Life After Stomach Cancer

Navigating life after stomach (or gastric) cancer can be complex. While completing active treatment and being cleared of gastric cancer can leave you feeling relieved, you may be wondering what life as a gastric cancer survivor entails. Making the transition to a “new normal” can also be extremely daunting, especially when your life used to revolve around your condition. Let us help you break down the survivorship experience and make this change less difficult for you.

Follow-up care

While you may be finished with active treatment, your doctors may want to monitor you closely through follow-up appointments, which will likely be scheduled every three to six months for the first few years. Over time, if there are no signs of recurrence, you may see your doctors less frequently, probably only once or twice a year. Depending on the stage of your gastric cancer and other aspects of your medical history, your doctors may also have a recommended screening schedule developed for you.

Follow-up care typically involves physical examinations and a review of any symptoms or health problems you are experiencing. It could also include screening with upper endoscopy or even imaging tests like computed tomography (CT) scans.

Watching for cancer recurrence and second cancers

If follow-up care reveals any suspicious symptoms or abnormalities, you may need to undergo further tests and imaging scans. The aim of such tests is to look for any signs of cancer recurrence, which is defined as cancer that has returned after completing treatment. This happens due to small regions of cancer cells that remain in your body, which can grow and multiply over time until they appear on tests and scans or cause certain signs and symptoms. While these tests may evoke memories of your treatment days, it’s important to keep in mind that they are essential to ensuring your long-term health and well-being.

People that have had gastric cancer can also develop other cancers. More specifically, if you had gastric cancer, you may have a higher risk of developing cancers of the thyroid and small intestine.

Cancer recurrence and second cancers are common worries for many cancer survivors. While they cannot be completely prevented, taking steps to lower your cancer risk can help. This way, you’re taking a proactive step toward managing your health.

> Learn how you can lower your cancer risk

Managing long-term and late side effects

While it is expected for side effects to manifest during treatment itself, you may experience some effects that linger well beyond your treatment period. These are referred to as long-term side effects. Meanwhile, other side effects may only appear months or even years after your cancer treatment has ended. These are known as late effects. Both long-term and late effects include physical health issues or psychological and emotional challenges. Examples of such effects are nutritional problems, nausea or vomiting and stress or anxiety.

Knowing how to manage these effects is very important for your mental and physical health. If you are worried about possible long-term or late side effects, do not hesitate to approach your doctors and cancer care team. They can advise you on what effects to expect as a result of your condition and refer you to other medical professionals, such as a dietitian or physical therapist, if you require further help.

Alternatively, health websites offer plenty of resources, such as articles and personal stories from other patients and survivors, that you can look to for advice on managing side effects. Here at Our Cancer Stories, you can learn more about recovering after gastric cancer surgery and coping with the physical and emotional side effects of cancer treatment.

Putting together your survivorship care plan

A survivorship care plan puts together information regarding your recommended follow-up care, which could include:

• A suggested schedule for follow-up tests and exams
• A schedule for other future tests, such as screening recommendations for other cancer types or examinations of long-term health effects related to your cancer or cancer treatment
• Potential long-term or late effects resulting from treatment, which includes what to look out for and when to notify your doctors
• Recommendations for your nutrition, diet and physical activity

Please speak to your doctors about crafting a survivorship care plan after ending treatment. This will help ensure your overall well-being, including your physical and emotional health. Beating gastric cancer is a significant achievement and the next stage of your journey will present a unique set of challenges. With proper planning and care, you can successfully navigate this phase and continue to thrive.