When you receive a cancer diagnosis, it can be incredibly shocking You may have a million questions: the most common is likely “how am I going to cope?” It is difficult to battle cancer, especially if you have work and family obligations at the same time. There are things that you can do to make coping slightly easier as you and your doctors work to find the best possible treatment.
Be Informed
The first thing you should do is to ask your doctor where you can learn more about your diagnosis. Being informed is one of the most important steps you can take. While you may not want to learn more about the specific disease, it is crucial that you understand the course of treatment your doctor has laid out for you.
Use a Support Group Application
While getting informed is the first step, finding a support group application is the most helpful. Here, you can encounter an entire community of people who are experiencing or have gone through the same thing you are. These individuals want to help you learn how to cope and are eager to share their experiences, tips, and suggestions with you.
A support group app such as “Belong” is a wonderful compliment or alternative to in-person meetings. An app is there for you 24/7, with advice and guidance whenever you need it most. For those who find that they are too tired to attend a group meeting or that they simply don’t have time, apps give you all the benefits of having a community without any of the drawbacks.
Communicate Your Needs
Finally, make sure you communicate your needs to those around you, including your medical team and your friends and family. If a particular course of treatment is making you feel sicker than you think you can cope with, speak up and let your doctor know. While there may not be anything they can do to change the medication you are on, there are always things they can do to help make side effects more manageable.
Likewise, it is important to let your friends and family know what you need from them. If you need downtime to unwind at the end of the day, communicate this to them so they can ensure your needs are met.
Living with a cancer diagnosis is difficult. It is something that affects each area of your life. Try incorporating the suggestions above into your daily routine to make it easier to cope.
This content is provided for your general education and information only. It does not necessarily reflect Belong’s views and opinions. Belong does not endorse or support any specific product, service, or treatment.
