Today, there is great hope for many people diagnosed with cancer. There are more survivors than ever before, thanks to early diagnostics and better and more effective treatments. We still have a long way to go, but ongoing commitments of care and research are encouraging. Yet, for all the support around bringing people successfully through diagnosis and treatment, there’s another aspect of cancer that I don’t think is talked about nearly enough. That is, how a person puts his or her life together again after.

Of course, we see the news stories and pictures of people who participate in walks and other awareness and fund-raising efforts after they’ve waged and won their personal battle. But participating in these kinds of causes might not be for everyone, and it doesn’t address the whole picture of what it means to have survived.

For example, treatments might have lingering side effects. The spirit might be profoundly shaken and vulnerable to stress. Work, home, and other relationships might have suffered greatly during the crisis and need significant mending. Emotions of elation and joy might give way to a hard let-down when life is supposed to return to “normal,” but the survivor isn’t sure just what that means.

Doctors, spiritual caregivers, trusted friends and family – these all can play a huge role in helping a survivor put their life back together. But, of course, he or she must first ask for the help.

It can be difficult to think that you have more to do after you’ve just climbed the Himalayan-equivalent of living through cancer. But as you take positive steps to heal all the other things that might have been damaged, you’ll soon see a stronger, more courageous “you” emerge. And those hopes that you put on hold, and the dreams you thought were dead, will, once again, splendidly soar!

Blessings for the day,

Maureen