Wellness Watch is a health information and advice column from OhioHealth.
For many women, the end of breast cancer treatment is not the finish line. After months of appointments, medications and uncertainty, survivors often find themselves wondering what comes next and how to adjust to a new normal.
That adjustment can be more complicated than people expect, said OhioHealth medical oncology advanced practice provider, Julie Torski, MMS, PA-C, who leads the OhioHealth Survivorship Clinic in Athens.
“There are so many changes that patients experience as a result of cancer treatments, both physical and emotional,” Torski said. “Even after treatment ends, not everything returns to how it was. Patients may look or feel different, but sometimes people on the outside expect life to go back to business as usual.”
What survivorship means
According to Torski, survivorship begins the moment someone is diagnosed and continues long after treatment ends. It focuses on helping survivors live long, healthy lives while managing the lingering effects of treatment.
“As oncology treatments improve and more options become available, many patients will go on to live long, healthy lives after cancer,” Torski said. “Survivorship focuses on improving the quality and quantity of those years.”
For breast cancer survivors, ongoing care might include regular physical exams, annual mammograms and management of long-term side effects from hormonal medications. Many survivors also benefit from emotional and social support as they rebuild confidence and strength.
A bridge between treatment and everyday life
The OhioHealth Survivorship Clinic helps patients make that transition. The clinic brings together a multidisciplinary team of oncology providers, nurses, a dietitian and social workers who take a comprehensive approach to life after treatment.
“When treatment ends, patients do not always need the care and services of oncology anymore, but that cancer journey is still a very real part of their life,” Torski said. “The survivorship clinic offers a bridge, a place where we understand their diagnosis and treatment history, but the focus shifts to life after cancer.”
Each visit includes time to talk through symptoms, fatigue, anxiety or any lingering effects of treatment. The team also connects patients with local resources such as post-mastectomy physical therapy, massage therapy or support groups.
Finding joy again
Recovery takes time—physically, mentally and emotionally. But Torski said many survivors rediscover joy in returning to the things they love.
“Whether it is traveling, gardening, working or spending time with grandchildren, there are often things patients have to step away from during treatment,” she said. “I really encourage people to get back into the things that bring them joy and fulfillment.”
Staying active, she added, can make a big difference. “It can be daunting if treatment has taken a major physical toll, but movement helps people feel strong again. We try to connect them with local resources whenever possible.”
Hope and resilience
After many years of working with breast cancer patients, Torski said what inspires her most is their resilience.
“Treatment can have a lot of ups and downs, but I am constantly inspired by the grace and strength survivors face it all with,” she said.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she encourages the community to show that same compassion.
“Most of us will know someone affected by breast cancer at some point, whether a relative, teacher, parent, neighbor or coworker,” she said. “Being there for those people, even in the smallest of ways, can make a world of difference.”
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