
1. Join Support Groups
Many breast cancer charities, including Image Reborn, have support groups and support program specifically for breast cancer survivors. These groups are available in local communities, and also online for those who may unable to attend in person. There are even metastatic breast cancer patients support groups.
Support groups provide a forum where survivors can share their experiences, seek advice, and give support to others. They can be a priceless resource for emotional and psychological healing.
2. Attend Retreats and Workshops
Retreats and workshops, like those offered by Image Reborn Foundation, are an excellent way to take a break from the stresses of everyday life and focus on healing.
Next Steps After Completing Treatment
Resources for Recovery After Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Image Reborn’s retreats provide beautiful and relaxing environments for women to learn and grow together, and foster a sense of sisterhood and belonging. These retreats and support groups can save lives through their emotional and psychological assistance. A primary focus of these retreats and support groups is to improve emotional wellbeing.
By engaging with this type of community, survivors can also find counseling services, mindfulness and stress-reduction exercises, and more to help deal with the psychological aftermath of surviving.
