Hearing the words "you have cancer" is a life changing moment. A whole range of emotions course through your body and the 'unknown' becomes terrifying.
Whilst dealing with a cancer diagnosis is never easy, there are some things that you and your support network can do to ease the burden and increase your ability to overcome the dis-ease.
Here are some tips:
Build your support team
In Australia, after learning the news of your diagnosis you are automatically referred to an oncologist and other specialists you may require. We often don't realise that we can actually choose who will be assisting us to get better. You wouldn't pick any builder to build your house, you would go through your own selection process, do the same with your support team. There is absolutely nothing wrong with interviewing your Specialists and seeking a second opinion.
You want Specialists who are not only going to heal your body, but who are going to provide you with the appropriate emotional support to be able to remain optimistic and upbeat at all times.
If you are a person who is sensitive to negativity and emotions, then the 'best in the field' who has no bedside manner may not be the right choice for you.
Seek alternatives
There are so many different ways to treat cancer and provide your body additional support whilst having chemotherapy and radiation, if that's the path you choose. You want to give your body the best fighting chance and know that you are doing all that you can do.
Make your decision about your treatment course, be open, and do research.
Set your boundaries
When I walked into my oncologists office for the third diagnosis, the first thing I said was "I don't want any timelines or negativity". I refuse to be a statistic and I also believe in self-fulfilling prophecies, where people tend to live out the prognosis they have been delivered.
You need to decide how much information you want to know and whether or not it will benefit you. You are then able to set the boundaries with your Specialists the way you want. Protecting yourself is number one.
Be supported
Being surrounded by a loving and supporting network of family and friends is one of the most important treatments. Loved ones will want to offer advice and do all that they can to assist you, just ensure that it is all positive and benefits you. If there are people who disagree with your choices and make you doubt the decisions you have made, then it may be an idea to say goodbye to them for a while. You want to feel uplifted and supported at all times and don't want to be second guessing what you believe in.
When seeking alternative therapies, it is very common that Doctors may not agree with Natural Therapists and vice versa. It is OK for them to have their beliefs, but you need to feel like you are surrounded by a united team, so ask that they support ALL your choices and be prepared to work as part of a team, whether they agree with them or not.
Ask questions and get answers
Don't be afraid to ask questions, and make sure you actually get the answers. Just recently a young lady contacted me saying that her radiologist told her that she couldn't go in the infrared sauna whilst having radiation. I asked her "why?" and she didn't have a response. We are not sure whether the Radiologist said "no" because the infrared sauna will negate the radiation, or perhaps he didn't know anything about infrared saunas so just said "no". You need to take responsibility to get all the information you can and also determine whether people are saying "no" because it is not their choice of treatment or because it may in fact be detrimental.
Be willing to change
The development of cancer is linked to lifestyle, diet and environmental factors, so reversing cancer and preventing it from returning is going to be heavily dependent on making changes to existing habits that do not benefit you. For example, smoking, sugar and red meat consumption have been linked to cancer.
Whilst kicking unhealthy habits is not always easy, if you remember that you are doing it because you love your body, it makes it all that bit easier.
Trust your intuition
Just recently I went to my GP with a sore throat and flu like symptoms. My GP told me that these were symptoms of Lymphoma, and as I said "no", she looked at me with pity in her eyes and said "yes Vanessa, it is." For a moment I felt fear, but I knew my body and this was not Lymphoma. Sure enough, the cold passed.
You know your body, you know what is right for it. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and do what you believe is right for yourself.
Choose to be positive
So often we forget that we have the power to choose how we feel and react to situations. It is normal to experience moments of fear and doubt, and it is OK to allow yourself to be down every now and then, but don't dwell in it. Pick yourself up and choose to be positive and happy. Your body and overall health will thank-you for it.
Support is always available and no one ever has to go through this alone.
By Vanessa Wyder
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