When my active cancer treatment ended, I was often asked, “How do you feel?”

People expected joy and celebration - and yes, I’m relieved and grateful. But finishing treatment isn’t the finish line. It’s a transition filled with mixed emotions, unexpected challenges, and, if you’re lucky, life-changing clarity.

The Deepest Insight: Life Is Short, and It’s Precious

One insight I’ve come to cherish above all is this: life is short.

I always knew time flies, but facing my mortality made that truth deeply real. It stopped being an abstract idea and became a precious gift.

The Supermarket Realisation: None of This Matters (the Way I Thought It Did)

I vividly remember the moment I was told I had stage 3 cancer. A few days later, I was walking through the supermarket and felt like I was on another planet. The world was hectic and fast, people racing through their day, caught in their thoughts.

And suddenly - peace.
None of this matters.
Not in the way I used to think it did.

The Only Thing That Truly Matters

During a terrifying two-week wait to learn if my cancer had spread, all the usual worries - career, to-do lists, everyday stresses - just fell away.

The only thing that mattered was time with the people I love. That clarity has stayed with me.

Facing My Reflection: Reclaiming My Sense of Self

Losing my hair and parts of my body shook my sense of identity. Sometimes, I felt invisible to myself in the mirror.

But slowly, I realised:
My worth isn’t in my appearance.
My love, my presence, and my relationships have nothing to do with how I look.

When I show up fully present - even with my “fluffy head” - I feel no shame.

Letting Go of Control (Even Emotionally)

One of the biggest lessons this journey has taught me is how much mental suffering comes from trying to control everything - especially our emotions.

We often plan and over-plan emotionally, trying to prevent difficult feelings. But that constant emotional control? It’s exhausting, and often makes things worse.

But I don’t think strength is unique to me. We all have it.

I wasn’t “fighting cancer” - I was learning to let go of control and keep showing up. That’s what strength looks like to me.

The Waves of Emotion Are Normal (And They Don’t Define You)

There have been moments of deep gratitude - and also moments of overwhelm.

That’s normal.

The difference now is that I understand those feelings ebb and flow. They are not permanent, and they don’t define my reality.

The only place I consistently find peace is right here: in the present moment.

A New Passion, A Deeper Life

Cancer has taken a lot from me.

But it’s also given me something unexpected:
A deeper experience of life.
A renewed passion to help others see how fleeting life truly is - so they can enjoy more and worry less.

If you’re navigating life after treatment, struggling with fear, or just feeling stuck - I’d love to keep the conversation going.
You can always reach out, ask questions, or share what’s on your mind.

I’m here.

Sarie x