Summer usually conjures up images of sandy beaches and warm waters. But if you’re undergoing chemotherapy or radiation for cancer, it can be hard to feel excited about the days ahead.
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a real problem during cancer treatment. Everyone else seems to be having fun while you’re stuck at home or in the hospital. “All of a sudden, summer represents a period of isolation,” says Elizabeth Schandelmeier, LCSW, a social worker and grief expert at Howling Lion Grief Support in Pittsburgh. “People can feel so alone.”
You don’t have to give in to the loneliness, though, or give up on fun. We asked cancer survivors what they did to stay active and how they preserved their summertime traditions.
1. Visit Local Destinations, Not Far-Flung Ones
Every summer, Rita Avellar and her husband would go on a summer vacation by the beach. But when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2022 and underwent mastectomy and breast reconstruction, she started enjoying the sunshine in the park, where she would take her dog for a daily walk.
“For me, summertime and warmer days are important,” says Avellar, a writer and two-time breast cancer survivor.
Lindsey A. Walker, the CEO and lead publicist of Walker + Associates Media Group, filled her summer calendar with concerts, conferences, and trips with friends. After she was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2018, she still went out often — just closer to home.
“I was able to still enjoy myself as best as I could with the help and support of my family and friends,” she says. “They would take me on outings — small things like going to the park, grabbing ice cream, etc.”
If you can’t go out to eat, invite friends over for a cookout at your home. Instead of taking a hike when your energy level is low, go for a drive. When water skiing is too physically taxing, drive the boat. You may be able to keep doing what you love — just on a smaller, more local scale.
2. Take Your Treatment to Your Vacation
If you have a summer trip that you’re set on taking, ask your doctor if you can get treatment at that destination. If not, try to go on a trip closer to where you’re receiving care — even if that means renting an AirBnB on the other side of town.
“Work with your medical team to try to come up with some creative solutions,” Schandelmeier says. You may be surprised at what kind of workaround your care team can help you find.
3. Have Fun — but Take a Few Precautions
Judy Caswell’s summers were always full of outdoor activities with family and friends. There was no “prospect of ‘taking it easy’ and ‘staying low key,’” says the cancer survivor and Cancer Hope Network peer mentor.
Caswell continued to hike, run, swim, water ski, and kayak during her chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but she always wore sunscreen, sun protective clothing, and a hat when outdoors. She also stayed out of public pools that didn’t follow strict cleaning procedures and was careful to avoid crowds and sick people.
“Take precautions when needed, but stay active!” she advises. “It makes a world of difference, not just physically, but mentally.”
4. Try a Calming or Restful Activity
The summer months don’t have to be filled with one activity after another. After Avellar’s surgeries, pain made more strenuous activities impossible. So instead, she occupied her time with more relaxing pursuits — and realized that she loved doing these as well.
“Reading was my thing,” she says. “I was also doing embroidery … and watching TV series and films.”
5. Shift Your Thinking
It’s easy to slip into the thought pattern of, “Before I had cancer, I was able to do XYZ, and now I can’t.” Instead of giving in to these thoughts, adopt a new perspective.
“Start thinking of yourself as a person who is moving through change,” Schandelmeier suggests. “Give yourself permission to be okay with the limitations that are imposed on you, whether it’s by treatment or cancer.”
6. Talk to Someone
Summer can be a very emotional and lonely time when you’re in the middle of cancer treatment. Remember that you’re not alone. Lean on the people who care about you, especially your friends and family members.
You can also find support from a therapist, social worker, or other mental health professional, suggests Schandelmeier. Try to find one who works with cancer patients. In therapy, you can talk openly about feelings like sadness, anger, and FOMO, and learn ways to manage them.
7. Find Moments of Joy
It can be hard to feel optimistic when you have cancer. But try to focus on all the good that still exists in your life — especially the time you’re spending with loved ones.
“Take advantage of every moment that you can,” Walker stresses. “What’s most important is that you allow yourself to be loved, cared for, and that you’re creating joy, one summer night at a time.”
The Takeaway
- Cancer treatment can disrupt your summer plans and leave you with a fear of missing out (FOMO).
- Find other ways to have fun, like going to the park instead of the beach or hosting an at-home cookout instead of attending one at a friend’s lake house.
- If you’re struggling with FOMO, ask friends, a family member, or a mental health provider for help.
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