If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, it can be a very scary time. There are so many questions you want to ask and so many concerns as well. This article is not medical advice, but it will give you some tips on how you can cope and deal with having been diagnosed with cancer.
If you are diagnosed with cancer, then you should remember to try to find out everything you can from your doctor about your illness and its treatment. Ask questions that will tell you what kind of cancer you have, what stage it is in, if it is treatable, where it is located, how far it has spread, and more. This will not only give you ease of mind, but it will inform you on the best ways to treat your cancer.
Following your cancer diagnosis, try to keep your life as normal as possible. You may need to make some changes, but a consistent routine will help you feel more like yourself. Since your plans may need to be altered at the drop of a hat, take each day as it comes and enjoy it.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are a smoker, you need to quit right away. The ingredients in cigarettes have been proven to have very bad side effects on the body and for someone that is battling cancer they can be very detrimental. It is important to quit as soon as possible to have a fighting chance against the cancer.
Keeping a healthy level of body weight lets you feel great overall, but diet and exercise are also proven preventers of most cancers. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, drink a lot of water, and exercise at least 30 minutes a day to stave of cancer and improve your life.
All people who have had cancer should understand that it can always come back bigger, meaner and stronger. You have to deal with this fear now so that you are better prepared if in fact the cancer does return. Do not assume that you will be ready to deal with it the second time just because you dealt with it the first time. Prepare yourself accordingly.
Beating cancer may require a little bit of luck, but you cannot allow yourself to rely on being lucky in order to beat it. In other words, you should never really expect miracles or for some experimental treatment to instantly cure you. Luck may play a role, but you should focus on putting in the effort to defeat cancer.
Expressing your love for someone with cancer doesn’t always have to be done vocally. You can simply be there for a person physically to assist them and to show your moral support. Some types of cancer are incredibly rough, and the patient might not be able to care for him or herself. Make sure you’re there for them.
Every person with cancer believes that they are above the five known stages of grief, but the best thing you can do is to accept that you are susceptible to them. Giving in to your emotions now means that you can get the denial out of the way and reach the acceptance stage where you fight back against the disease.
Individuals with cancer like to know what to expect from their treatments and the disease itself. Help them find information by looking online, visiting the local cancer center and asking questions of medical professionals. The information you gather could be crucial in helping them stay focused and maintain a positive attitude.
Try to tone down the amount of time you spend in the sun. People underestimate the amount of risk involved with excessive sun exposure. Spending increased time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer. Make sure to use a high SPF sunscreen, cover unprotected skin and cover your head with a hat.
Remain active, independent and positive during cancer treatments. Being active will help you to maintain your overall health. Remaining independent will prevent you from losing yourself to the disease. Staying positive can ensure that you have the best results in your treatment. Many have found recovery possible by following these steps.
There are many vitamins and supplements out there that can help to prevent cancer, but you need to research any and everything before you put it into your body. Do not believe the hype of a product just because it promotes itself as cancer-fighting. Make sure you find out the truth facts about human growth hormone (via) any item you put into your body.
If you have recently been diagnosed with cancer, it can be overwhelming. To be sure you understand the information your doctor gives you, bring a friend or relative with you to your first appointment. He or she will be a second set of eyes and ears to help you ask questions, understand your diagnosis, and think of possible concerns.
If a close family member has suffered from cancer or has passed on due to cancer, take into account that you need to have screening done for cancer. Early detection is important and disclose information to your doctor so they can administer tests and screenings for cancer in your own body.
Many herbal supplements are on the market and when diagnosed with cancer you may want to turn to some of them for their additional benefits. They can help the immune system and strengthen the body’s natural defenses. However, be sure to consult your doctor or a professional in the herbal field before adding herbal supplements to your diet.
A great tip for coping with cancer is to anticipate the physical changes you or your loved one will go through. If you research what will happen with your type of cancer and treatment, you will know what to expect and can prepare yourself mentally for the changes that will come.
An ultrasound, MRI and a CA125 blood test are some more ways of diagnosing ovarian cancer. An ultrasound or MRI are excellent ways of getting “pictures” of your ovaries to check for any questionable masses or tumors. CA125 is a protein found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells as well as on some healthy tissue. Not only is the CA125 test a great tool for diagnosis, but it is also used after treatment to see if any cancer cells have returned.
Turn your bedroom into an escape from all the noise and distractions of your life. Cancer treatments often cause people to have trouble sleeping, so taking out clocks, televisions and radios from your bedroom will help you rest better. Also try and get the room as dark as possible to facilitate sleep.
As stated before, cancer has many different forms that can affect different body parts. Different cancer forms can start out as organ specific, but they can later spread to other areas of the body. If you remember the advice from this article, you can prevent cancer from spreading throughout the body.