What if your body can’t fully repair itself?
Sometimes cancer, or cancer treatment, causes damage that the body cannot repair. If this has happened to you, your doctors will have talked to you about this.
If you had treatment for a tumour in your brain or spinal cord you may not be able to do all the things that you could before you were ill. Some young people find that the way they look is permanently changed by the cancer or treatment.
These things are extra hard and may make you feel that finishing treatment won’t make your life much easier. It takes a lot to get your head round changes that might last for the rest of your life and that make you different from your friends.
Most young people have times when they feel sad and often very angry that this has happened, but most young people also find that in time they can adjust and really enjoy life again.
Even if a full recovery isn’t possible you will get stronger in the weeks and months after finishing treatment. Some people find that because there are some things they can’t do, they can do some other things extra well. For example, people who use wheelchairs often have very strong arms which help them to manage despite problems with their legs.
There are lot sof organisations that can give you and your family help so that you can still get the most out of life.
"Your priorities change and give you a totally different perspective on life. This can make it hard just to go back to normal."
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© CCLG 2007 This information has been provided by the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group. It is aimed at 10 – 16 year olds although it may be of interest to other young people.
Authors: Katherine Green, Moira Bradwell and Annie Griffiths on behalf of the CCLG Publications Committee. All quotations have been supplied by 10-16 year olds.
