Walking a Camino after fighting cancer

Cancer treatment is not just physically demanding—the mental and emotional toll can sometimes be even greater than what the body endures.

When faced with the reality of mortality, many people begin to question whether they want to continue living as they have before. They reflect on what they may have missed out on and what they want to do differently with their lives after overcoming cancer.

The Camino de Santiago is the perfect place to explore these questions. It offers a fresh start, an opportunity to seize the second chance that life has given. The Camino is often used as a rite of passage from one life phase to another. It helps bring mental clarity and provides space to process past experiences. For all these reasons, a Camino can be the perfect conclusion to the hard-fought battle against cancer.

Your body has been through a lot and will likely not be at full strength for some time.

Following a standard stage plan from the internet is usually not a good idea. Take it slow, and plan your stages to match your current fitness level.

Using luggage transport services and staying in comfortable private rooms is absolutely valid. These options allow you to experience the Camino without overloading yourself physically or mentally.

This is a question that only your doctor can answer, not me as a Camino consultant.

When discussing your plans with your doctor, it’s important to clarify that “walking the Camino" doesn’t always mean the same thing. Some people immediately picture a fit 30-year-old carrying a huge backpack and marching for eight hours through the Spanish heat.

But your Camino can look very different. It can mean walking just 10 kilometers a day—perhaps an hour strolling along the Portuguese coast, followed by a long lunch break, another hour of walking, a coffee break with an ocean view, and a final short walk before checking into a comfortable, air-conditioned room.

A Camino does not have to be Spartan to offer you personal insights, a meaningful break, emotional processing, connection, and an unforgettable experience.