Cancer Care- Tips
A little care goes a long way in reducing pain. If you or any of your loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, the way you face can be the best way to get a grip on it.
- Quit smoking: If you haven’t already quit smoking, the right time is now. Smoking highly increases your risk for getting cancer. If you are a non smoker avoid passive smoking and other lung irritants
- Learn all you can about cancer. Find out everything you can about your cancer — the type, the stage, your treatment options and their side effects. The more you know the more active you can be in your own care.
- Be proactive. Although you may feel tired and discouraged, don't let others — including your family or your doctor — make important decisions for you. Take an active role in your treatment.
- Build a strong support system. A strong support system helps you cope with everyday difficulties, such as fatigue and pain. Friends and family are worried about you and want to help, so learn to accept help when you need it. Staying connected with friends and family helps them cope with your illness and it gives you a chance to talk about your hopes and fears.
- Set reasonable goals. Having goals helps you feel in control and can give you a sense of purpose. But don't choose goals you can't possibly reach. You may not be able to work a 40-hour week, for example, but you may be able to work at least half the time. In fact, many people find that continuing to work can be helpful.
- Take time for yourself. Eating well, relaxing and getting enough rest can help combat the stress and fatigue of cancer. Also, plan ahead for the downtimes when you may need to rest more or limit what you do.
- Stay active. A diagnosis of cancer doesn't mean you have to stop doing the things you enjoy. For the most part, if you feel well enough to do something, go ahead and do it. It's important to stay involved with life.
- Don't avoid sexual contact. Don't fall for the feeling like embarrassment or impotence. Touching, holding, hugging and caressing can become far more important to you and your partner. In fact, the closeness you develop in these actions can produce greater sexual intimacy than you've ever had before. There are many ways to express your sexuality.
- Look for the positive. Cancer doesn't have to be an all-negative experience for you. Good can come out of it. Confrontation with cancer may lead you to grow emotionally and spiritually, to identify what really matters to you, to settle long-standing disputes and to spend more time with people important to you.