After the treatment finishes then what? (Dr Peter Harvey)
06 Convalescence
This is a rather old-fashioned term, and in some ways it’s a shame that it has fallen into disuse, despite its association with bath chairs, rugs, bracing sea air and strengthening broth.
The word has a Latin root meaning 'to grow strong' - rather apt under the circumstances. How is this different from recuperation?
In some ways they are very similar, but the distinction is based on time. Recuperation is the immediate period following the end of treatment when you can begin to replenish you reserves of energy.
Once you have recharged your batteries, then you can begin to build up your physical and emotional strength - the process of convalescence.
Again, there are no set rules or guidelines for how long this can take, and the two processes merge into one another. But it is vital that you allow yourself time to re-build the foundations and recover the energy you need to start doing those things that you want to do - and, perhaps, to stop doing those things that you don't want to do.
This is well illustrated by the woman who, once she had completed her treatment for her breast cancer asked for help to '.. sort out her job, her marriage and her cancer - and in that order.' After eight sessions with a clinical psychologist, she had decided to change both job and husband.
Now that dramatic and planned rehabilitation programme will not be to everybody's taste or need, but all changes - however big, however small - require energy, time and commitment - which is why you need to ensure that you have allowed yourself time to recuperate and convalesce.
You will note that the phrase ‘getting back to normal’ has not been used in this section. This is quite deliberate and because it is such a tricky issue, the topic has a section to itself ( see Getting back to normal ).
The Cancer Counselling Trust has now closed.
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