A cancer diagnosis suddenly and irreversibly alters the course of a life.  Not only must patients cope with the profound emotional upheaval, they are also forced to manage a long list of practical necessities.  Living with cancer and battling the disease in the most effective way possible requires patience, planning, and support.  It means taking things day-by-day and making some major life changes, while looking objectively toward the future and preparing for the inevitable changes to come.   

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13323015@N00/6237594287/

Here are a few things to consider in the wake of a diagnosis:

Learn About Cancer

Get the facts and learn all you can from your doctor about cancer.  Consider bringing along a loved one with whom you can review things after the appointment.  Find out what type of cancer you have, where it is located, whether or not it has spread, the degree of treatability, possible procedures, various treatment options, and possible side-effects.  

Health Is A Priority

Cancer treatments are notoriously hard on the body, so you will need to be as strong and healthy as possible when battling cancer.  Start eating right, exercising as much as possible, and living a healthier all around lifestyle. 

Is This Important?

Evaluate what and who is most important to you, and stop wasting time with anything (or anyone) you don’t need or want in your life.  Appreciate the beauty around you, and become closer to those you hold most dear.  Take the time to examine your recovery obligations and determine what’s important, and then make them priorities. 

Talk To Your Kids

A cancer diagnosis can be confusing, frustrating, and emotional.  Sit your children down and answer any questions that they may have. If you make it clear that you are happy to answer their questions then they will probably be more likely to voice any concerns they may have.  Don’t depend upon your children too heavily; even if they are on the verge of adulthood, it is important that they don’t feel burdened.  Of course they want to help you but try not to give them more than they can handle. Make sure that you keep a routine in your family life. Try and have dinner at the same time every day, make time to sit down and all enjoy a film together once a week.  

Regardless of what your cancer prognosis is, create some great memories with your children. Take pictures, write letters, and cherish every moment, because cancer can never take away the special time that you have spent together.  

Plan For Physical Changes

You will no doubt experience some serious physical changes.  Don’t avoid them or pretend they won’t happen.  Learn about prosthesis options and wigs, arrange for support when you are weakened by chemotherapy, and go out and buy some stylish hats and caps.  Face the facts head on and be realistic about the future. 

Stay Active

At certain stages of treatment, this will be hard, and perhaps even impossible, but stay as active as you can throughout your recovery.  Make a determined effort to continue living a normal life.  Don’t let despair or self-pity become an excuse to withdraw from the things you love.  Don’t let cancer consume your existence.  Stay Active!

Stress Management

Find a stress outlet.  Better yet, find several.  Keep a journal, start a manageable exercise routine, get regular massages, meditate, and anything else you can think of to help you take control of your mind and cope with the stress of recovery. 

Ask for Help

Don’t push away those who offer help.  As determined as you may be to beat it on your own, you will inevitably need support.  Ask for it, accept it, appreciate it, and let it strengthen your relationships with loved ones. 

Understand that while a cancer diagnosis is certainly an imperative to start living a healthier lifestyle and taking more time to appreciate the things you hold dearest, it is not a death sentence.  Take control of your life, cultivate positivity, remain determined, and don’t let a cancer diagnosis stop you in your tracks. 

 
Today’s guest guest post is by Sophie Webb of SEOGadget who blogs for Cancer Research UK providing support for Cancer sufferers.

Raising kids is hard, especially in today’s culture and society, where they are pressured into all kinds of unhealthy activities, from drugs to alcohol to eating disorders.  As a parent, you want to shield and protect your child from all of these things; you want to remove them from harm’s way. If you could, you’d make sure that nothing bad ever happened to them and that they’d never fall prey to the misguiding influence of someone else.

As someone who really understands teens and the effects of media, society, and peer pressure to be thin, I want to talk a bit about how you can protect your kids from the harmful effects of an eating disorder. These are tricky situations that seem to crop up from out of nowhere, but actually stem from something that is completely avoidable.

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I’m thrilled to be hosting a giveaway with the wonderful ladies listed below.  Stop by and visit each of us for a chance to win. Hurry, the giveaway ends March 30^th. 

 C. Lee Reed at Helicopter Mom and Just Plane Dad

Lisette at Northern Belle Diaries

Clara at Walking in the Light

 NuNaturals Stevia products are a sweet delicious way to reduce sugar and carbohydrates in your diet.  These supplements were voted the best tasting Stevia products available on the market today.   [...]

One of my favorite and funniest Disney memories is probably one of Beloved’s absolute worst.  She was a toddler about three years old and not a rookie.  Living in the Sunshine State, she had a handful of visits to the Magic Kingdom under her belt.  Where she had previously been content to ride around in a stroller, on this particular trip she ventured out into the park via sneakers.  She was so enthralled with the lights, sounds and smells of her adventure that her [...]

I show my love for Beloved and Just Plane Dad every single day that I have them with me on this journey called life.  I don’t ever want either of them to fall asleep without hearing me say I LOVE YOU.  As parents, it’s important enough to us that even when Beloved is away from our home, at a sleepover for example, her Dad and I take the time to send a good-nite text with those three simple words.  She always dutifully responds with her own version of the same meaning and has never once questioned this evening ritual.  Why should she?  It’s perfectly normal for her to have the attention of her parents before they retire for the evening. We all rest easier knowing that should anything unexpectedly  happen while we’re apart, the last words from our lips were of love. 

On this St. Valentine’s Day, I’d just like to shout out once more how blessed I am to share my life with a wonderful man and his beautiful daughter.

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According to Wikipedia, helicopter parents pay extremely close attention to their children’s experiences and problems, to the detriment of their children.  I’m not sure I understand how being overprotective parents that are close with their children and know what’s happening in their lives can be a detriment.  I mean, shouldn’t we be involved with our children’s lives?  Isn’t it my job to guide her through life’s experiences using the knowledge I have as an adult?  [...]

Just Plane Dad mentioned this topic casually the other day as he prepared for an important meeting.  Why do some people feel the need to micro-manage other’s lives?  About halfway through our grump session, I realized that I exhibit the same attributes as those we were complaining about.

As a General Manager, he uses his micro-managing powers for good.  As helicopter parents, we use them for evil.  Hah!  Bet that’s what you thought I’d say, but no, regardless of what the outside world feels, I have the best intentions. [...]

While Martin Luther King Jr.’s words were often quoted and most everyone can remember his “I have a dream” speech; one of my favorite speeches he gave was his Where do we go from here address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on August 16, 1967 in Atlanta.

He spoke about love and power and his choice on the matter.  The words that have stuck with me are:

“And I say to you, I have also decided to stick with love, for I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind’s problems….and I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear.  I have decided to love…”

Beautiful and poignant words that are still relevant today.  Just think what changes could come about if everyone worldwide believed like he did? [...]

New Year’s has a hard act to follow.  Who wants to go after Christmas in the holiday department?  While it’s true that the start of a new year won’t get the kid’s vote, for us as parents, it’s become a very important holiday.

I have always enjoyed that feeling of freshness that occurs with the start of things.  Births, weddings, first day of school and a new year are all reasons to celebrate.  Not only do these occasions give you license to forecast your dreams for the future, but they offer forgiveness for what’s already happened.  With the first day of the New Year, life as you knew it is over and your fresh slate awaits. [...]

Beloved has been driving for a while now on her permit.  In case you’ve forgotten how it all started, click here.  The truth of the matter is that she was “technically” eligible for her license in September.  By technically, I mean according to county law; not technically as in a technically good driver. 

Since the thought of her behind the wheel of  a vehicle still makes me nauseous, I have secretly discouraged her from driving any chance I get.  She is on to me.  [...]

I was given the opportunity to review Joyce’s newest book and I jumped at the chance to read it after I saw the title.  Like many Moms, I was never quite sure what I should do or how I could work at home but I knew I wanted to.  My daughter Beloved has grown up so fast and I’m blessed to have been able to stay home with her.  I have always been a proponent of entrepreneurship and I bet you are too!  [...]

I am very excited to have this opportunity to join Julie for Like Me on Facebook! I appreciate her working with me to help build a successful blog. I look forward to getting to know those of you that visit my site. Thanks.

Welcome to Like Me on Facebook

January is that special time of year at our household.  Well to paraphrase me, it’s “a special time for me”.  I was born to OCD my life and I get thoroughly excited about any chance to start “anew”.  Beginning of the school year, check.  Christmas Eve, check.  Christmas Day, check.  New Years Eve, check.  New Years Day, check.  I love love love getting my house in order, my daughter’s room cleaned up and Just Plane Dad’s garage purged.  Okay, I’m lying, JPD won’t let me near the garage but I’ve tried.  It just makes me happy to start fresh and get things back to the basics and organized.  I watch HGTV in hopes of finding new ways to keep an orderly life, borrow books from the library on clearing the clutter and scour the internet for the next big product that will lighten my load; but the truth is and with all due respect to the aforementioned, I already have my arsenal of tricks that keeps our home running smoothly. [...]