Southcoast Health Breast Cancer Survivorship Program

Life after cancer – a guide to your new normal

As you finish cancer treatment, you might be wondering – what happens next?

The answer is different for every person. For some, it is a seamless return to the lives they were leading before their diagnosis. For others, their lives are significantly changed by their cancer experience.

Every survivor must navigate the return to everyday life while adjusting to the effects of having gone through cancer and treatment. Recognizing the challenges and knowing how and when to ask for support can help you through this time of transition.

The Southcoast Health Breast Cancer Survivorship program is here to help you every step of the way.

In some ways, moving from active treatment to survivorship is one of the most complex aspects of the cancer experience because it is different for every person. After treatment ends, cancer survivors often describe feelings ranging from relief to fear.

Your first visit with the Survivorship care team is your time to ask questions and obtain the information and resources on the issues that are most important to you.

Your care team members are prepared to guide and support you through the many questions and concerns you may have, including:

Chances of cancer returning
Returning to work
Financial concerns
Fertility/family planning
Relationship changes with family and friends
Follow-up care plan
Nutrition and wellness
Support groups and other resources
Managing long term side effects of treatment

For many people, the transition to survivorship serves as strong motivation to make positive lifestyle changes. Healthy behaviors can help survivors regain or build strength, reduce the severity of side effects, reduce the risk of developing secondary cancers or other health issues, and enjoy life more.

Southcoast Health works with a network of community partners to provide you with the support and resources that will help make your transition from treatment back to “normal life” as comfortable and healthy as possible.

Ask your Survivorship care team about how to make healthy lifestyle changes, including:

Stopping tobacco use

Reducing alcohol intake

Eating healthier

Exercising regularly

Managing stress

Partners in Healing the Whole Person

In partnership with the YMCA and their LIVESTRONG® AT THE YMCA program, Southcoast Health Breast Cancer Survivorship program participants receive FREE enrollment to the 12-week program: LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA.

The LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program offers:

A physical activity and well-being program designed to help adult cancer survivors achieve their holistic health goals
Research-based program providing a safe and supportive environment to participate in physical and social activities focused on strengthening the whole person
Y staff are trained in supportive cancer care and treatment and tailor exercise to be mindful of surgical scars, etc.
Small group sessions (5 or 6 participants per trainer)

In addition to physical benefits, the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program focuses on the emotional well-being of survivors and their families by providing a supportive community whereby people impacted by cancer can connect during treatment and beyond.

By focusing on the whole person, LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA helps people move beyond their cancer in spirit, mind and body.

More survivors than ever

Thanks to advances in medical research, the effectiveness of cancer treatment continues to improve. As a result, the number of people with a history of cancer in the United States has increased dramatically, from 3 million in 1971 to about 14 million today.

As more people are surviving cancer, how long a person lives is no longer the only focus. It is also becoming increasingly important how well survivors are able to live after treatment.

Patient Intake Coordinator at 508-973-7813