Life After Cancer: Navigating the Complexities of Survivorship

By Lisa Marquette Porat, MSW, LCSW, FAOSW

June 2025

Surviving cancer is a profound and complex experience, but it is often not the end of the journey. For millions of survivors, life after cancer brings new, often overlooked physical, emotional, and social challenges. As a company driven by science to discover the latest innovations and advances in oncology, BeOne Medicines reaffirms its commitment to standing with survivors during National Cancer Survivor’s Month and beyond.

The Hidden Struggles of Survivorship

Survivorship for people with cancer can be defined in various ways, reflecting differences in perspective, duration, and individual experiences. The key is often starting where people are and how they perceive their experience. Here are several common ways survivorship can be defined.

Medical Definition: Survivorship is often defined as the period after the completion of initial cancer treatment. This can vary depending on the type of cancer, the treatments received, and individual health outcomes. Some definitions extend survivorship to include individuals who are living with “chronic” cancer conditions, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). For many, survivorship is a continuous journey rather than a singular event, recognizing that long-term survivors may face health challenges years after treatment.

Quality of Life and Psychosocial Definition: This perspective focuses on the emotional and social aspects of survivorship. It defines survivors as those who are coping with the psychological impact of cancer, including changes in identity, relationships, and life goals. The emotional aftermath of cancer can last long after physical treatment ends. Survivorship can also be defined by the quality-of-life experienced post-treatment. This includes the ability to engage in daily activities, maintain relationships, and pursue goals and hobbies. Survivors may define their journey based on their physical, emotional, and social well-being, regardless of their cancer status.

Ultimately, survivorship is often a deeply personal experience,with individuals defining it based on their unique journey, including their specific cancer type, treatment, recovery, and ongoing health.

Regardless of the definition, life after a cancer diagnosis can present numerous challenges.

Physical Aftereffects

Many survivors live with the lasting side effects of cancer treatment. These might include:

  • Fatigue: Chronic tiredness remains one of the most reported issues even years after treatment.
  • Neuropathy: Tingling, numbness, or pain in hands and feet can linger.
  • Lymphedema: Swelling due to lymph node removal or damage.
  • Fertility issues: Especially common after chemotherapy or radiation.

Emotional and Psychological Toll

Post-treatment anxiety is real. Survivors often live with:

  • Fear of recurrence: Every ache or illness can trigger worry.
  • Depression or anxiety: Coping with the trauma of illness and disruption of life plans.
  • Survivor’s guilt: Questioning why they survived when others didn’t.

Therapy and support groups can be vital. Explore more resources and community support right here on BeOne’s Talk About It: Cancer and Mental Health site.

Social and Relationship Shifts

Cancer can strain relationships. Friends and family may not understand the ongoing nature of survivorship. Survivors often face:

  • Isolation: Feeling “different” from others who haven’t gone through cancer.
  • Changes in identity: Struggling with how to define themselves post-cancer.
  • Workplace challenges: Difficulty re-entering the workforce, balancing the demands of a job after treatment, or dealing with discrimination after cancer.

Financial Impact

Cancer treatment may be costly, and for many, the bills don’t stop after remission. Survivors may face:

  • Debt: From treatments, travel, and time off work.
  • Insurance issues: Trouble getting coverage for follow-up care or new policies.
  • Employment instability: Job loss or reduced hours during treatment can have lasting effects.

Lack of Coordinated Follow-Up Care

Many survivors feel abandoned after active treatment ends. Without a clear survivorship care plan, they may not know:

  • What screenings are still needed
  • Which symptoms to report
  • How to manage late effects of treatment

Community primary care providers may not be fully prepared to handle complex cancer survivorship needs, and communication gaps between oncologists and primary care physicians can often leave survivors in limbo.

Moving Toward Better Survivorship Care

Survivorship care is a vital aspect of the cancer journey, and patients can actively shape their experience while educating others about their unique needs. By sharing their individual experiences with healthcare providers, patients can illuminate the practical and emotional challenges of living beyond a cancer diagnosis, which is crucial for developing an effective survivorship care plan. Understanding the next steps, potential side effects, and available emotional support resources are critical components of this process.

Additionally, participating in support groups and forums dedicated to survivorship issues allows patients to amplify their voices, advocating for comprehensive care plans that address their physical, emotional, and social needs.

Finally, by enrolling in research studies focused on the long-term effects of cancer treatment, survivors can also help shape future care practices.

Final Thoughts

Cancer survivorship is a unique and often misunderstood stage of healing. Acknowledging the complex challenges survivors face is essential for creating a compassionate and caring environment. As patients and families navigate these complexities, scientists and companies such as BeOne are continuing to push boundaries and be innovative in addressing unmet needs. We are committed to uniting the community—patients, providers and caregivers–and helping ensure survivorship is a rich and meaningful experience.  

Let’s Talk About It is our blog series designed to talk frankly about some of the real-life challenges the resiliency of living with a diagnosis of cancer to empower others, and available resources. If you have topics, you’d like Lisa to explore, please email us patientadvocacy@beonemed.com with your ideas. 

We believe in you and the power of your story. We thank you for sharing your journey with us and others.

Lisa Marquette Porat, MSW, LCSW, FAOSW is the U.S. Lead, Patient Advocacy for BeOne Medicines, USA