You certainly don’t have to be on this earth long to understand that there are many scary things surrounding us: terrorist attacks, global warming, bullies in school, natural disasters, and even aging can be a scary proposition. However, one universal occurrence seems to frighten even the most stalwart optimist: receiving a diagnosis of cancer.
We have all heard the fact that nearly everyone of us has been touched by cancer, either directly or through some acquaintance. And yet, even though cancer has become a fact of life, we tend to deny it exist until it hits us smack dab in the middle of the head: You have cancer!
How does one deal with the diagnosis of cancer?
Maybe the greatest emotion attached with cancer is fear, and primarily, the fear of the unknown; as cancer (in its many insidious forms) is an unknown subject – we all have be touched by it, yet most of us have little, if any, in-depth knowledge of what cancer is and how it affects us.
So, it would seem the first place to begin coping with the diagnosis of cancer is with knowledge.
At the time of your diagnosis, your life may seem in a tailspin. It is. But you have to gain control and pull yourself out of that spin. One way to do that is to focus on your entire life and the responsibilities you already have in hand. For example, continue to care for your family and focus on your job with the same eight hours a day vigor you did prior to your cancer diagnosis. Obviously, you cannot ignore your cancer, but you can focus on other areas of your life so that your cancer does not monopolize every single action you must take.
The American Cancer Society published an article entitled, “A Message of Hope: Coping with Cancer in Everyday Life,” (www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects) listing the following suggestions for things to do to deal with your emotions:
Cancer is a scary event. It can be deadly, and yet, many, many patients with cancer survive and live relatively healthy and normal lives; even to the point of total remission.
Take control of your cancer. Take control of your life.
Learn how to cope with this new part of your life, and remember, you are not alone in this battle – use your support systems.
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