Life after treatment for brain cancer

For most people, the cancer experience doesn’t end on the last day of treatment. Life after cancer treatment can present its own challenges. You may have mixed feelings when treatment ends, and worry that every ache and pain means the cancer is coming back.

Learn more about:

• Overview
• Follow-up appointments
• Dealing with feelings of sadness
• Looking after yourself
• What if the tumour returns?
• Video: Looking after you and me – a guide for people affected by brain cancer

Overview

Some people say that they feel pressure to return to “normal life”. It is important to allow yourself time to adjust to the physical and emotional changes, and establish a new daily routine at your own pace. Your family and friends may also need time to adjust.

Cancer Council 13 11 20 can help you connect with other people who have had cancer, and provide you with information about the emotional and practical aspects of living well after cancer.

For more on this, see Living well after cancer

Follow-up appointments

After treatment ends, you will have regular appointments to monitor your health, manage any long-term side effects and check that the tumour hasn’t come back or spread. During these check-ups, you will usually have a physical examination and you may have blood tests or MRI scans.

How often you see your doctor will depend on the type of tumour and treatments you had. Between follow-up appointments, let your doctor know immediately of any symptoms or health problems.

When a follow-up appointment or test is approaching, you may find that you feel anxious. Talk to your treatment team or call Cancer Council 13 11 20 if you are finding it hard to manage this anxiety.

Dealing with feelings of sadness

If you have continued feelings of sadness, have trouble getting up in the morning or have lost motivation to do things that previously gave you pleasure, you may be experiencing depression. This is quite common among people who have had cancer.

Talk to your GP, because counselling or medication – even for a short time – may help. Some people can get a Medicare rebate for sessions with a psychologist. Cancer Council may also run a counselling program in your area.

For information about coping with depression and anxiety, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36. For 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline 13 11 14.

Looking after yourself

Cancer can cause physical and emotional strain, so it’s important to look after your wellbeing. Cancer Council has free booklets and programs to help you during and after treatment.

Call 13 11 20 to find out more, or see Managing cancer side effects, Exercise after a cancer diagnosis, Complementary therapies, Emotions and cancer, Nutrition and cancer, Sexuality, intimacy and cancer, Fertility and cancer, and Living well after cancer.

What if the tumour returns?

For some people, a brain or spinal cord tumour does come back or keep growing despite treatment. If the tumour returns, this is known as a recurrence.

Treatment options if the tumour returns

Your treatment options will depend on your situation and the treatments you’ve already had, but may include surgery, radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy, or targeted therapy.

Targeted therapy drugs attack specific features of cancer cells. Bevacizumab is a targeted therapy drug that can be used to treat advanced brain cancer. It is given through a drip into a vein in repeated cycles. Bevacizumab is most helpful when the tumour is causing brain swelling. Your doctor will talk to you about the risks and benefits.

→ READ MORE: Brain tumours in children

Video: Looking after you and me

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