During the first year of having cancer, you are so busy just trying to survive. From the moment of diagnosis to surgery, follow-up visits with multiple MD's, chemotherapy, radiation, PET scans, CAT scans, blood draws, ports, physical therapy and no hair, you don't think much about what's next. This is really a good thing because you need all your energy and strength to do what needs to be done.

But then suddenly you are told you are "cancer free" and you are released from your doctor, and now you are supposed to return to your previous life. A life you almost can't remember because for a year, you have been overwhelmed with constant activity regarding your health. Goodbye cancer and then, what's next?

My patients describe this timeframe to me as a time of confusion, estrogen blocker drugs and feelings that they have never had before in their lives. The full force of what the body has been through hits them and they are not sure what their next move is supposed to be.

I want you to know that you are not alone with these thoughts. It is normal for your mind and body to have to process all these issues. You may wonder, did I love the life I had before cancer? Do I need to make some changes in my professional and home life? Do I have family and community relationships that are healthy for me? Do I work too much and have no hobbies? Do I have time for good food, exercise and laughter?

So many things surface - things that maybe we have hidden in our hearts for way too long. The world wants us to be the same, but somehow we are not. We are unsure where we fit in, and even if we want to fit in at all.

Then there are all those thoughts about reoccurrence and any time we feel any little pain, we wonder if we should see the doctor. We get tired of thinking about it, but we have that nagging little thought that keeps circling around, especially around 2 or 3 in the morning. We don't always sleep well, so the day is not as smooth as it should be very often. What do we do with this part of our new life?

The first step is to know that what you feel is normal, and recognize that it is okay for you to feel all of it. It will take time for you to process what you went through. You should let yourself have your sorrow, anger and pain.

The next step is to connect with others who might have had similar challenges in their lives. They could be others with breast cancer, but they also could be people who have suffered other types of losses. These people are a wealth of information and have developed many wonderful coping skills due to their loss. At first, you may be resistant to talk with others in this way because it is a reminder of all your past experiences, but don't give up because in your connection to others, you will find answers to the next phase of your life. Re-entry can be difficult, and requires patience.

The next phase is full restoration. It is where full joy and amazement are experienced. The proof of life and what it means is fully realized, and we now have the opportunity to live fully because we get another chance. We have tasted the other side and we have survived. Now we can share our life in deep and meaningful ways with others, and we will live with no regrets.

Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff at Lake City Physical Therapy can be reached at (208) 666-1988, where they care for cancer and orthopedic patients every day. Live fully with no disabilities and no regrets.