Coping With A Cancer Diagnosis
Everyone reacts to cancer differently. It is a scary diagnosis, and it can be difficult for cancer patients and their family members to cope with the news that someone has cancer.
A cancer diagnosis can be difficult to process for all the people involved, and people may experience a range of emotions that they are not sure how to handle when faced with this situation. For example, some news of cancer can lead patients on a journey of fear and while others might feel relieved to know that they have a concrete diagnosis and treatment plan.
Finding out that one of your friends or someone you love was diagnosed with cancer can lead to feelings of sadness, depression, fear, and stress.
When dealing with cancer, it is important to know that there is no right or wrong way to cope or process the diagnosis or what might lie ahead. It affects everyone differently. It can be hard for anyone with cancer to process what they are feeling, let alone someone else. There are, however, resources to help, support, and assist you to cope with the news that you or someone you love has cancer.
Coping With Cancer Is Not Easy For Anyone
Cancer is not an illness to be taken lightly – it can have physical and emotional side effects for everyone in the life of a cancer patient. It is normal to feel various emotions and physical symptoms when you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer. You can expect to be dealing with fear, hope, anxiety, sadness, worry, depression, and more whether you are a cancer patient, a family member, or a friend.
As we said, there is no perfect road map for coping with cancer. It hits everyone differently. But, there are tips and resources that may help people with cancer and the loved ones around them.
What Are Some Tips To Help You Cope With A Cancer Diagnosis?
Here are some suggestions that can help many people, including cancer patients, who are coping with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Seek support from friends and family. It is important to surround yourself with people who care about you, especially when cancer and treatment get tough. This is true, not just for the person living with cancer. Caregivers, friends, and family members should also enlist the help of other friends and loved ones to ensure they have ways to process their feelings.
- Have conversations. Talk about your feelings, vent/cry if needed, or simply talk about cancer and the diagnosis. Talking things out is one way people can find a sense of relief during this time. It also helps to know that they are not alone. Find someone with whom you can discuss these things, openly-whether it is a professional counselor, a support group, or a friend.
- Practice self-care. It is important that cancer patients and any person in their circle take care of themselves. Self-care is more than just following medical protocols. Make sure you are eating well, exercising to the extent you can, getting enough sleep, avoiding alcohol/substances that may be detrimental to your well-being.
- Find ways to tackle stress by incorporating yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, walking, or anything else that works for you to decrease anxiety, depression, or worry.
- Explore cancer support groups. Many organizations provide emotional, practical, and informational support for anyone with cancer or knows someone with cancer. These groups can provide a range of help and resources to help you cope with life during this difficult time.
- Do your research. Find out what cancer is, how it could affect you or your loved ones, and the available options. Learn about the type of cancer you are dealing with. Find the best health care team and speak to them. Get opinions from different doctors. Ask questions about cancer and its treatments, side effects, and what you can expect to feel as you embark on this journey. Learn about ways to stay healthy during cancer and its treatment.
- Talk to cancer survivors. Talking to cancer survivors and people who have experienced cancer treatment can help ease the fear that some people have. You can get information about treatment options, what side effects may feel like, how to accept the diagnosis, and even get advice on how to stay healthy during chemo or radiation. Speaking to someone who has already had to deal with everything you are feeling may be helpful as you fight for your life or help a friend manage their cancer journey.
- If you are part of a caregiving team or a friend of someone with cancer, try to find ways to make the patient feel in control of their daily life and future. Ask what help they need and let them dictate ways in which you can provide support. Try to do things together that are “normal” when you have a chance. Be a good listener. Let them talk openly and honestly about their feelings regarding cancer. It may be hard for you to hear about some of the emotions they are facing, such as fear and anxiety, but you must allow them to express themselves. It is also critical that you seek out support of your own to maintain your physical and emotional health during this time.
Coping With Cancer Is Different For Everyone
Remember: there is no right or wrong way to cope with cancer; It elicits such a wide variety and degree of feelings. While many things may help patients and family members coping with cancer, there is no magic solution to make life go back to the way it was before cancer. Life will not be the same for quite some time, if ever.
As hard as it can be to cope with cancer, it can also strengthen relationships and remind us all that life is precious. It can deepen feelings of appreciation and love, even amidst feelings of sadness. Dealing with cancer can bring families and friends closer together in support of a common goal- survival.
Help Someone You Love Cope With Cancer by Sending A Cancer Gift Basket From Rock The Treatment
If someone you love has cancer, send them a helpful cancer gift basket from Rock The Treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation gift baskets are packed with the essentials needed to ease side effects of treatment, as well as enhance physical and mental well-being. See all of our cancer care packages and find the one that best supports their journey.
