Cancer can turn your world upside down in a flash. Hearing a diagnosis of cancer can be a lot to take in, there will be so many emotions around to manage.
You cannot fully prepare yourself or those around you for being told you have cancer. It is likely to be an overwhelming feeling, one of feeling detached, numb, scared, possibly angry.
Whatever you are feeling, it is important not to try to manage it alone.
Once given an opportunity to start to process the news, allow yourself to understand the impact this will have on your life. Working towards acceptance is helpful to move forward.
Talk about it
Letting those around you know about your diagnosis, they can become an invaluable network. It can help to process things. Bringing your worries out into the open can help to get support.
It isn’t always easy to speak to loved ones, or perhaps you want to speak freely, not to worry them. This is where it can be helpful to use support groups and counselling can be a benefit to.
Be in the know
Try to be clear with information about the type of cancer and treatment of it.
Being able to ask the right questions and be involved in your treatment plan. If you notice too much information can make you more anxious, let someone know so they can look into it, or let you know all that you need to know.
What can help you feel ok ?
Being able to maintain some kind of normality can be helpful. If it feels like there is too much to do, review your expectations, you cannot do as much as perhaps you would have been able to. What can you put on hold, who can help you to do things that need to be done ?
Looking at what can you some joy is helpful. It allows focus on something different and helps to manage anxiety. It might be reading, watching a TV series, going on a walk or doing a craft project. You will know what feels right and manageable.
Accepting a new identity
Having a cancer diagnosis creates a new identity. You will be someone who has had … cancer. You will have some physical scars which may be discreet or more noticeable. It can take time to get used to the way you look now. The scars of course will always act as a reminder.
There are also the emotional scars too. There is likely to be fear of it returning. Being able to manage this is important as you deserve to be able to have hope and live in a calmest way possible.
Recognising
If you allow yourself to accept you have navigated a difficult journey, one no-one wants to be on.
Understanding how best to support yourself, what is right for you might not be for someone else.
Celebrate the wins, small or large.
Give some space to recognise the ending of treatment and what you have undertaken.
Acknowledge your resilience and how brave you have been.
Try to understand what this means for you now and how to move forward.
Try to show yourself patience, re-entering the world step by step.
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