Cancer is always a life-changing event. However, after the initial shock you begin to learn to live with the disease. In this section on living with cancer you will find information on how people with cancer, their relatives and friends can get support for dealing with mentally and physically, for well being and facing everyday problems and relationships.
Having a serious illness is a big blow. Cancer is frightening and disturbing. Fear is a natural response when faced with unknown and serious illness.
Initial shock and the mind raises lots of questions: (to name a few)
Is this really happening to me?
Why?
Will I pull through?
What if I die?
Due to the latest treatment methods, recovering from the disease is increasingly possible, or at least the symptoms caused by cancer can be treated and the progression of the disease slowed down.
Fear is a natural response when you are faced with an unknown and serious illness. It affects not only yourself as a cancer sufferer but also your family and others close to you. You and your loved ones need plenty of information and support.
Everybody deals with cancer in their own way. But being told about cancer raises some psychological crisis, of which different stages include:
- Initial shock:
- everything feels unreal, feelings of shock, restlessness, despair and sometimes denial.
- Reaction stage:
- Upon understanding what has happened and you start to react to it. All sorts of ‘why’ questions arises and you look for what was to blame. This is often a time of emotional turmoil and can include depression, loss of appetite and insomnia.
- Dealing with the crisis:
- A time comes you start to think and internalize the issue mentally, either consciously or unconsciously. Now the real work starts. Feelings of torment and depression start to ease. You find coping strategies that protect you and help you manage.
- Reorienting:
- by accepting your illness you begin to adapt to the situation and learn to live with it.
Many people find that getting information, thinking and especially talking help. Then again it may seem more natural to keep it in and deal with it by being active. For some, their belief in a higher being is a great help and source of strength. If your own staying power to cope falters, it is a good idea to ask for help from someone close to you, from the nursing staff treating you or from your regional cancer association.
Not everyone responds to his or her illness in the same way. The situation of everyone who has cancer is different. There are many stages to the disease, its detection and treatment. You can get more information about your illness and your treatment primarily from your doctor and other medical staff.