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The following five guidelines can help you cope with cancer more
effectively:
1. Get the facts. It’s true that knowledge is power. Find out as much
as you can about your diagnosis. Your oncologist and other members of
your cancer treatment team are your best source for explaining your
cancer to you and your family. You can also seek information on the
latest treatments, clinical trials and other cancer news on the
Internet. Check out the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org,
or the MCGHealth Cancer Center site at mcghealth.org/cancer. When you
have a better understanding of your disease and its diagnosis and
treatment, you are better equipped to face it.
2. Plan ahead. Knowing what to expect and establishing a plan to deal
with each issue can be helpful. Together with your family and
physicians, map out a treatment plan that’s best for you. Speak up and
ask questions about your plan of care. You’ll want to know if a
treatment may cause illness so that you are prepared to handle it. You
should also find out how long and how frequent your appointments will be
so that you can prepare your family, friends and your employer. Having
an established plan will also keep you on track as you complete
treatment stages and follow up.
3. Maintain a healthy diet. Good nutrition is vital before, during and
after treatment. A healthy diet is necessary to keep your body
functioning at its best. High-calorie, high-protein foods are suggested
to help build up strength, particularly for cancer patients going
through treatment. Milk, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, hearty soup,
sandwiches and shakes are good strength builders. Because treatments may
cause nausea or loss of appetite, stock up on your favorite foods, ones
you know you’ll be able to eat even when you are sick. Avoid
high-fiber foods as they could trigger diarrhea.
4. Keep regular grooming routines. Cancer treatments can affect your
physical appearance. However, it’s important that you continue
grooming as usual, even if you’re confined to bed. Looking and feeling
attractive will boost your confidence and lift your spirits. Getting
adequate rest and exercise, as well as altering clothes to fit during
periods of weight loss can help. Hair loss is a concern for most cancer
patients. Hair loss doesn’t occur in all patients, but if it does, it
will begin during the first two weeks of treatment and be at its worst
at one to two months into treatment. Don’t be afraid to invest in a
good-quality wig before treatment so that it’s ready when you need it.
Also purchase bright, attractive scarves and caps to wear.
5. Develop a support system. This step is extremely important because
support is such an integral part of treatment. Family, friends and local
cancer support groups are key components in an effective support system.
Ample and dedicated support will help you maintain a positive attitude.
A good supporter allows you to vent when you’re angry, cry when
you’re sad and even laugh at cancer when you feel like it. Also, be
sure that you focus on all sorts of subjects in your life, not just
cancer, because your life is more than your diagnosis. Enlist designated
supporters who are ready to listen, cook or bring over meals, babysit,
run errands or even take you out for fun. If you are a supporter, always
be patient and compassionate, and try to keep relationships as normal as
possible for someone with cancer.
Finding out you have cancer can be devastating, but don’t let it
consume you. Take steps to cope and conquer.
MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation
operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical
Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient
facilities and services throughout the state. For more information,
please visit mcghealth.org.
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