Two-Time Breast Cancer Survivor Shares Advice for Fellow Patients

San Francisco-based surgeon Dr. Anne Peled, herself a two-time breast cancer survivor, sat down for an interview with CURE to share advice for patients who are in the survivorship period of their cancer journey, and also to dispel myths and misconceptions related to cancer survivorship.

Transcript

What advice do you have for CURE’s readers who are in the survivorship period of their cancer journey?

I think one of the things that you know I've learned is, unfortunately, once you've had cancer, that possibility of recurrence always looms. But I think, like what I've learned for myself, is finding the moments where you can be proactive and have some control over that [are important], so whether that's routinely getting your screenings and following up with all of your providers. For me, exercise has really good data on recurrence, and so I do that regularly. And I think finding those places that you feel like you can do something proactive is so incredibly helpful for managing that emotional roller coaster.

I hear a lot about patients feeling like they're responsible for things that happen, and whether it's recurrence or outcomes, and I think it's so important to know that unfortunately, there is a lot that that is out of our control in that way. And so, making sure that people try really hard not to blame themselves for the things that happens around survivorship is really important. I think that with comes that is, there's not in my mind enough focus on the psychosocial piece of it. And so allowing people to really know that, like getting psychosocial support. You know, in survivorship, it's hard, there's a lot going on as really, as is also very key.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.