Breast Cancer Survivorship: A Roadmap for Life After Treatment

You Beat Breast Cancer, Now What? A Road Map for Life After Treatment

Survivorship is the start of a new chapter.
You Beat Breast Cancer, Now What? A Road Map for Life After Treatment
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You’ve just had the long-awaited “You’re done with breast cancer treatment” bell celebration, and suddenly you’re expected to go back to life as usual. Or at least that’s how it feels for most people who just finished cancer treatment.

As a palliative care physician, a BRCA1 previvor who knows a lot of women who had cancer, and a daughter who has walked the long road of survivorship alongside my mom (twice!), I can tell you this: Cancer doesn’t end when treatment ends. Life doesn’t ever go back to normal; it just changes. And, finding your new normal can take some time.

Survivorship isn’t just about being alive. It’s about living well.
— Simran Malhotra, MD

In fact, as of January 2022, it is estimated that there are 18.1 million cancer survivors in the United States, with 4.1 million of those being breast cancer survivors.

 That number is expected to grow to 26 million people by 2040, and the number of people living longer after cancer is growing because of advancements in diagnosis and treatment.

But here is the thing: Life after cancer can be just as challenging as it is during diagnosis and treatment.

Survivorship isn’t just about being alive. It’s about living well. And that deserves just as much attention, care, and tools to optimize quality of life and longevity.

The Invisible Load of Survivorship

The medical system is really good at the cancer diagnosis and treatment part. But no one really prepares you for the “Now what?” that follows cancer treatment.

Many breast cancer survivors face side effects like fatigue, chronic pain, brain fog, lymphedema, sexual dysfunction, and early menopause, as well as downstream metabolic and cardiovascular issues.

 Financial concerns as well as emotional scars, such as anxiety, depression, and the never-ending fear of recurrence, can feel harder to manage than the physical symptoms.

Survivorship is the start of a new chapter and, as a physician, I know we need a better system. To truly support cancer thrivers and survivors, we need a multidisciplinary approach that will consider the person’s physical, emotional, mental, psychosocial, lifestyle, financial, and spiritual needs (just to name a few).

But until we get there, I’ve laid out a simple road map below that will empower you or your loved one who needs some clarity on the next steps to take.

1. Know Your History

Keep a personal survivorship folder. This record of your medical history should include:

  • Diagnosis date
  • Cancer type (including grade and stage)
  • Medications and treatments you received
  • Side effects
  • The names of your medical team
  • Anything else cancer-related you think would be important to include

This will become your lifeline in future care planning and follow-ups without having to rely on your memory. Trust me, it will be a lifesaver.

2. Commit to Follow-Up Care

Breast cancer survivorship means developing a long-term relationship with your medical team and the people you rely on for support. Follow-up care can look different for everyone depending on the cancer type and treatment, but may include frequent imaging, bloodwork, and visits with your primary care provider, oncologist, and other medical specialists.

An important part of follow-up care is becoming aware of your body and your symptoms, and paying special attention to anything new that may pop up so you can discuss it with your team. For the first year, I suggest tracking any changes or concerns in a journal.

3. Embrace Lifestyle as Medicine

After talking to thousands of people who have survived cancer, I have heard from many that they feel they got a second chance at life. I feel the same as a BRCA1 previvor. And the best way to take advantage of that new lease on life is to embrace healthy habits.

Studies show that survivors who engage in regular movement, follow a plant-forward dietary pattern, and prioritize sleep and stress reduction not only reduce their risk of cancer recurrence but also other chronic diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.

Embracing lifestyle as medicine isn’t about perfection. It’s about taking back your power over the things in your life that are in your control.

4. Don’t Ignore Your Mental Health

Anxiety, depression, and fear are common — and can have a very real impact on survival. Mental health support, whether it’s therapy, medication, mindfulness practices, or support groups, should be nonnegotiable for everyone, but especially for cancer survivors. Find what works for you and stick to it.

5. Find Your Tribe

Whether it's a breast cancer–specific support group for survivors, an online community, or a local walking group of women who “get it” — connection will heal you. As Brené Brown says, “Connection is why we’re here. It gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” And connection reminds us that we are not alone, which is an important part of finding the courage to keep showing up.

I know for a fact that breast cancer survivors aren’t fragile — they are fierce. But even fierce people need support, strategy, and space to heal. So, to every breast cancer thriver or survivor reading this, you are not alone in the feeling of “What’s next?” after you ring the bell. To every caregiver, your loved one still needs you, so please remember to check in regularly. To every clinician, it’s time to build a system that serves the whole person, rather than just treating a disease.

In honor of my mom, my patients, and millions celebrating cancer survivorship this month: Cheers to thriving and living with purpose and joy — now with a plan.

Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Statistics and Graphs. National Cancer Institute.
  2. Gegechkori N et al. Long Term and Latent Side Effects of Specific Cancer Types. Medical Clinics of North America. November 1, 2018.
  3. Follow-up Care After Cancer Treatment. American Cancer Society. May 23, 2024.
  4. American Cancer Society Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity. American Cancer Society. May 5, 2025.
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Tingting Tan, MD, PhD

Medical Reviewer

Tingting Tan, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist at City of Hope National Medical Center.

Dr. Tan's research has been published in multiple medical and scientific journals, including Oncologists, Cancer Cell, and Genes and Development.

A graduate of the Beijing Medical University, Tan holds an M.D. from Peking University Health Science Center and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University. Her training includes fellowships at the University of California San Francisco Cancer Research Institute and the Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple University.

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Simran-Malhotra-bio

Simran Malhotra, MD

Author
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Simran Malhotra, MD, DipABLM, CHWC, is a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, hospice and palliative care, and lifestyle medicine, as well as a certified health and wellness coach. She is currently practicing part time as an inpatient palliative care physician at Medstar Health after serving as the palliative care medical director at Franklin Square Medical Center in Baltimore for a little over four years.

Dr. Malhotra completed her internal medicine residency at Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center, where she also served as chief resident in 2015. She completed her fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2016. She was named Top Doc in Palliative Medicine in 2019 and 2020 by Baltimore Magazine.

On a personal note, she is a BRCA1 previvor with a strong family history of breast and female reproductive cancers, and underwent a risk-reducing bilateral mastectomy and total hysterectomy in 2020 at 32 years old. After learning about her own genetic risk of cancer, and grounded in her professional experiences in palliative care, she founded Wellness By LifestyleMD, a platform where she works with and educates women at high risk for cancer with or without genetic mutations on the powerful impact that positive lifestyle changes can have on their quality of life and even longevity.

In addition to being a diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, she completed the T. Colin Campbell plant-based nutrition certification in 2019, the CHEF culinary coaching certification in 2020, and the WellCoaches health and wellness coaching certification in 2022. She is a member of the ACLM women’s health member interest group and serves as the co-chair of the breast cancer subcommittee.

Malhotra has been featured on several blogs and podcasts, where she has shared her unique perspectives and experiences from palliative care as well as from being a genetic mutation carrier who is passionate about using lifestyle as medicine.
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