McLeod Cancer Center

The Stages of Being a Cancer Survivor February 15, 2011

Perhaps some of you are still in active treatment and focused on coping with the side effects of your treatments and trying the best you can to make it through the day.

Or maybe you have just finished treatment and you are experiencing an increase in emotions about what you may have just gone through or you are fearful of a re-occurrence.

For others of you, time may have passed and you are beginning to ask “Now What?” as you move forward with your life. You are not as preoccupied with thoughts about your cancer but you are beginning to focus on what you want to do next, what you want to accomplish or change in your life.

During these stages in a person’s cancer journey, you can sometimes become impatient expecting the body to respond the same way it did prior to treatments. You may also have been the type of person that plowed through aches and pains or exhaustion without taking the time to recharge your “batteries,” in other words it was difficult to give yourself permission to allow your body to recover without feeling guilty. However, after treatment ends, you need to give yourself permission to allow your body to heal physically and emotionally.

Many of our group members are currently engaged in the process of self care focusing on educating themselves about cancer, nutrition, supporting each other, etc. To enhance this stage of your journey, we are pleased to announce that group members will soon receive an opportunity to participate in Yoga to learn breathing/relaxation techniques. Teresa Dullaghan, a Yoga Instructor with McLeod Health & Fitness Center, has agreed to teach Yoga to our group members on a weekly basis for five-week increments beginning in March. This is exciting and we appreciate Teresa’s interest in supporting the group’s healing journey.

Our next group meeting will take place on February 17, 2011, at the McLeod Resource Center from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Contact Rena Hondros at RHondros@twcbc.com or 843-615-3593 or myself, rserrano@mcleodhealth.org or 843-777-5695 if you would like to join us.  We would love to have you participate in Shelby’s Group!

Raquel