After you have been diagnosed with cancer, there will be an assortment of different areas to cover from health coverage and insurance, family, friends, and your career. Just as it is difficult for you to get through this journey with cancer, it will also be difficult for those who are close around you and that you speak with every day at work or other places on a day-to-day basis. Here are a couple of different steps to help you get through your cancer.
A good relationship with your doctor
Make sure you have a good relationship with your doctor. Select an oncologist who you feel comfortable speaking with as far as your treatments and your future health. They should be able to explain everything clearly to you including what your exact diagnosis is and what your different treatment options are should you decide to or be able to continue with them. Your doctor should have a good bedside manner and also be someone who your family feels comfortable talking to as well.
What cancer could mean for your career
Because different cases of cancer can be at different stages and effect different parts of the body, you may feel that you are able to continue with your career as usual or you may find it difficult with the combination of different treatments such as chemotherapy which can make you feel weak and tired. Your human resource manager may do a presentation about cancer and the office so your coworkers know how to behave accordingly. Some people may have fears that cancer can spread through contact or they are not sure what your exact diagnosis is. A presentation can help them ask any questions to may have and better understand the type of cancer that you have been diagnosed with if you wish to share it openly with everyone.
How cancer can affect your friends and family
Friends and family members will want to be there with you 100% of the way. Of course you will want and need your alone time, but be sure to include them in on your life after you have been diagnosed with cancer as well. Allowing them to help you will help them in return because they will fell like they are doing something for you. Even the simplest tasks such as doing your errands or making you dinner will help them feel like they are doing something to make you feel more comfortable.
Even you wish to have a family someday or to have more children after you are done with your cancer treatments, consider what your fertile future will look like for you, your spouse or partner. As you grow older, especially for women, your chances of having children decreases because you have fewer eggs that can be fertilized. After menopause around the age of 50 years, you will not carry any more eggs. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can significantly affect the health of a man’s sperm. Consider freezing eggs or sperm and place them into a bank. That way once your treatments are over, you will have the option to have a child or more children someday.
Daily life-do the activities you love to do
Everyone will feel different after they have been diagnosed with cancer, but for the most part, they might feel hopeless or that they can never life a normal life again. Still continue to do the activities you love to do if you current state allows it from light activity, music, art, crafts, cooking, or traveling.
If you still have questions about what your next steps will be after being diagnosed with cancer, speak with someone you trust such as a close family member, friend, or a therapist who will listen to you and help you with anything you are concerned about.
