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00:17The bell has rung, the treatment journey is over and the family and friends are ready to celebrate.
00:23But surviving breast cancer is more than reaching the finish line.
00:26It's also about learning how to live life after treatment.
00:30And while the outside world may see a survivor who looks healthy and ready to move on,
00:35medical practitioner Dr. Jeon Bob says her journey is far from over.
00:40After treatment, a survivor may actually look quite well,
00:44but they may be battling challenges that may not be immediately visible.
00:49For example, they may be experiencing chronic pain, fatigue, brain fog.
00:55They may have symptoms of nerve damage or they may actually develop lymphedema on the side that was treated during
01:03the breast cancer treatment process.
01:07He explains that a transition can be more difficult when regular medical attention decreases.
01:12He also stresses that a breast cancer diagnosis affects more than the person themselves.
01:18It's important to note that that could be compounded by the withdrawal of the intensive medical attention and reassurance that
01:28they would have had during the treatment period.
01:30Now, cancer and treatment for cancer doesn't only affect the individual.
01:36It can affect their family and their wider support system.
01:40And that is why support should not stop when treatment ends.
01:44For women undergoing mastectomies, there may be another layer to that journey, learning to live with new changes to their
01:51bodies.
01:52Dr. Bob says these physical changes can have a significant emotional impact.
01:57It can affect a woman's self-image, confidence and relationship.
02:01The physical changes that may take place after a woman has to undergo a mastectomy will have an emotional impact
02:10on her.
02:10Some women actually go through a period of grief because of the physical changes and sometimes they may experience challenges
02:21with their self-image and their confidence and how they show up in the will.
02:25There is support in the form of psychological counselling.
02:31There are survivor support groups and then there are surgical options with respect to breast reconstruction or breast prosthetics as
02:39well.
02:40The message here is simple.
02:42Women do not have to navigate life after breast cancer alone.
02:46Counselling and survivor support groups can help women explore options available to them.
02:51And while emotional healing and adjusting to physical changes are important,
02:55Dr. Bob says survivors must also remain committed to their medical follow-up.
03:00Follow-up is critical.
03:01Well, it's very, very important to maintain your follow-up because we have to ensure that the cancer doesn't come
03:09back or what we usually term it as recurrence.
03:13So initially, you may have short intervals between your follow-up, maybe three to six months, and then the frequency
03:22will widen over time.
03:24It's important to eat balanced meals, have a nice balanced diet, and incorporate regular physical activity because the impacts on
03:33your overall health will help to improve your quality of life moving forward.
03:39And perhaps one of the most important things a breast cancer survivor can give herself is patience.
03:45Be patient with herself.
03:47You know, she would have just gone through an experience that would be physically, psychologically, and emotionally demanding.
03:56And you don't have to feel like yourself immediately.
04:01Give yourself time.
04:02Give yourself grace.
04:04Give yourself grace and remember that recovery is a process, and there's a lot of life left, so live it
04:12to you for less.
04:13I am Charlotte Kisto with tonight's Health Watch.
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