‘Am I meant to be okay now?’

You are now twice as likely to survive for at least 10 years after a cancer diagnosis than you were 40 years ago. This is only possible because of the progress made in diagnosing people earlier, and vast improvements in treatment and care.

But sadly, many who survive cancer then find themselves living in poor health. They may struggle with physical and mental health issues that affect their ability to live the life they want. Many people are not prepared for this, and can feel confused or guilty for not feeling as well as they, or those around them, expected they would.

The stories in this report show us just some of the ways that cancer can affect people’s lives once they have finished their treatment. But they also tell us that there is more that can be done to make sure that everyone with cancer gets the best possible support in the future.

Surviving doesn’t always mean living well

Just because the hospital appointments and treatments are over doesn’t mean that life goes back to the way it was before a cancer diagnosis. Some people can find adjusting to life after cancer treatment relatively straightforward, but one in three people (34%) are still struggling with their physical wellbeing up to two years after treatment ends. Problems such as incontinence, difficulty eating, or breathlessness can make people feel as unwell as they did during treatment.

The emotional impact of cancer should not be understated either. Almost a third of people (30%) who have completed treatment in the last two years say their emotional wellbeing is still affected.3 People frequently experience feelings of depression and anxiety, particularly around not being able to ‘get back to normal’. Instead of elation or relief when treatment is over, people can feel lost and find it hard not to worry constantly that their cancer might come back.

Living in physical and emotional ill health for months – or even years – after treatment has ended is not uncommon. Chronic fatigue alone affects 350,000 people who have finished cancer treatment in England. Two in five people (40%) who have finished treatment in the last two years are living with moderate or extreme pain or discomfort. Sadly, the prevalence of these issues doesn’t stop many from feeling isolated. They often feel like they are the only ones still struggling to move on, to go back to work, or to just feel better.