When you receive a cancer diagnosis, your life is changed forever. It’s one thing to tell your friends and family that you have cancer, but it’s another thing entirely to think about how this will affect your job or relationships. You’ll need to adapt in many ways, from how you present yourself to others to handling your emotional state. Here are some tips for adapting after receiving a cancer diagnosis.
Telling Others
After you’ve gotten your diagnosis, the next step is telling others. It’s important to consider who you want to tell and how you want to break the news. For example, you should start with your family first. If you have children, think about how they will react and what words of comfort they might need. You can also go through a list of people in your life that matter most and decide who needs to know next. This could be friends from work or school, neighbors, or even ex-partners.
Don’t Shut off Communication
While it is important to take care of yourself, you don’t want to isolate yourself from the people who care about you. Communication is vital for your mental health, social well-being, and emotional support. It can help keep you feeling less stressed and more positive by connecting with people who care about what’s happening in your life.
Expect Possible Physical Changes
While no two people have the same experiences with cancer, there are some physical changes that many people experience. Some of these can be upsetting and make you want to give up on treatment or not see your doctor as often as recommended. But if you understand what to expect and why it’s happening, it might help bring your mind back into focus to move forward with treatment.
Here are some common physical side effects of cancer treatment:
- Hair loss (including eyebrows) and dry scalp from radiation therapy.
- Dry eyes and mouth from radiation therapy.
- Changes in taste or smell are caused by certain treatments (this can sometimes happen without any treatment).
Review Your Life Goals
Next, consider what you want to do in the next few years. You may be able to get back to some of those things if your cancer treatment goes well, but it’s crucial that you consider whether this is something that will matter enough for you to keep going after treatment ends. Some people with cancer find themselves unable or unwilling to continue living their lives exactly as they did before diagnosis, and that’s okay! It’s normal to feel different, and making changes is a good thing. But if you’re unsure how you feel about your life goals, try talking with a loved one or a life coach. You may be surprised by what they have to say!
Get in Touch with a Lawyer
If you believe that an external factor may have caused your cancer, It’s crucial to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as you get your diagnosis. For instance, living nearby a B. Braun Medical Inc. plant may expose you to increasing levels of Ethylene Oxide (carcinogen) since they use it to sterilize their medical equipment. However, the exposure can increase your chances of developing cancer, and looking into a B.Braun Cancer Lawyer will be worth it! A good lawyer can help ensure you have the best treatment while building a case against the giant corporation.
They will review all the paperwork related to your treatment so that nothing gets missed or misconstrued. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when dealing with this type of situation, so having someone there who knows what they’re doing is beneficial.
Fight Stigmas
Talk about your illness with friends and family. This can help you feel less isolated and may give others a way to support you. It also gives them an opportunity to be supportive when they don’t know what else to do. Connect with people who have been through similar experiences as yours (i.e., breast cancer survivors). Social media has made it easier for people with common interests or experiences to find one another online.
Consider reaching out via Facebook groups or Twitter hashtags if this feels right for you! You can even try attending local events where other cancer patients share their stories. There are often free events available at hospitals around the country where anyone diagnosed with cancer can come together and share experiences while receiving support from peers going through similar things.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or have a friend or family member who has, the key is to take the time to understand all of your options. Take care of yourself and always get a second opinion if you feel like something isn’t right. Remember that it can be challenging for you to adapt to a new situation, so don’t hesitate to reach out for help if needed!