Beyond survival: The unseen battles breast cancer survivors continue to fight

Breast cancer survivors face a myriad of challenges beyond the initial battle for survival. It is a common misconception that the end of treatment signifies the end of suffering for these individuals. The reality is that the journey towards recovery continues long after the completion of medical intervention. In Ghana, a study conducted in 2025 revealed significant gaps in the initiation of treatment for patients referred for breast biopsies in the Oti and Volta regions.

However, an equally important aspect that demands attention is the physical and emotional consequences that survivors continue to grapple with post-treatment.

As a breast cancer survivor myself, I can attest to the fact that surviving cancer is indeed a blessing. Nonetheless, the termination of treatment does not imply the end of suffering. In my case, I was diagnosed with stage three invasive carcinoma, grade three, triple-negative breast cancer. This means that the cancer had spread beyond its origin, the cells were highly abnormal with a likelihood of rapid growth and spread, and the cancer cells lacked crucial markers that could facilitate targeted treatment.

The treatment regimen for my cancer included eight cycles of chemotherapy, surgery, and 16 fractions of radiotherapy during the COVID-19 lockdown. I am profoundly grateful to God for my life, but I am acutely aware that the battle does not always end when treatment ends. The US National Cancer Institute states that some side effects of cancer treatment can persist for months or even years, while others emerge long after the treatment has concluded. The severity and nature of these side effects vary among survivors.

Potential side effects can range from peripheral neuropathy, caused by certain chemotherapy drugs, leading to pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hands and feet, to persistent fatigue, joint and muscle pain, restricted movement, lymphoedema (swelling caused by fluid build-up), sleep difficulties, memory or concentration problems, and surgical or radiotherapy-induced pain.

Some survivors might also face early menopause, sexual difficulties, anxiety, and depression. Although nausea and dizziness were experienced during treatment, persistent or recurring symptoms years later must be assessed by medical professionals rather than automatically attributed to cancer treatment.

For some survivors, these struggles become an integral part of their daily lives. Pain may come and go, lasting for minutes, hours, or days. A person may seem perfectly fine at work, in church, or at a social gathering, yet return home exhausted and in pain. I have experienced moments where muscle pain lasted for a few minutes and subsided, while at other times it persisted for days, becoming so intense that I found it challenging to cope.

I sometimes take painkillers, but I worry about relying on them too frequently, as the relief is not always as desired.

The emotional burden of living with unexplained symptoms and facing accusations of pretense from others adds another layer of complexity to the survivor's journey. The question arises: how can someone dismiss such struggles as mere pretense when the pain and fatigue are very real? I share my story not to seek sympathy but to shed light on a reality faced by many breast cancer survivors.

The emotional distress caused by being judged and accused of feigning illness is a burden that must be acknowledged and addressed with empathy and understanding. It is crucial that survivors be able to speak about their challenges without fear of ridicule, and that employers, colleagues, and health services provide continued care beyond the completion of treatment.

Comprehensive care, including rehabilitation, pain management services, physiotherapy, psychological support, and regular follow-ups, are essential components of effective breast cancer management. These services must not be treated as luxuries but as necessities in the lives of breast cancer survivors.