It’s easy for people with cancer to lose hope and just succumb to sadness. But instead of surrendering to hopelessness, many cancer patients find refuge in empowering themselves through the control and information they get regarding their therapies. In this trend, they learn to accept medical treatments and help other cancer patients lead healthier lifestyles.
If you live with cancer, allow this article to provide some insights about this new lifestyle and how you can live happily despite your illness.
After Finding Out You Have Cancer
After several visits to various doctors, you have finally accepted the hard truth: you have cancer. You feel like a huge chunk of your life has been taken away from you. We cannot deny it. Being diagnosed with cancer can be devastating, and you need time to process it.
So what should you do? Relax. Do not let this illness of yours take over your life just like that. Here’s what you need to do:
- Find yourself a doctor. It may sound impossible, but you have to be willing to travel to get several opinions from various specialists to ensure you get the best treatment.
- Create a therapeutic plan. Listen to your doctors and ask how you can best build your immunity. If possible, ask around about the most nutritious meals so your illness won’t worsen as you get treatment.
- Consider palliative care. Your physical health won’t be the only thing affected by cancer. In many cases, it can also affect a person’s mental health. Palliative care can help you overcome the spiritual and mental health challenges you may face along the way.
- Change your lifestyle. Cancer is already in your system, and the only thing you can do to take control is by changing your lifestyle. Now is the time to explore healthy diets and holistic healing methods to maintain your well-being.
- Create a support system. The only people who can understand what you’re going through are cancer survivors as well. The bond you create with them can make you incredibly strong spiritually, physically, and mentally.
Keep Yourself Informed
One of your best armors against cancer is knowledge. The more you know, the better. According to studies, cancer patients who keep themselves informed bout their illness usually experience fewer side effects than patients who don’t even ask questions.
The information they gather allows them to have control over their bodies- and being empowered is a vital element in the healing process. The first rule in your therapy: Do not hesitate to ask questions. For your reference, here are some questions you can ask your doctor.
- What are the possible causes of your cancer?
- Are there any risk factors? If the cancer is genetic, are your family members at risk too?
- What lifestyle changes are recommended?
- What are the different treatment options?
- Should you avoid specific activities to void symptoms from getting worse?
- What are the medical tests and procedures you will go through?
- What stage is your cancer?
- What are the possible side effects?
- What is the most recommended treatment?
- What is the rate of your survival?
Getting Support
After being diagnosed with cancer, the worst thing you could ever do is try to cure yourself or handle its side effects on your own. Get help! Allow friends and family to support you and find people in the same situation as you. Together, fight the illness and live a happier, healthier life.
Staying Healthy
It’s critical to keep yourself healthy at this point. Apart from making significant lifestyle changes, it’s essential to determine how to keep yourself healthy. You can boost your physical and emotional health by eating nutritious meals, regular exercise, and relieving stress. Experts recommend a diet with fruit, beans, whole grains, and at least two-thirds of vegetables.
Living your Best Life
Cancer should not stop you from living your best life and achieving milestones. Do you dream of having a family? Go for it! However, it would be wiser to check your treatment options as some can cause infertility. If you cannot get pregnant, there are other options to start a family, such as surrogacy and adoption. The key here is knowing your options and working with organizations to help you accomplish your goals.
Cancer should not be the end of life. While it may affect your life in significant ways, it’s not a reason to give up and lose hope. You have family and friends that will always be willing to support you all the way. So go to your treatment appointments, meet your doctor, exercise, eat well, and lead a healthier life to win against cancer.
