Your Survivorship, Your Playbook
From the Sunday Self-Care Chronicles | 11/2/25
This week’s Sunday Self-Care Chronicles continues the “Best Of” series with a closer look at how self-care evolves through each phase of breast cancer recovery and survivorship. Because self-care isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s phase-specific and you-specific.
This week’s issue touches on:
✨ How your self-care needs shift from diagnosis to long-term survivorship
✨ Recognizing which season of recovery you’re in
✨ Practical examples of support for each phase—and how to tailor them to you
Read the full email below - and if something speaks to you please feel free to comment, share, or reach out!
Hello, lovely!
Last week we talked about the foundation of self-care—how your new normal isn’t delivered, it’s designed.
This week, we’re building on that idea by looking at where you are in your survivorship and what your self-care needs most right now.
Because here’s the truth: self-care isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s phase-specific and you-specific.
Why It Matters
Too often, survivorship gets lumped into a single category—like once you’ve finished treatment, you’re “done.”
But you and I both know that finishing treatment doesn’t mean you stop needing support.
It just means the kind of support you need starts to change.
Self-care after a breast cancer diagnosis isn’t static. It evolves—just like you do.
And if you can learn to recognize what season of recovery you’re in, you can meet yourself with the kind of care that truly fits your current reality instead of comparing yourself to someone else’s.
Finding Yourself On The Map
Think of your survivorship like a landscape with different terrains. Each phase asks for something different—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Newly diagnosed: You’re often overwhelmed with information and emotions. The best care you can offer yourself might be boundaries and gentle mental space—saying “no” where you can and letting others carry some of the load.
During treatment or surgery recovery: Rest isn’t lazy—it’s therapeutic and necessary. Prioritize sleep, hydration, and simple movement like breathing, stretching, or short walks. Skin and scar care become important, too.
Early survivorship: As the medical noise quiets down, you start hearing your own body again. This is the perfect time to add physical therapy, oncology massage, or gentle lymphatic self-care. Focus on reconnecting to your body, rebuilding strength, and finding rhythms that support healing.
Long-term survivorship: Maintenance becomes the goal here. You may notice subtle shifts—stamina, body image, energy. Your focus turns toward sustaining habits, monitoring for changes, and practicing awareness without anxiety.
Metastatic breast cancer: Self-care looks different when the road is ongoing. It’s cyclical and erratic often anything but linear. Here, it’s about honoring your body’s changing needs, prioritizing comfort, and remembering that worthiness and care are always yours to claim.
Your Next Step.
You don’t have to master every phase of recovery at once—just get curious about the one you’re in now.
Want personalized guidance? Book an Ask Amy session to talk through your current stage and what small shifts might make the biggest difference.
Or simply hit reply and tell me which phase you identify with most—I’ll send two focused tips you can start using today.
Best of the Blog: Mapping Your Self-Care
If you want to explore this week’s theme more deeply or grab specific resources and recommendations, these are great places to start:
→ What Is Breast Cancer Self-Care (Part 1) — A fresh take on self-care: less bubble bath, more body awareness.
→ What Is Breast Cancer Self-Care (Part 2) — How to make self-care practical, personal, and sustainable.
📝 Note: Some tools or links mentioned in older posts may no longer be available, but the ideas still hold true.
Next week, we’ll move into Part 3: Tools That Make Life Easier—a practical round-up of hands-on techniques and products that can simplify your routines and support your healing every day.
Sunday to Sunday (and every day in between), I'm always in this with you.
ps. There’s no GPS for survivorship, but there is a lot of grace. And I’ve got extra if you need some.
pps. Want to see how I can directly support you at every phase of your experience? Check out my services by experience timeline.
ppps. If you like what you read here please consider forwarding this email to a friend or sharing it on your socials.