A cancer diagnosis can understandably be the trigger for great anxiety and fear. These are normal reactions that take place as part of a great range of emotions provoked by cancer. Though you feel fear, you will also experience courage, and the power of anxiety might also turn around and give you new abilities to cope. After all, the human organism is built to adapt and cope with whatever obstacles it faces. The fear of losing control is great, but there are many things you can do to support your mental wellbeing through this process. Above all, do not be ashamed of any of the feelings you have and make sure you have a sympathetic listener to share them with.
The fears provoked by cancer are numerous. In addition to the loss of control you are anticipating, you may also fear losing your lifestyle and ability to perform everyday tasks. Fears about social life are common, and these are often associated with fears about personal identity, including changes to physical appearance. Then there is the physical reality – the fear of painful procedures and ultimately mortality itself. In the face of all this, nobody could dispute that cancer is the biggest challenge you may ever have to face in life.
Though fears are numerous, it is possible to overcome them. In facing the fear of chemotherapy and its side effects, it’s important to always bear in mind that the goal is to help you, not harm you. It’s just that with a treatment of this strength, the process entails damage before improvement. You might wish to create a visualization based on this, and imagine chemotherapy as a powerful drug coursing through your body, cleansing it in the deepest way possible. At the end of that road is peace and a restored sense of wellness.
It is also important to keep positive relationships with the medical community. In the first place, this means consulting the best doctors and complementary therapists in finding supportive treatments with which to manage the side effects of cancer treatment. Rest assured that great strides are being made in this field all the time, and there are all kinds of supportive medications sure to ease your suffering. Your other main need for community is for the company of fellow sufferers. Your doctor will be able to direct you to a local cancer support group, and you may find that attending such a group gives you immeasurable support, and wonderful new friendships.
Finally, do your research into all the aspects of cancer treatment and consider the long-term effects well in advance. Many cancer patients choose to freeze their sperm or eggs in order to guard against the possibility of fertility problems. The loss of fertility is by no means assured, but proactive behaviour will enable you to feel more relaxed about the process. It is important to be an educated patient to increase the level of control you feel because of your diagnosis.
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