Keeping an Eye on Long-Term Health while Managing a Cancer Diagnosis

I remember hearing the doctor say to my husband, “You’ve got cancer,” and immediately wondered if I had misheard those words. Cancer diagnoses can result in many emotions for caregivers. You may struggle for another breath, cry and begin to mourn for the life you had before cancer entered your lives. You may not be able to imagine that there will ever be a day where life feels like it did before you became a caregiver.

My husband was diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer called multiple myeloma, and we decided to move forward down that bumpy – and sometimes scary – cancer road together. Hearing “there is no cure” for his type of cancer, we chose to maintain a positive outlook and add “yet” to that statement. With the help of family, friends, faith and a great medical team, we navigated our way as a caregiver-patient team.

Many rounds of chemo and one autologous stem cell transplant later, we were fortunate to learn that my husband achieved complete remission. He went back to work, life carried on, and we felt a sense of relief that we were now looking back at the cancer experience from the rearview mirror. Yet at the same time, we wondered what was around the next curve?

We remained “cancer vigilant,” but I knew that while we were chasing cancer cells, we needed to keep an eye on the regular health concerns that we all face. I encouraged my husband to adopt what I like to call a “health GPS” (General Personal Surveillance) approach by adding his primary care physician to his cancer care team and undergoing the health checks that we all should undertake: colorectal screenings, thyroid testing, vaccinations, eye exams, baseline heart tests, skin cancer screenings, etc. While I think it is important that everyone be vigilant with their health and have regular checkups, it is vitally important for the cancer patient who may experience more health problems due to a compromised immune system and latent treatment effects, for example. And, the more years out from diagnosis, the more there is to watch for, as aging becomes a factor.

While we watched, worried and aggressively treated my husband’s cancer over the years, we now look back in amazement at how far we have come. As we continue traveling through life with cancer, we know we must not only keep our eyes on the road ahead, but look back in that mirror for the unexpected may be gaining on us. To other caregivers who are caring for loved ones with cancer, I suggest making an appointment for your loved one with a primary care physician and develop a survivorship plan based on his or her health history.