Mental health

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. A healthy lifestyle not only helps you feel fitter, it also makes it easier to cope with stress and see life more positively. Making healthy choices can reduce the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. By taking good care of your body, you can start to feel better mentally. And when you feel well, it becomes easier to keep making healthy choices.

Research shows that both the illness and its treatment can continue to affect your physical and mental health, even years later. They may also have an impact on your education and your place in society.

In the first period after treatment, checkups take place every month or every few months, but over time the intervals become longer. The doctor examines you and, if needed, takes blood samples or orders additional tests. You will also be asked about school, friends, and other aspects of daily life. Five years after diagnosis (for ALL and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, five years after completing treatment), you are considered cured. From then on, you will visit the LATER clinic, which focuses mainly on possible late effects.

Not everyone experiences late effects, and not everyone is affected in the same way. Some people have many health problems, while others have few or none. Some survivors feel that their quality of life is good despite late effects, while others continue to struggle with the consequences of what they have been through.

It is always a good idea to ask yourself, if you have any symptoms, whether they could be related to your illness and treatment. You can read more about late effects here. And don’t hesitate to contact your general practitioner or the LATER clinic.