Getting a cancer diagnosis is probably one of the worst news someone can ever hear, and if you have recently been diagnosed, our hearts go out to you. People who get this kind of diagnosis deal with the news very differently. Some can accept it, while others go into deep depression and despair.
We can’t tell you how you should feel and there’s no good or bad way to deal with news like this. But there are some things that you can do to make the burden a bit less heavy on your shoulders. Here are a few tips to help you cope with a cancer diagnosis.
Get a Second Opinion
You should always get a second opinion when someone tells you that you’ve been diagnosed with cancer. There’s always a chance that they were wrong and cancer misdiagnosis happens more often than people think. You might also be able to get more clarity on what stage the cancer is in, which is extremely important.
This is why we suggest that you get a second scan to see what’s really going on. If you want to book a scan, you can check out this cancer detection service. Ezra has been giving scans to people in the community for many years and they know everything there is to know about cancer detection. They’ll be able to confirm if you have cancer or not and might also be able to give you some assistance on what you’ll need to do next.
Have a Long Discussion with Your Doctor
Next, you have to ask as many questions as possible to the doctor who diagnosed you to see if the diagnosis is indeed accurate. They will be able to give you information on your chances of recovery, how advanced the cancer is, what you’ll need to do from now, and the different available treatment options.
You should know what the side effects of the treatment will be in particular. You also need to know if you’ll be able to maintain normal levels of activity.
Look for Support Groups
There are tons of support groups available to people who are diagnosed with cancer, and we suggest you join one or a few you feel could help. Speaking with other people who have been diagnosed can be comforting as they’re the only people that can understand what you’re going through. These resources will also connect you with mental health professionals who might be able to help you deal with some of your fears, frustrations, or depression.
Some of the organizations we suggest you check out include the American Cancer Society, Cancer Care, and the National Cancer Institute.
Reconnect with the People Closer to You
If you have rifts with people in your family, now is the time to work them out. You need them now more than ever and having bitterness in your heart will certainly not help you fight through the disease. This could be a good opportunity to build burned bridges back up and connect with people you haven’t connected with for a while.
Let them know what’s going on and be as humble as possible. Even if you feel like the other person was in the wrong, forgiving them and building back your relationship will make things much easier to cope with.
Be Positive
You should also know that getting a cancer diagnosis is not an automatic death sentence and many cancers today have a very high recovery rate. This is why it’s so important to get as much information as you can from your doctor, but you should also do some research on your own. Try to be open-minded as well. You may notice that certain methods have not been fully backed by science, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t help you.
For instance, there is not that much concrete proof that meditation can help people recover from cancer, but it certainly can’t hurt. You might also want to look at how you can optimize your diet so you can deal with treatment better. Diet can help elevate the mood as well, so look at what foods you should eat and which ones you should avoid depending on your condition.
Live Life to the Fullest
Now is the time to do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do. You can’t stop living just because you got a cancer diagnosis. If there’s a place you always wanted to go to or some event you always wanted to attend, go and enjoy yourself as much as you can. Some people also decide to try hobbies they have always wanted to try or turn to art as an outlet. This could allow you to cope with the stress you’ll have to deal with and put you in a positive mood.
These are all things that you could do if you have just been diagnosed with cancer. Know that it’s not the end yet and there is still a chance that you’ll recover, so take advantage of all the resources at your disposal and build a solid support system around you.
