Becoming the Informed and Empowered Self-Advocate for Cancer

Educating yourself to a position where you are an enabled self-advocate for cancer and chemotherapy

Being diagnosed with a terminal illness is, of course, a daunting experience. Most people have instant thoughts of: no more dating nor intimacy, no more holidays, no more nights out with friends and so on. Self-advocacy, however, is one of the more effective methods available in your battle with cancer. Needing to be brave when adversity calls can be disheartening. Self-advocacy doesn't necessarily mean staging a riot or public protesting. It means the beginning of you taking charge of the situation and refusing to let the illness have control over you. Here are a few tactics to help you on your way to a faster recovery.

Self belief leads to self confidence

You are a unique and valuable person. You are worth the effort it takes to advocate for yourself and take charge of battling your illness. You can do it! You may need to work on raising your self esteem but fortunately there many ways to fight back become your own best advocate.

Be clear when expressing yourself

When you are asking about what you need and want for yourself, be brief. Stick to the point. Don’t allow yourself to be diverted or to ramble on with unimportant details. State your concern and how you want things changed. By developing a clear plan that outlines what you want and how you can accomplish those goals you will be able to recover faster while helping others along the way.

Seeking cancer support groups

Suffering from doubts and unease alone can be alienating for any cancer patient. In advocating for what you need and for yourself, it is helpful to have support from family members, friends, and others. Support groups are fantastic for sharing. Since some people may have the same form of cancer as you, they are better suited to help you understand your illness. Furthermore, they are better suited to listening to various concerns and qualms you may have. The possibility of recurrence and physical limitations because of cancer or its treatment are some examples.

Advice from social workers

Other supportive relations are also effective. If you prefer one-on-one interaction, reaching out to a social worker may be beneficial. Social workers interpret and provide counseling about the psychological and social issues related to adjusting to diagnosis and treatment. They can also answer information about community resources for practical concerns such as transportation, further housing, or financial concerns, and support in navigating the increasingly complex healthcare system. Timing the discussion is vital. A low-stress, unrushed time to talk and finding a private, neutral place for the discussion could make all the difference in your quest for getting the information and advice you need.

Consulting your doctor on personal concerns

Being honest, when talking to your doctor about personal concerns is important. Clairvoyance helps your doctor deal with and follow your case more thoroughly. General cliches regarding doctors is that they’re too busy with countless patients, and bogged down with other aspects of their profession. As well, patients view doctors as tending to separate the medical care from emotional support. Mostly, this is untrue. Dr. Shyamali Singhal, Surgical Oncologist and General Surgeon at El Camino Hospital Cancer Center states that her, “Mission is to battle the disease relentlessly while giving my patients gentle guidance and support.” Decide on what you want to say in advance. Write down your thoughts and share them with a your friend or doctor. Roleplaying different scenarios with a friend, family member, or partner can help give you the confidence to know exactly what you want to say.

Now that you have the tactics, learning to ask for help, stating what you want, and essentially speaking up for yourself can be tough, but keep at it. As you put your skills to practice and keep fighting for your own wellness, your abilities will become stronger and so will you. Don’t give up! Keep after what you want. Always follow through on what you say. Dedicate yourself to getting whatever it is you need for yourself. As always, keep the faith, never lose hope, and remember that loving yourself is key. If you need someone to talk to you can contact Dr. Shyamali Singhal at her office today!