How Long Does It Take To Recuperate After Cancer Treatment?

The beginning of cancer treatment can feel like a whirlwind at times; following a positive diagnosis, a lot of different stages of treatment progress very quickly to ensure you receive the highest quality radiotherapy treatment as soon as it is appropriate to do so.

This includes the initial tests, referrals, the specialist tests which confirm the diagnosis, the establishment of a multidisciplinary team and the development and finalisation of a treatment plan to be executed as soon as possible.

All of this takes place in a relatively short space of time before the new normal of regularly scheduled radiotherapy sessions can begin and a routine can be established around them.

However, the end of cancer treatment, whether it is the end of a specific course of radiotherapy, or a switch to an alternative treatment cycle or stage of care, is a significant milestone that can feel almost the opposite of this.

Rather than moving quickly from phase to phase of pre-treatment, there is the final session of radiotherapy and then a delay between that and the first follow-up appointment.

This is a point that can lead to a wide range of different feelings that can vary from person to person and can depend on the nature of the treatment itself.

However, one big question that many people will have if their treatment has a specified endpoint is how long it will take before they have recovered enough to return to an everyday routine.

There is no single answer, as whilst some people may feel better relatively soon after the last radiotherapy session, other people may take longer to figure out what their “new normal” is.

With that in mind, here is a broad idea of what recovery might look and feel like to you, how long you should expect to take to feel better, and what you can do to help make the recovery process as comfortable and smooth as possible.

Does Treatment End After The Final Appointment?

An important aspect of radiotherapy to remember is that it will continue to take effect for weeks and sometimes months after the final treatment session. This means that whilst the final treatment appointment is the last part of your cancer treatment, it has not necessarily ended.

Your cancer care team is more than aware of this, and your final appointment will not only involve the radiotherapy dose itself but also arranging the first follow-up appointment, answering questions about any concerns and letting you know what to expect following treatment.

There will always be someone available to act as your contact, so you are not alone during this process, and there will be regular tests in the first year or two to ensure that the cancer has fully gone away.

Your doctor will always be available to help with any health concerns as well and provide support on a local level. If you have received treatment internationally for cancer, make sure to book an appointment with them once you get back home.

How Long Should You Rest After The Final Appointment?

It is unfortunately rather common to feel pressured into returning to everyday life as soon as possible. Sometimes that pressure is placed on ourselves, whilst in other cases it can come from family, friends or employers.

As with any other illness, this stress and pressure can delay recovery, particularly for radiotherapy treatments where the dose of radiation is continuing to work to destroy cancer cells long after the final appointment.

This means that, much like during the treatment itself, you may have some days where you feel more capable and active than others. Recovery takes time, gentleness and support, and it is important to avoid pushing yourself too hard too quickly.

In general, a rule of thumb is to wait until your first follow-up appointment before considering a return to a similar level of activity you may have had before your diagnosis, although you can start undertaking gentle exercise and start to make some lifestyle changes sooner than this.

What Is The Difference Between Side Effects And Late Effects?

During treatment, your cancer team may inform you about the potential for side effects in order to ensure that you are prepared ahead of time and can take steps to minimise these effects.

For example, if a radiotherapy specialist warns of potential skin irritation that can occur during and after radiotherapy sessions, this information can help you find appropriate moisturisers, balms and treatments that can help reduce the effects.

On a similar note, late effects are potential symptoms that can occur months and sometimes years after treatment, and your cancer care team should mention these in the final appointment and first follow-up appointment.