April 2, 2011

Coping With A Lung Cancer Diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis is a devastating diagnosis. Suddenly your doctor is telling you that your time is about up and leaves you alone to cope with your feelings. There is no procedure to make this diagnosis easier to absorb. There are different coping methods though that can ease the burden. The following are ten tips for dealing with a lung cancer diagnosis.

• Learn as much as you can about your specific type of cancer. Learn what stage you are in, how many stages there are, what each stage is like and things of this nature. Also learn as much as you can about your different treatment options, what the duration of treatment is, side effects and outcome of treatment options.

• Remain certain. Positivity is a powerful tool in your healing and in surviving a devastating illness. After you have learned about your treatment take an active role in your treatment. Make the decisions about what treatments you are willing to go through and which ones you aren’t. Don’t give up. Don’t turn the decision making power over to your doctors and family alone.

• Resolve problems with family and friends that have been ongoing. It will befriend your emotional health and relieve stress. This will grasp away feelings of remorse and regret and allow you to simply focus on the fight for your life.

• Make a strong network of help. Surround yourself with family and friends that share your positivity and determination in treatment. You can’t go through this alone and need a benefit system. This group will support you not only preserve fighting and staying positive but they will also help you with daily tasks, cleaning yourself and your environment, transportation and food.

• Build a network of support through support groups and forums online. Cancer patients learn from each other and accept support from each other. There are support groups that meet in various locations in most cities. There are also online support group forums. You can’t have too grand positivity and abet in your life as you fight to survive.

• Continue living your life as normal as possible. If you have a job it is often honorable to continue to work and go about your daily life as if nothing has changed as long as your health permits. Continue to position goals and construct plans but make sure they are reasonable.

• Stay engaged in life. Stay active and participate in the things that make you cheerful in life. If you are healthy enough to take part in your regular activities and sports do so. The activity will release positive chemicals called endorphins into your system.

• Counseling is a treatment that will attend you cope with the thoughts and fears your are inundated with. As your oncologist for the name of a good counselor so that you know they are specialized in cancer patients.

• Meditation, Relaxation and Breathing Techniques are vital to learn in your fight against cancer. Stress does not do a body good and when your body is already weakened it can be a major detriment to your health. If you are a religious individual prayer and meditation daily will help relieve the worry. Breathing techniques such as those taught in meditation and some Yoga classes will also assist relax you if you feel yourself becoming anxious.

• Eat healthy. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables and decrease your intake of saturated fats and processed foods. Ask your doctor if there is a diet that has been found to help survival rates. Research natural and organic foods and their benefits.

• Alternative medicine is another route that can help you cope. Acupuncture is a treatment used for many conditions and its benefits are often profound.

• Visit the following websites http://www.cancercare.org/reading_room/pub_order.php and www.ipos-society.org/about/news/Inspire/INSPIRE_Patient_booklet.pdf for a wealth of knowledge and pamphlets about coping with cancer and cancer treatment.

Cancer is scary and it is a fight for your life. You can do it. Gather your resources, make a game plan and beat this awful disease.

Resources

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lung-cancer/DS00038/DSECTION=coping-and-support

http://www.iaround.org/lung_cancer_support.php

http://www.cancercare.org

http://www.cancercare.org/reading_room/pub_order.php

www.ipos-society.org/about/news/Inspire/INSPIRE_Patient_booklet.pdf