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Fighting against cancer is emotionally strenuous. Not only are you fighting for your life, you are also fighting for financial resources and against the side effects of cancer treatment. No one should ever face cancer alone, treatment needs to be a family and community affair. The following information on cancer and emotional support can help you find the strength you need to survive.
Listen to Survival Stories
You are not alone in your fight against cancer, and definitely not sentenced to death. Thousands of people just like you have won in the cancer battle. It is important to hear stories of success and triumph from people who have been in similar situations as your own. You can find survival stories specific to your type of cancer all over the internet. Here are a few examples of where to look:
- The Cancer Survivor's Network
- Lance Armstrong Foundation
- CancerCentral.com
- Breast Cancer Survivor Stories
Join a Support Program
While it is important to have loved ones surrounding you as you fight cancer, it is equally important to have professional support and get connected to people who are in the same place as you. You can find support networks in your area by typing in your zip code at a support search hosted by The American Cancer Society. I also suggest browsing for emotional support groups by state at KnowCancer.com.
Get Multiple Opinions
While some doctors may have a grim diagnosis for you, keep searching for a doctor that gives you hope. Get multiple opinions on your diagnosis. Doctors will differ in opinion, some may catch something that others do not, and it is important to explore all possible view points of your cancerous condition. The doctors you want working for you are the ones that make you feel like you can beat your current condition, the ones that give you hope. Studies show that cancer patients with a will to live and a belief that they can survive have a better chance at beating the disease.
Ask a Lot of Questions
Cancer patients can often feel as if they have lost control of their lives. Speaking up and taking initiative by understanding what is happening to your body is the first step in taking your body back under your control. Take back the reins by fully understanding the type of cancer that you have, its specific stages, and all treatment options. Ask your doctors, survivors of the same cancer, and specialists from around the world your questions and voice your concerns.
Keep Living Your Life
A diagnosis of cancer should not stop you from living life. While some cancer treatments can keep you from feeling your best, utilize the time that you do feel good to experience the world. Do things that you've always wanted to do and fully appreciate your life. Reach out to family and friends, adopt a pet, gallop on a horse, experience nature by hiking, go sky diving, row a boat, plant a garden, the possibilities are endless. The important thing is that you feel good and appreciate that which you do have.
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