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Life After Cancer

  • Series
Panels 1 and 2 of a four-panel comic, drawn digitally. In panel 1, a white man with a moustache, corduroy trousers and a plaid shirt wears a bright orange helmet and a smile as he leaps into the air on a skateboard. The caption text reads "You'd think having cancer..." In panel 2, the man is shown leaping from an aeroplane with a parachute backpack, goggles and a terrified expression. The caption text reads "would give you a new lease of life..."
Adrenaline. © Alex Brenchley for Wellcome Collection.

In the ‘Life After Cancer’ series of cartoons, Alex Brenchley humorously illustrates what life can be like for a young adult after cancer treatment has finished. Many people may go on to live long cancer-free lives, but it’s not quite as simple as that, and there can be many repercussions for the mind and body.

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Paranoia Enjoyer

Even after successful treatment, the physical and mental effects of cancer can continue in many unforeseen ways.

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Standing Up

The collateral damage of cancer treatment extends to all activities, including a night of live entertainment.

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Bestseller

Writing can be a way of keeping fit too.

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Adrenaline

Surviving cancer doesn’t always mean you have to live each second like it’s your last.

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Scanxiety

‘Scanxiety’ is a well-known term in the cancer community for all the feelings associated with follow-up scans. These feelings can last for days or even weeks before *and* after the scan is over.

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Direct Response

All people handle conversations around cancer differently. There’s no ‘right’ way to do it, but talking openly can be a big help.

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Pop Up

Being successfully treated for one type of cancer doesn’t always stop the brain from finding other cancers to worry about…

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Still Human

It’s frustratingly easy to trick yourself into thinking you’re simply going to bounce back with 100 per cent health once your cancer treatment is over.

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Everyone's a Critic

If the bowel doesn’t return to its usual habits after cancer treatment, navigating a social life becomes also about finding places to eat where you feel (literally) catered for.

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Translation

It can be OK to ask a direct question… sometimes skirting around the topic of cancer can make it the elephant in the room that hangs around awkwardly.

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Holiday Plans

Many people were desperate to travel abroad once the lockdowns were over, yet there are still plenty who are still waiting for that opportunity.

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All About Cancer

Once you’ve had cancer, it’s easy to forget who you were before, but please remember: it does not define you, and *you’re* the one in charge of talking about it as much or as little as you like.