Cancer has been a very emotional issue for me ever since. I have seen friends and families succumbed to the said disease, many have fought—and hard—but eventually lost the battle, others have just plain given up, died either lonely or happy depending on how they were able to spend the last days of their lives. Based on my experience, only a handful of seniors were able to survive the terrible disease and even after cancer, their life can never be the same. There is always the nagging feeling that anytime soon, the disease will strike back and by that time, the body is in a really bad shape, it could no longer fight back. Cancer survivors treat each day as their last. Just imagine that, not a single day shall pass without thinking about the day you will die!
I say, treatments are only the first phase of cancer and once you’re diagnosed with the said disease, expect your road to be long, winding and indeed rocky! Physically and emotionally, cancer will certainly leave indelible marks, during and after. Fear is amongst the first emotions a cancer survivor may feel. Adding to that is the very apparent work discrimination that cancer survivors are now experiencing. Many have gone back to their work place, only to find out that they have been sort-of “demoted” to less challenging positions; that is if they are lucky to even find their jobs still open for them after the long “cancer hiatus”. Some are encouraged to retire earlier than they are supposed to which leaves a senior with no choice but to accept, albeit half-heartedly.
True indeed, that cancer is not a death sentence, like it was once, but sadly, getting cured is only half of the story—the only good thing about cancer nowadays, even. Treatments are known to drain a cancer patient’s financial reserves, with or without coverage.  Scars would always be there to remind the senior of the pain and suffering he or she had been through. Take for example a breast cancer survivor who underwent a surgery to remove one or two breasts to stop the cancer cells from spreading. Just imagine what it feels like being a woman with no breast—I know, because I’ve seen my mom went through the same and never can I imagine the pain in her eyes.
It is important for caregivers to still be there for senior cancer survivor since, more than ever, this is the time they need someone’s help the most. It is a common pattern for friends and families to slowly drift away from the survivor once the cancer is cured; problem is, cancer survivors, especially seniors, are the last ones to move on from the whole experience. With that said, one should expect a senior cancer survivor to be prone to depression and it is imperative to never leave them even after cancer. Several support groups offer care plans for survivors; together with your senior, encourage them to go to these sessions.