If you’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer, you have had to deal with shock and even grief, Now it’s time to become a fighter. Here are some tips to help you deal with your illness and continue to enjoy life.
Dealing with a devastating disease like cancer can cause many fears about life and death. A good way to help yourself overcome these feelings is to become more spiritual! Studies show that people who engage in regular worship and prayer fare much better and live longer than those who don’t.
Skin cancer can be very serious, even deadly. Malignant Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that often can’t be cured. Be proactive and have your skin checked regularly by your doctor or dermatologist. He or she can see places you can’t and examine you for suspicious moles and skin changes.
There are several cancers that are related to tobacco and alcohol use. Among them are cancers of the lungs, liver, mouth and throat. As you can see, there is a significant risk involved when people choose to smoke and drink alcohol to excess. You can decrease your risk of many types of cancer by not smoking, chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol.
When battling cancer you need to eat a healthy diet. The healthier you eat the better your body will be able to fight the cancer because it will have the fuel it needs to fight the hard battle and stay strong throughout the process. Vegetables and fruits are always good choices.
If you have cancer, insurers will hesitate to insure you. Research your insurance options though. Your local government offices or cancer support organizations may have more options for you. Family and Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act can be useful to you too.
A great way for cancer survivors to deal and to know what lies ahead is to network with other survivors. There are plenty of cancer survivors in the world, thankfully, and they meet up at support groups and even on internet forums, so you can always keep in contact with other survivors.
People who drink orange juice are less likely to contract stomach cancer due to the vitamin C contained within. Many studies have shown that 1000mg of vitamin C per day can all but eliminate stomach cancer, but even a small glass of OJ every day, containing around 40mg of vitamin C, can help you prevent it.
Be prepared to make new “friends” when you have cancer; i.e. people you have to let into your life with open arms. Such new friends are going to include nursing staff, members of your support circle, fellow patients, oncologists and chemotherapy technicians. You can’t do this alone; be ready to allow people into your life to help.
Cancer doesn’t have to take root in your brain in order to play tricks on your mind, so always remember to keep fantasy and reality separated from one another. You will begin to feel as if you’re sleepwalking and dreaming while you’re awake during your bout with chemo. Keep your mind focused and simply ignore the “weirdness.”
Staying out of the sun is key in preventing skin cancer, but most people do not listen to this advice in the wintertime. Believe it or not, the same UV rays from the sun penetrate the atmosphere in the cooler months too. You might not feel the heat, but you will receive the same radiation.
Avoid anemia during cancer treatments by eating foods rich in iron such as liver, green leafy vegetables, molasses and lentils. These foods will boost your iron levels allowing oxygen rich blood to be carried throughout your body and facilitates chemotherapy.
While chemotherapy and radiation helps in your race for a cure, it also weakens your body. Therefore, it is essential that you have a support group to help you through this time in your life. Members should include someone who can help clean your home and help with the preparation of your meals, a handyman, and someone who you can open up and talk to.
There are online risk calculators that you can use to determine if you are at risk of getting breast cancer. They contain questionnaires that help women determine if they are in the high risk category for developing invasive breast cancer. These are not completely accurate but can give you an idea about whether it is something you should discuss with your doctor.
More than anything, the biggest key you’ve learned throughout these tips is that you have to want to get better. Even if it’s only implied and not directly addressed, the motivation and will to succeed is what will propel you past this enemy. Along with the right information, you can be a winning fighter in any scenario.
