It can be devastating hearing from the doctor that you've just been diagnosed with cancer. What do you do? Who do you tell? How are you going to take this? Many questions will be swimming through your mind, and it's going to take a little adjusting to get a handle on things. Keep reading to learn more about 10 helpful tips to coping with your recent cancer diagnosis.
Some cancer treatments have been known to cause diarrhea. If that's the case in your treatment, consider eliminating coffee from your diet. While it may make you feel more alert, it can contribute to the diarrhea you are dealing with. You should stay away from caffeine in order to relieve the symptoms.
You need to be certain that you are fully aware of what you need to know concerning your specific form of cancer. There is a wealth of information out there published from different sources. You can read books, you can visit forums, you can talk to specialists and ask questions, you can subscribe to newsletters, search for articles, and much more.
By quitting smoking, you'll not only help to prevent lung cancer, but you'll also reduce your risk of colon cancer. The carcinogens produced by smoking can reach the colon and cause polyps to grow. This is one of many reasons you should give up smoking for good.
You must make sure that you are always being sociable and communicating with others. You might not feel like its the easiest thing to do at times, but you have to give it a try. It's important that you have this social interaction in your life so that you stay vocal and have support around you.
Always be ready for a battle. After all, you are literally fighting for your life here, and refusing to give up an inch and being strong and ready for the long war will put you in the best position to win.
A healthy life means taking care of many different things all at once. It will also help you immensely in your fight against cancer. Drink the right beverages, eat the right foods, and make sure you exercise often.
If you are a man, then prostate exams are mandatory when it comes to cancer prevention. It's important to schedule annual preventative doctor visits, and include a prostate exam. The early signs of prostate cancer can be hard to detect without having a doctor conduct an exam.
You need to think about the physical changes that your body might undergo. For instance, you might lose your hair, or your face might appear more tired. You could lose weight, or you could look totally fatigued from treatment.
When it comes to cancer, there is no healthy consumption of alcohol. Every alcoholic beverage you consume raises your chances of contracting specific forms of cancer. These types include cancer of the esophagus, throat and mouth. Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink can reduce your risk for these cancers.
Make sure you're letting people help you. It's okay to need help, and that is what family and friends are for. While you don't want them smothering you, and you do want to do things for yourself too, it's okay to allow them to help you when you've got appointments to make and you might be tired because of treatments.
Detecting cancer early can mean the difference between life and death. Be diligent with screening tests so that you can detect any problems before symptoms appear. Breast and testicular cancers can be detected through self examination, so do this once a month.
Always know what your insurance options are when you're getting treated for cancer. Insurance gets complicated when it comes to long-term care, and sometimes it can feel like you might be getting left out in the cold. Fight for what is yours, and make sure you stay on top of the game.
Be cautious and understand that some of the vegetables and fruits that you buy could be contaminated. To prevent fungus, bacteria and bugs from destroying plants, pesticides are often applied. Before you eat anything from this food group, gently wash them with soft soaps and rinse them off with water to get rid of pesticides. Alternatively, just buy foods that have little or no amounts of pesticides in the first place.
You are going to develop your own unique coping strategies along the way as well. Whatever works for you and helps you maintain a positive outlook is important. You will learn how to deal with things differently as you pick up direct tips from others about things in general.
Exercise is a great aid in battling cancer. Exercising encourages blood flow all through your body. Having your blood flowing is helpful in allowing your medication to easier travel throughout your body.
Make sure you're always getting plenty of sleep. Your body needs its rest for both physical and mental purposes. Make sure that you're allowing yourself to get enough sleep.
Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to cancer, and skin cancer is a common form of cancer. Protect your skin by applying sunscreen and wearing a hat.
You can fight your battle against cancer with everything you've got. You need to continue to learn more as you develop your plan and continue your treatment. Use the tips you've learned here so that you can take a more proactive stance when it comes to your cancer battle.