Finding a new normal
When cancer ends, your life after cancer begins. Your perspective on life, your role in society and your feelings about yourself and others may be different now than before your cancer experience. You could say that having been through cancer is a life-changing experience.
When we spoke to hundreds of blood cancer survivors across Canada, most of them shared their struggle in figuring out a new meaning to their life after cancer. If you are struggling to regain a sense of normalcy in your life, you are not alone.
When we spoke to hundreds of blood cancer survivors across Canada, most of them shared their struggle in figuring out a new meaning to their life after cancer. If you are struggling to regain a sense of normalcy in your life, you are not alone.
You are not alone
We can help you adjust to your new normal and embrace the new you.
Stories of Canadians affected by a blood cancer
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Finding a new normal
The struggle to regain a sense of normalcy in your life after cancer is a real thing. Finding a new normal is part of your recovery from cancer and this process takes time. As a first step, you can hear what the experts say on survivorship in the following resources. They will help you understand some of the issues common among cancer survivors and offer insight as to how you might be able to cope.
Adapting to the new normal
Watch this animated video for tools on how to adjust to your new normal after blood cancer.
Surviving the survivorship issues: Moving Forward
Dr. Mary Jane Esplen, Executive Director, Scientist, and Professor, de Souza Institute, University Health Network and University of Toronto discusses common survivorship issues and shares ways to cope and move forward.
Living with a Chronic Blood Cancer
In this webcast, nurse and psychotherapist Bonney Elliott addresses the psychosocial impacts of living with a chronic blood cancer on quality of life, stress, and social and family relationships.
Searching for Meaning & Finding a "New Normal"
Explore the impact of a cancer diagnosis - both on the individual and family. Additionally, the non-medical implications following a diagnosis are addressed and further highlight the challenges in moving forward and finding a "new normal."
Survivorship Issues with Hart Searle
Hart is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor and has been actively involved with the LLSC since 2011, primarily as a First Connection volunteer.
Returning to Work - Expert Tips and Resources
Maureen Parkinson is the provincial vocational rehabilitation counsellor at the B.C. Cancer Agency. She is the co-lead and content lead for Cancer and Work which is a website to guide cancer survivors. She created Cancer and Returning to Work: A Practical Guide for Cancer Patients and return to work and job search seminars for cancer survivors.
Fear of Recurrence- Expert Tips and Coping Strategies with Jacqueline Galica
Jacqueline Galica an oncology-certified Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience in oncology. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Queen’s University School of Nursing, where her research program focuses on the psychosocial concerns – including fears of cancer recurrence - of post-treatment cancer survivors.
Tips to help friends and family understand the new you
Many blood cancer survivors have told us that the only other people who “get it” are other cancer survivors. You may feel that your family does not understand that your cancer experience might not end when your treatment is over. We’ve asked other survivors to share their communication tips with you.
Supporting Your Loved One Following a Cancer Diagnosis
As a family member or friend who wants to help, it can be hard to know what to say or do. Remember that even when your loved one has finished cancer treatment, they will continue to need your support.
Tips for talking to your healthcare team
No matter where you are in your cancer experience, it is important to know your healthcare team and to feel comfortable voicing concerns, even after treatment has ended.
Communicating With Your Healthcare Team
Work with your healthcare team to create a written survivorship care plan. All cancer survivors should receive a survivorship care plan.
Your Life After Cancer Committee
We are thankful to the following eight cancer survivors for their enormous contribution in the development of the information and resources on survivorship presented on our website.
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Haley Zora
Haley lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia after moving there with her husband, Fabian, from Regina, Saskatchewan. Haley was motivated to join the Advisory Committee to help other people such as herself who didn’t always fit the “cancer patient” mold and could use some more representation.
Jeannette Castillo
Jeannette was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) with a Ph+ chromosome subtype and treated in Calgary, AB. Jeannette joined the Your Life After Cancer Advisory Committee to make a positive impact for people who are newly diagnosed and families touched by a blood cancer.
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Mayra Husic
Mayra Husic was diagnosed with stage IV Follicular Lymphoma back in 2011 and currently resides in the suburbs of Montreal. She wanted to join the Advisory Committee given she felt there wasn’t any support available for patients who were managing various side effects, mental and physical after their cancer experience.
Luc Berneche
Luc is a caregiver to his wife, who lives with small cell lymphocytic leukemia, a chronic leukemia similar to CLL. Luc joined the Your Life After Cancer Advisory Committee to share his experience with others, he hopes to help others who care for a person with a blood cancer.
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Keith
Keith was diagnosed with myeloma in 2012. He joined the Your Life After Cancer Advisory Committee to help others to move through their experiences with cancer.
Samantha Redsky
Samantha was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2008. She is currently entering her 12th year in remission. Samantha wanted to join the advisory committee because when she was newly in remission, she had no real place to turn to for advice to live her life again. She wanted to be able to give others the opportunity to feel less alone.
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Aviva Rubin
Aviva was diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma in 2016 and treated at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where she continues to be monitored every six months. Aviva believes that patient and caregiver voices are critical to building the multitude of psycho-social supports that take us through and beyond cancer treatment and that patient perspectives will ensure a broad understanding of how cancer leaves those it touches forever changed.
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