It has been four years since Agnes Mochari, 32, was declared free from breast cancer which she had battled for two years. Even though this is a dream come true, Mochari narrated that it was difficult adapting to life after her primary breast cancer treatment.
“Life after breast cancer means returning to some familiar things but I have understood that the end of chemotherapy infusion didn’t mark the end of my journey with breast cancer,” she said.
Like many survivors, Mochari had a hard time figuring out how to present herself post-cancer as she grappled with her personal appearance, grief, fatigue, changes in breast tissues, sexual dysfunction, and anxiety. Explaining that breast cancer survivorship is a marathon, she stated that recovery is a lifelong process especially for her as a survivor and she has learned to handle the symptoms that stick around after treatment.
According to Jane Gathoni, a Clinical Oncologist, people only know of the immediate side effects of chemo and radiation such as hair loss and nausea but after a period, cancer survivors contend with bone-density loss, neuropathy, and chemo brain, a term used in reference to memory problems and change in thinking patterns during and after treatment.
“People who have undergone chemotherapy can have an upwards of one year before feeling back to normal with improved endurance and strength as chemotherapy can induce fatigue, exercise intolerance and other side effects,” said Gathoni. To overcome these post-treatment effects, Mochari and her caregivers embraced a number of measures that promote a healthy lifestyle, which is helpful for her optimal physical and emotional health.
She started engaging in moderate levels of physical activities like daily walks, swimming, and biking that help with fatigue and other cancer treatment side effects. “I have planned periods of rest and often think about what times in the day, and after what activities, I find myself most tired,” she said.
“I also use tricks like writing things down, posting reminders to myself and asking people to repeat information whenever I experience chemo brain.” Mochari also highlighted that she has scheduled follow-up health care where she undertakes pelvic exams, mammograms, bone-density tests, and body monitoring to ensure that cancer does not come back and help manage side effects while monitoring her overall health.
“At times I feel worried that the cancer might come back. The regular physical examinations and medical tests I partake in help me track my progress and in case of any other types of cancers,” Mochari stated.
Aware of the symptoms, she regularly checks for possible signs such as a new lump in the breast, an ache, or pain that is new to her body. The breast cancer survivor also expressed that other than including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in her diet, she did away with red meats, processed foods, refined sugars, and fats, as well as carbonated drinks.
She advised that while eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight can be challenging, these choices help reduce the risk of cancer re-occurrence and the formation of new cancer.
Reconstruction is also a great way of coping, Mochari told Iwomantoday magazine, as it helps breast cancer survivors feel more like themselves. She explained that connecting with people offers a change of perspective and lets one see how others cope and move forward. “It is good to get into a community of people, even if it’s not specifically a cancer community. This way, one accepts the disease as a part of life,” said Mochari.
According to a clinical psychologist and public health researcher, acceptance can happen.
“Just like any other processes associated with cancer, there is a diagnosis and getting all the information, then there is the treatment and the surgery, then the healing of the body and the images of the body.” The last part of healing can take time, she said, explaining how the brain contains a sort of map of our bodies, a physical perception of how we look.
“When the body changes, the brain needs time to catch up due to the disconnect and grief that happens. It is amazing how healing happens and people grow into new bodies. But part of the healing process is emotionally getting back into the old body and dealing with the hurt,” said the psychologist.
By: Moffin Opilio
