I Just Found Out I Have Cancer

Being diagnosed with cancer can turn a person’s life upside down in a heartbeat. There are so many different types of cancer, all of which are accompanied by an abundance of information, with everything from government websites to various cancer patient blogs.

With so much information available, it can be difficult for someone just beginning their cancer journey to know where to start. For many, their doctor will be the first port of call. In diagnosing cancer, Once you have received the result and an understanding of ‘what is cancer‘, your General Practitioner will help you in finding an Oncologist, who is a cancer specialist.

From here, you will learn more about the specific type of cancer, and what this means for your upcoming journey. You will also likely undertake more tests to create a final cancer diagnosis. In choosing the right treatment, meet your cancer team and from here, you and your cancer team will discuss and agree on the best course of cancer treatment open to you.

Cancer Treatments

Choosing the right cancer treatment can vary greatly and will depend on how advanced the cancer is, the oncologist’s experience with particular treatments and successes, the patient’s wishes, available treatment regimes, the patient’s reaction to side effects and the best overall treatment to help you along your cancer journey.

For those who wish to seek a treatment that is outside of the typical treatment options, it may be helpful to speak to your doctor about clinical trials. Clinical trials are an important aspect of cancer treatments in that they provide an alternative care option that is still undergoing testing before it can be committed into regular treatment plans.

Clinical trials may help cancer patients who suffer from severe side effects or have read about the success of various trials via a blog about cancer, or those who have simply completed an Internet search on the term and are interested in seeking an alternative treatment. 

Staying in Control

When you begin your cancer journey, it can take time for you to feel like your life is normal again. With countless questions, physicians, and a whirlwind of medical jargon, it can become extremely overwhelming.

One of the best things a patient with cancer can do is research, search for anything that can help you build a better understanding of the road ahead, also along with your close friends and family start a glossary of key medical words and terminologies that you begin to hear. This will help make it easier for you to learn more about your diagnosis and to understand any future research that you come to read.

Another important aspect to educate you and your support network are inherited cancers. Inherited cancers can be passed down through families, so it is important to encourage your family to get tested if your cancer is inherited. This testing is known as screening.

My Cancer Journey

Whilst you may have all the support from family and close friends that you could hope for, a person’s cancer journey can be an extremely lonely time. After you have received a cancer diagnosis, it is essential to not only look after your physical well being but also your mental health, and while it can seem like your being overwhelmed with emotions, treatment schedules, doctor appointments, along with an overload of information from a range of different sources, it is important not to shy away from family, friends, and close support networks even if sometimes you feel like they aren’t helping you.

If you feel you can’t talk to close friends or family, try and find other ways to express your emotions. One way that helps many cancer patients cope with these situations, is to create a cancer patient blog or a blog that lets them share their experiences and stay connected with other cancer patients from around the world.

Other people turn to exercise or embrace a hobby that they previously didn’t have time for, regardless of how you chose to cope, you must allow yourself time for self-care during this difficult stage of your life.