Looking beyond cancer treatments Seattle WA

When you’re in the middle of chemotherapy or radiation treatments, sometimes it seems that this particular journey will never end. It will, of course, and we’ll tell you what to expect when that happens. As at the end of any meaningful road, you’re likely to find several forks. In this case, you may want to explore lingering physical side effects of cancer treatments, the possibility of recurrence, and some emotional adjustments that are often required after treatments are complete.

Local Companies

Puget Sound Blood Center
(206) 292-6500
921 Terry Ave.
Seattle, WA

Cypress Consulting
(206) 281-8240
100 S King St
Seattle, WA

TRUEbenefits, LLC
(206) 623-2448
403 Columbia St
Seattle, WA

Seattle Radiologists
(206) 292-6233
1229 Madison St.,
Seattle, WA

Neurology Vocational Services Unit
(206) 744-9130
325 9th Ave., MS 359744
Seattle, WA

Evergreen Park
(206) 442-9900
1000 2nd Ave., Ste. 1000
Seattle, WA

Harborview Medical Center
(206) 744-3036
325 9th Ave. Internal Box 359717
Seattle, WA

MassMutual Financial Group
(206) 628-8800
701 5th Ave
Seattle, WA

Kim S. Mallick, M.D., P.S.
(206) 215-2323
1221 Madison St.,
Seattle, WA

Graham Rehabilitation & Wellness Center
(206) 622-9001
816 1st Ave.
Seattle, WA

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For Dummies is a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Used here by license.

Beginning anew

Don’t for a minute expect that you never need darken your doctor’s door after the last of your cancer treatments. On the contrary, you will be carefully monitored for years to come. In time, you’ll even appreciate that fact.

There is a lot to expect in terms of follow-up care — regular checkups and periodic screening tests — and you can look over a list of long-term side effects that may or may not trouble you. That list includes such physical problems as the following:

Fatigue

Pain

Lymphedema

Oral problems

Bladder and bowel problems

Early menopause

Infertility or impotence

We propose that you craft a personal wellness plan to see you through the years to come.

Returning to square one

Some people finish cancer treatments and never have to confront this particular disease again. However, that may not the case — if cancer recurs months or years after treatments end.

In many cases, a recurrence can be treated as a flare-up, and cancer can be considered as a chronic disease.

Should your cancer recur, there are several reasons why the second time around may not be as trying as the first. If recurrence is as bad, or even worse, look for information on palliative care and an explanation of the mission of hospice.

Making peace with a new you

After cancer, nothing is ever really the same again. Even if you are not troubled with long-term physical side effects as a result of treatment and even if your cancer never comes back, you’ll likely find that you are different emotionally and that your standard mode of operating in the world has changed.

This is the time that you get to decide all over again who to be, what to say about yourself, and how to make changes in your life that reflect your new perspective on the gift of time. You will learn how to protect yourself as you head boldly into your brave new world.

provided by:

For Dummies is a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Used here by license.

Featured Local Company

Evergreen Park

(206) 442-9900
1000 2nd Ave., Ste. 1000
Seattle, WA

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