Celebrating Milestones After Cancer: A Journey of Remission

Hi, my name is Beatriz, and I am in remission from Hodgkin's Lymphoma for a year now. I have been writing about my journey since my diagnosis. Today, I want to share pieces of those chapters with you. My hope is to help those who might feel alone in their journeys.

As we embrace the Thanksgiving holiday spirit, I feel immense gratitude. I am thankful for everyone by my side: family, friends, and my medical team. I am also grateful to be part of the amazing team at The After Cancer. Together, we have the opportunity to help many others who are in similar situations. I cherish the chance to celebrate this journey and share my story.

Entry date: November 28th, 2025

"Do I even deserve the luck I have?

Yesterday marked one year of my cancer remission. One year of my hair growing back. One year of doing things I probably wouldn’t have done if cancer hadn’t happened at all."

The Complexity of Celebration

But why am I scared to celebrate? And at the same time, why do I feel guilty? The thought of being lucky enough to have a diagnosis with one of the highest survival rates lingers in my mind. Yet, the fear of it returning or bringing a different diagnosis haunts me even more. It’s a mix of “I deserve to be proud and celebrate” and “Am I even entitled to celebrate when what I went through feels so small compared to what others have faced?”

Happiness, relief, fear, and guilt - navigating the aftermath of cancer can be trickier than the treatment itself. This past year has been a full-on rollercoaster.

Facing the Unknown

Everything I feel that resembles the cancer symptoms I had before treatment scares me. I worry I won’t be able to distinguish between what’s normal and what’s concerning. I fear celebrating today, only to hear from my oncologist next week that it’s back. I worry that I’m not enjoying life as I should, and that it might be too late. I’m afraid that by focusing too much on my fears, I’ll let the good moments slip away. The truth is, I’m afraid because I can’t control it.

Living each day to the fullest has been one of my goals during 2025. However, life still happens, and not everything is perfect. Celebrating small victories has become a coping strategy for me. It helps me manage my anxiety about the future and the things I cannot control. Yet, even that can be challenging at times.

The Importance of Self-Kindness

Learning to be kind to myself is a crucial part of life after cancer. I know this journey will help everything else fall into place. I still have a long way to go, but I refuse to make giving up an option.

Reality is different for everyone, and all realities matter. Regardless of the diagnosis, finishing a round of treatment is a significant milestone. Completing an entire protocol is another achievement worth celebrating. Reaching one, six, or twelve months of remission is yet another important milestone in our journey.

Embracing the Journey Together

Celebrating can be tough sometimes. The journey after cancer is long and, let’s face it, can be a b. But I hope you can walk this road with me.

As we navigate this path together, I want to remind you that your feelings are valid. It's okay to feel a mix of emotions. You are not alone in this journey, and together, we can find ways to celebrate our victories, no matter how small they may seem.

Let’s continue to support one another and embrace the beauty of life after cancer.