There is nothing quite like receiving traumatic news to really throw you off and discourage you in life. Learning that you have cancer can be incredibly devastating and leave you seeking answers from anywhere. Here are some tips you can use to better learn and understand cancer and your options.
It is quite normal for cancer patients to feel unattractive. Self-esteem is at an all-time low and nothing seems to be right. This is a great time to pamper yourself! When you are feeling well enough, take a friend and go out to lunch. Get your nails done, or shop for a new outfit. Doing normal, everyday activities can make you feel like part of life again and change your whole attitude!
To reduce your risk for various types of cancers, not smoking or using tobacco in any way is one of the best and easiest methods. Smoking has been linked not only to lunch cancer but also to lung, bladder, cervix and kidney cancer. Don’t take the risk, and quit now, or don’t start!
When battling cancer it is important for you to try to find humor somewhere. Many people fall into depression while they are battling cancer and do not even realize it. It is understandable for someone to feel depressed about the diagnosis but fighting is what helps save lives. Humor can be a great way to put up a fight.
Listening to relaxing music can often calm your mind when issues regarding the future come to pass while dealing with cancer and the treatments. Many people are able to quiet the depressing thoughts that come into their mind by listening to music that makes them happy or excites them.
There are many stigmas with cancer that still exist today. People will often wonder if cancer is contagious, if those with cancer can perform as well as someone without cancer, of if cancer patients will be offended at the very mention of the disease. Try to eliminate these stigmas among your friends and family if they arise.
Do not be afraid to ask for help following your cancer diagnosis. Friends and family members often want to do everything they can to assist you; let them pick up items from the grocery store, take you to appointments or make you dinner. It makes them feel good to do something for you, and it makes your life a little easier.
Cosmetic products often contain carcinogens. These products are applied to the skin and allowed to sit there for hours being absorbed by the skins pores and leading to a greater chance of getting cancer. In order to cut this risk, avoid cosmetic products that contain ingredients with “PEG” or “-eth” in the name.
A lot of people do not have a good understanding of what cancer is. They may fear that your disease is something that is contagious, or that you can no longer perform your job at work. Be honest about the extent of your condition.
Always take a stand when you need to. Some people still have distorted views on cancer, and they may think you cannot do your job properly or that they can catch cancer from you. Think about how you are going to answer these questions ahead of time, and address any concerns immediately. Being able to respond to such concerns will help your relationship with others during your cancer treatment.
Give your personal attention and ear to anyone you know that is diagnosed with cancer. It can be quite difficult at times, but they need a chance to express their frustrations and feelings in a safe and loving environment. Don’t give your opinions or interrupt, simply listen.
If you have figured out your family’s medical history as it pertains to cancer, you should talk to the professionals about what you can do going forward. Cancer specialists will know exactly what steps you can take to make sure that the disease is caught in time so that you can lead a normal, healthy life.
Working to reduce your exposure to radiation is one of the best ways you can prevent cancer. Now, the jury’s still out on whether or not cell-phone usage puts you at a higher risk of things like brain tumors, but there is a direct link between cancer and radiation. So do what you can to avoid radiation.
Make sure you take advantage of today’s technology by going digital when you receive a mammogram. Digital scans are able to do an all-around better job of catching any tumors in time, whereas older machines are pretty much antiquated at this point and will not always catch them in time.
Life is all about options, and that simple fact doesn’t change just because cancer is in the picture. If you can use what you’ve learned here and implement these tips in order to help you along the way, you should be able to control your disease and to ultimately emerge the victor when it’s all said and done.
