John

Chapter 11: Cancer: 100 Ways to Fight

by John Roberts

www.CanFighter.com

II/11. Diagnosis: Know
Your Cancer

Diagnosis identifies
the enemy. The war has only started.

Diagnosis is Act I, not the final
curtain. In fact, it is just the overture, written by someone who hasn’t even
seen the play and doesn’t know the ending.

––John Roberts

That was the day on which it became
clear that a new kind of king was on the throne, and that nothing in the world
would remain the same.

––Salman Rushdie, “The Shelter of
the World,”

The New Yorker, February
25, 2008

As for the future life, every man
must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities.

––Charles Darwin

Receiving a life-altering diagnosis
can cause tremendous emotional and spiritual upheaval but you still have to
figure out the mundane details of getting the care you need and arranging your
life to accommodate this new reality….While serious illness can shatter your
sense of a well-ordered life, it does not mean that the strength and wisdom of
your years are irrelevant to the challenge you face. No matter what your condition,
you have choices. They aren’t always the choices you would like, and sometimes
it may feel like you are unprepared to weigh all the options and make the right
decision. But you know yourself. You know what you need to be comfortable, and
you know generally what you want. The challenge will be to understand and make
those choices with confidence that they are the right ones.

––Jessie Gruman, Ph.D., AfterShock, 2007

We believe it’s virtually impossible
for a patient to cope without knowing the facts. Therefore, we thoroughly
describe the cancer to the patient––its origin, location, and stage of
aggressiveness. We also explain any test results and, when possible, show the
patient the x-ray and other imaging tests. This goes a long way toward alleviating
the fear of the unknown. Patients can then begin to have a sense of control
over their own condition.

––Daniel Cukier, M.D., Frank
Gingerelli, M.D., Grace Makari-Judson, M.D., Coping with Chemotherapy and Radiation, 2005

First the symptoms: something is wrong.
You have a headache, but instead of a little stress it might be a brain tumor. Don’t
panic, get the facts first. The symptom of a routine problem may be identical
to the first noticeable sign of cancer. Err on the safe side. A diagnosis by an
experienced doctor may be a good guess or a certainty. Or, this preliminary
estimate may lack enough evidence to pinpoint symptom cause and more accurate
testing may be needed. We don’t understand or describe our symptoms very well,
and doctors may start down the wrong road in the first discussion. They like to
keep mum until they know what they are talking about. None of the above should
be taken as anything serious until the doctor says it is.

Doctors usually have to press on
through a busy schedule. A diagnosis is a touchy subject with a patient they
may not know very well. They will try, but they may not have the time to give
you all the explanation and comforting you need. There may be uncertainties
they cannot resolve at this early stage. You must practice patience from the
beginning, and find other ways to get information and support. Sit right down
with someone close and begin to prepare a plan, discuss matters frankly, start
learning and organizing your fight. This has to be done, and it will keep you busy
and start to overcome those emotions flooding your brain. Working the problem
is the first calm step to solving it.

After diagnosis, the patient is
probably going to have to explain matters to loved ones, deal with
uncertainties, start to make decisions, manage first tests or treatments, and
change attitudes and plans about the future. All this is best done without
debilitating emotions and without false assumptions. Sure, we are allowed to
feel some fear of the unknown, to worry, to be confused. We can’t absorb
everything immediately. But, soon, we need to get under self-control and start
to deal with facts and reality. Sometimes the patient, knowing strength and
calm will be required, must assure others who begin to panic.

Up to a point, help the doctor by
taking care of yourself. Not everyone can control their emotions after the
first shock. A doctor loves a patient who tries to be calm. Cancer is problem
enough without adding a difficult patient. The best thing is to discuss it
openly together. The doctor has been through it all before, and can help in
many ways.

15 months ago

Carri

My 10 steps to healing...

#1.  Identify the problem and take the most aggressive action you possibly can with this monster called cancer!

#2.  If one doctor won't take the right action, fire them and get someone that will do what you need done and do it well!

#3.  Find a doctor who is a 1/2 full obsessive compulsive kind of person.  Anyone obsessed with keeping you alive and doing well is good.

#4.  Your support system, including your doctors need to understand that sometimes the world needs to revolve around you but that even though it should it doesn't, life gets in the way of that a lot!

#5.  Get a counselor or a therapis if you have the means,  something I am still working on doing, but need to.  Depression and anxiety on the other side of cancer is very real, don't let anyone tell you that you should be grateful to be alive, they don't know how being alive is inside your body!  You have a right to be angry...you have a right to greive for what your life has been.

#6, Whie you have rights to grieve you must give yourself a timelimit, or pick a certain time of day.  Find time that you are not upset to be with members of you family but don't always put on a "company" face, or everyone thinks its all ok even if it isn't.

Well, I know I have 4 more to go but I got really tired suddenly...So the last 4 have to do with listening to your body and doing what it says but sometimes try to push through it.  It's a fine line on when to say when and when to go forward, that line is different for everyone!

15 months ago