Mapping it out helps breast cancer survivors thrive in body, mind

Breast cancer survivor Hollye Jacobs hosts a tea party as part of a fight against breast cancer.

CHICAGO — After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Hollye Jacobs felt like she lost her health, her breasts, and her mind. But when she finished with radiation and started settling in at home, she was hit with another loss: She missed having treatment.

For many breast cancer patients, medical therapies — though grueling — can feel like a safety net. Once treatment ends and life is poised to return to “normal,” survivors enter an often bewildering new phase of cancer care. Support dissipates, yet they still might face a host of physical and mental challenges, ranging from fear of recurrence to concerns about leaving their oncologist, questions about fertility, depression, and sexual difficulties.

“It’s easy to assume that as soon as treatment is done you’ll bounce back,” said Jacobs, 41, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based nurse who chronicled her cancer journey on The Silver Pen blog. “But healing and recovery is a physical, mental, and emotional process that takes an incredible amount of time. The more treatment, the more time it takes to heal.”

The number of Americans living with cancer will increase by nearly a third to almost 18 million by 2022, according to a recent report by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. Breast cancer survivors are the largest segment of that population, and they range from very young to elderly. Men make up less than 1 percent of all cases.

But even with that many survivors, there remains a lack of clear evidence showing the best way to care for them, and support varies widely, according to a 2005 report by the Institute of Medicine.

“How often do you follow them and what tests, images, and screenings need to be done? There are very few guidelines for this,” said Sheldon Greenfield, chairman of the institute’s committee on cancer survivorship.

A critical first step after treatment ends is to craft a “survivorship care plan,” said Linda Jacobs, the director of the Livestrong Survivorship Center of Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center.

Ideally written by the oncologist, this plan should include the type of the breast cancer, which treatments were received (dates and dosages), as well as recommendations for screening and follow-up care to help with mental and physical side effects that might arise.

But not all institutions are equipped to offer the plans, and studies show that fewer than 20 percent of patients receive information on how to create one.

“It’s very important,” Linda Jacobs said. “Cancer is a trajectory. The end of treatment is not, ‘I’m finished and out.’ It’s the next part of care.”

Several organizations, including Livestrong (livestrongcareplan.org) and Journey Forward (journeyforward.org), offer tools to help craft a plan.

Hollye Jacobs’ plan involved a diverse group. In addition to working with doctors and nurses, she saw a nutritionist, an acupuncturist for pain, constipation and insomnia, and a yoga instructor. She also used guided meditation with a psychologist to help with debilitating side effects.

“I worked very closely with my team to develop my plan of care,” she said. “It’s a dynamic, ongoing process, not a static one. Patients have an active role to play.”

Still, it’s not always obvious how to get the right kind of help. What follows is a look at some common concerns of survivors, as well as potential resources.

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FEAR OF RECURRENCE

Karen Walson’s greatest fear is that cancer will return in a different part of her body. It’s a legitimate concern: Women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40 have triple the risk of developing a second primary cancer, and a 4.5-fold increased risk of a subsequent breast cancer, according to the ACS.

“Once women survive one cancer, they need to keep monitoring for other cancers,” said Ritu Salani, an assistant professor of gynecologic oncology at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Overweight and obese women face an increased risk of recurrence of the most common type of breast cancer (invasive ductal carcinoma), according to a new study published in the journal Cancer. Extra body fat causes hormonal changes and inflammation that may trigger a recurrence, the results suggested.

Regular physical exams and mammography are the cornerstones of breast cancer follow-up care, according to guidelines issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Physical exams, which help doctors detect symptoms or signs of recurrence, should be performed every three to six months in the first three years following treatment and every six to 12 months in years four and five. At the five-year mark, annual exams are in order.

If a woman has one breast removed, the remaining breast is screened by mammogram (and sometimes MRI if a woman is high-risk), but there are no imaging tests recommended for women who’ve had a double mastectomy, said Dr. Patricia Ganz, UCLA professor and a director at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Other tests, including bone scans, liver ultrasounds, CT scans and tumor markers, are not recommended for routine breast cancer follow-up in patients with no symptoms, the American Society of Clinical Oncology says.

A new blood test can detect cancer cells that have broken free from a tumor in the breast and help identify patients with a high risk of recurrence, researchers recently reported in The Lancet Oncology. But the test may lead to overtreatment, and the findings need to be confirmed by larger trials. The test is commercially available and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Other blood and urine tests shed light on what’s going on inside the body, but with the exception of blood cancer, these tests generally can’t confirm a recurrence.

Get help: Two years after cancer treatment, patients often transfer from an oncologist to a primary care doctor and gynecologist. But there are concerns: One survey showed 94 percent of primary care doctors were unaware of the long-term side effects of four commonly used chemotherapy drugs. Research has also shown that the lack of communication between oncologists and primary care physicians makes survivors less likely to receive adequate post-treatment care, according to the Institute of Medicine.

Gynecologists can thus play a critical role in the transition, especially since patients often struggle with menopausal symptoms and sexual difficulties.

Amanda Nixon, 34, a survivor outreach advocate for the Keep A Breast Foundation in San Diego, used a psychosocial oncologist to help with her fear of recurrence. Therapists and social workers can help with anxiety, anger and managing guilt when friends pass away from cancer. Exercise aids weight loss, relieves stress and can help balance mood swings.

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LASTING SIDE EFFECTS

The scope of physical complications after treatment is “shocking and upsetting” said Kathryn Schmitz, a cancer and exercise researcher at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Her research has shown more than 60 percent of breast cancer survivors report at least one treatment-related complication even six years after their diagnosis.

The problems — stemming from chemotherapy, surgery, radiation treatment and hormone therapy — rarely exist in isolation: For instance, many women with the painful limb-swelling condition lymphedema also struggle with fatigue and bone health challenges, according to Schmitz’s study, published in April in the journal Cancer.

Care for these problems is fragmented, and some doctors believe certain problems can go untreated. Further, oncologists and surgeons are often poorly linked to physical therapists, who may be able to help with side effects, the Cancer study showed.

Side effects such as insomnia, fatigue and difficulties with memory and concentration can also wreak havoc in the workplace. Financial pressures often force women back to work before they’re ready, and the Institute of Medicine found that survivors experience subtle employment discrimination.

“My professional life has been affected by chemo-brain, lymphedema, insomnia and premature aging such as bone and muscle loss, as well as attending several doctors’ appointments for follow-up care,” Nixon said.

Women face the potential of abrupt-onset menopause and its symptoms, including hot flashes and sleep issues. These symptoms may decrease over time. Treatment can also affect fertility and the menstrual cycle, and in general, survivors should wait until at least the two-year disease-free point before trying to get pregnant, Salani said, because the mother’s survival rate is higher.

Get help: Physical therapists can help reduce pain, improve flexibility, strength, endurance and range of motion. Therapists who are certified in lymphedema management (clt-lana.org) work with patients to provide bandaging, manual lymphatic drainage, exercises, self-massage training and compression-garment fitting, which can help with repetitive action and air travel.

Schmitz strongly advocates exercise, which builds strength and stamina and helps with fatigue, insomnia and mental clarity. If you can’t find a certified cancer exercise trainer, try looking for fitness trainers who are affiliated with your hospital, said Vik Khanna, a St. Louis-based exercise specialist and CET.

Mind-body therapies, including yoga and meditation, can help with both physical and emotional issues. Meditation, for example, has been shown to help with menopausal symptoms. Psycho-oncologists can address the effects of chemo-brain and cognitive problems due to radiation and chemotherapy drugs.

For fertility or pregnancy issues, consult with an oncologist, gynecologist or fertility specialist. Fertilehope.org provides a list of fertility specialists and sperm banks, financial support and information on risks, and options.

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BODY IMAGE, MOOD, LIBIDO

Treatment drastically changes the body and a woman’s relationship to it. Chemotherapy can age the body the equivalent of a decade over the course of just one year. In addition to the possible loss of one or both breasts, survivors also deal with weight gain, a common treatment side effect that may be exacerbated by a drop in physical activity, due to fatigue, nausea and pain. Treatment scars can be jarring reminders.

“I don’t consider myself vain, but I didn’t want to lose my breasts,” said Jessica Cudlin, 25, of Dublin, Ohio, who had a lumpectomy in July to treat Stage 1 breast cancer. “Every time I see that healing scar it reminds me that life is too short and anything can be thrown at you.”

For most women, sex drive declines when chemo begins — one study showed the frequency of intercourse dropped from once a week to one to two times per month. There is usually no return to pre-cancer levels, Salani said.

As a young survivor, Cudlin worries about dating. “I don’t quite know the protocol in divulging this information — how soon do I share, how will he respond, will I have the urge to want to be close to someone again? It’s something a 25-year-old woman shouldn’t have to worry about.”

Get help: Nutrition counseling and exercise can help with weight loss, which can improve mood and self-esteem. Look for registered dietitians who specialize in oncology, said Seattle-based registered dietitian Andy Bellatti. They should promote “a whole foods strategy, rather than a take-this-canned-supplement approach,” he said.

Mood swings and irritability can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy or mind-body techniques, including yoga. Therapists can also be important when mood or sexual difficulties are coupled with marital distress.

A gynecologist can help manage symptoms related to vaginal health and remind patients that it takes upward of two years to start feeling more like your old self again. The American Cancer Society publishes a booklet titled “Sexuality and Cancer.”

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ISOLATION

Walson, of Melrose, Mass., was 33 when diagnosed in 2008. After a double mastectomy, hysterectomy and other related operations, four months of chemo and 37 radiation treatments, she sought out a range of experts and support groups to help with healing.

To get mobility back into her “T. rex” arms, Walson worked with a physical therapist. “I was extremely exhausted from the chemos, surgery and radiation, dealing with anger that I had to go through this — and everyone else around me didn’t,” said Walson, who worked with a therapist to help combat frustration. She also attended a six-week class for survivors at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Each week the class covered a different topic, ranging from nutrition to sex.

But what may have helped most was surrounding herself with others who “got it” and starting the survivor’s group cancervictory.com. Walson went on a weekend fly fishing retreat with Casting for Recovery (castingforrecovery.org) and went surfing with First Descents, (firstdescents.org). “Three years after the end of my treatment, I still got so much out of this trip.”

After her breast cancer treatment, Crystal Brown Tatum wanted to connect with other young, African-American women. She reached out to the Sister’s Network Inc. (sistersnetworkinc.org) and then started a chapter serving northwest Louisiana. “I wanted to know specifically how chemo would affect my hair and skin,” said Brown Tatum, who was diagnosed in 2007 when she was 35. “I also needed someone to help me understand my pathology report as well as needed financial assistance.”

Get help: Talk to a therapist about how to reconnect with others, in particular other survivors. Look for networks that match your interests or offer something you want to learn. “Find a bunch of fun women who have been through it,” Walson said. “Not all support groups sit in a circle and cry.”

Some other resources to consider: Imerman Angels (imermanangels.org); Journey Forward’s Survivorship Library (journeyforward.org/library); and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (canceradvocacy.org).