7 Insights About Cancer That You Need To Know About

7 Insights About Cancer That You Need To Know About

Gold Nuggets For Cancer Patients, Extracted From Experiences Of Cancer Survivors

Doctors do have the medical know-how to treat cancer patients, but what about all the consequences of cancer in patients’ life outside the hospital? H&B shares some insider knowledge, that only someone who has close experience with cancer can tell you about.

After overcoming cancer, many survivors feel different than they did before cancer- but the people around them may seem oblivious to this fact,  and expect things to go back to normal instantly. After the declared victory over the disease,  it comes a time for celebrations, praise, and joy- but those things aren't always reflective of how the survivor may really feel. And if they are in that mood and mindset, it may not be a long-lasting state of mind. PTSD comes creeping; it’s the “P” in the acronym, the “post” thing. It starts showing after the stress, not while we’re under said stress. 

It can be difficult for loved ones of cancer survivors to really understand what their friend or family member is going through. That's why we at H&B decided to put together this list of things that we believe all newly diagnosed should know about. 

4 Things Every New Cancer Patient Needs To Hear

1. The end of treatment is not necessarily the end of cancer.
   Following the diagnosis and when the treatment is over, is often a time when it gets even harder. It’s not over just because the patient is done with chemotherapy. The end of constant professional supervision can be quite scary. Every sneeze and bruise can be a cause for concern.

2. Some patients report a lasting loss of appetite.
   Some patients seem to have a lasting sensation that “nothing tastes the way it did before the disease”. This can be a very persistent problem. The best way to fight it is exercise and patience.

3. Recoverees often experience a rollercoaster of emotions.
   The onset of depression is a common, reoccurring theme among cancer survivors. Mood swings can be pretty dramatic. This is normal and expected. The trick is, to feel those emotions, but don’t invest in them. Let them be, and pass. And they will pass.

4. Patients may not be able to do everything they used to enjoy doing before cancer.
   Patients may not feel like going to parties or other events. Being around large groups after treatment can feel overwhelming, even more so if the party is about them and their recovery.

Fear Is A Normal Stage In Coping Process

Experiencing fear on a regular basis comes with the territory of being a cancer survivor. It's a very normal and even healthy part of cancer survivorship, but something that needs to be managed, so here are three more crucial tips on how to help cope with and overcome it.

• Fear Is Allowed
  It doesn't matter what type of cancer one is diagnosed with, the patients’ age or prognosis, or even if it’s a benign tumor. The fact is when it's one’s life that's on the line and the patient is left wondering if they're going to live or die, a cancer diagnosis is just plain terrifying. It's okay to be afraid, it's okay to not have the answers that we need.

• Trust your gut
  You go for months wondering why you have a cough that can't be explained, or why you feel a little more tired than others. You can write off all your symptoms as nothing serious and something that can be fixed with some over the counter medicine. 

• “To live is to feel loss” 
  Patients will watch their friends' progress. They'll see them graduate,  get married, have children. They go out and see and experience the world and all of the beautiful things in it. Cancer patients and recoverees may feel they are missing out on opportunities to go and do things. That feeling is limiting. It’s stagnant. 

Message to all cancer patients for H&B’s founder, Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist: always remember, that it isn't your fault. Your life isn't over. It's just on hold. It slowed down for a while, that’s all. And while your life may just as easily never be the same again, you'll learn how to adjust to your new normal. Things aren't over for you.