Are you or someone you know dealing with a cancer diagnosis, overwhelmed by an array of emotions, and figuring out the next steps? Explore approaches to navigate the path for improved quality of life and potential cancer survival. Here are some strategies that are critical in the quest for optimal health and healing.
- Find Calm in the Chaos
Studies indicate that people temporarily lose specific skills when diagnosed with cancer, such as communication, research, decision-making, problem-solving, negotiation, and speaking up for rights. The chaos can often cause negative consequences in the body. Establishing a sense of relaxation is paramount for creating calm and clarity. Go to your center and ‘resource your self’ by practicing simple breathing techniques, listening to music, being in nature, slowing yourself into awareness, and feeling a mindfulness relationship. You can embrace positive routines to support your well-being.
- Evaluate and Embrace Support
People with cancer need assistance. Get the help you need from family, friends, professional colleagues, and support services/agencies. Ask experts for their knowledge of what they believe you will need and discover those things that will work for you. Explore Social Support Tips for Cancer Patients and Caregivers, which includes ways to improve self-awareness and strengthen meaningful connections. Capture helpful insights at Profound Emotional Support for Cancer Patients and Caregivers, and gather general information here.
- Explore Choices
Embrace what makes sense to you and be aware that things can evolve during your cancer journey. Endeavor, by yourself and others, to make decisions that will include how you want to participate in your research and decision-making process.
- by your doctor?
- as a team with your doctor and loved ones?
- by yourself?
- by a loved one or loved ones?
- through a combination of these approaches?
- Research Facilities, Oncologists, and Treatments
The process of finding facilities, oncologists, and treatments takes time. Educate yourself on how you will research these essential topics and set potential goals to gather the information before doing the research.
Research Facilities for Your Condition
Learn about facilities, including the oncologists related to those institutions, who are experts on your cancer type and cancer treatment approaches. Not every facility will have specific departments required for certain cancer types. It’s helpful to review places dedicated to your cancer type, ones that have innovative cancer treatment approaches, possess new equipment, provide leading-edge cancer-related tests, and are actively involved in clinical trials. In the research process, comprehensive cancer centers, including NCI-Designed Cancer Centers, typically have more oncologists than community hospitals.
Research Oncologists
Set goals to investigate oncologists who are experts related to your type of cancer. Capture how oncologists address the disease status and provide information about the standard of care cancer treatments. Take a look at their professional work such as training, relationships with clinical trials, published journal articles, awards, and presentations. Ultimately, identify several oncologists to get multiple opinions that will help you gather more information in the decision-making process. Know that treatment recommendations may vary among oncologists.
Research Treatments
Some cancer patients are unsure how to conduct cancer research to find high-quality cancer information for the best cancer treatments. Information can be gathered through various resources at Center for Integrative Cancer Resources where different sections can be explored for education and assist in the process for research. Top-Rated Cancer Information is another essential go-to for research on cancer treatments. Another excellent source is Questions for Evaluating Cancer Treatments and Providers to seek information in your decision-making quest.
- Research Integrative Cancer Care
High-quality cancer care includes more than discovering appropriate treatments. Integrative cancer care for the whole person focuses on the physical body, mind-body connection, spiritual vitality, social support, and a cleaner environment. Research shows those approaches improve quality of life, cancer survival, and cancer prevention. Explore integrative cancer care for the whole person information throughout my website.
Integrative cancer care is offered at some hospitals, yet typically with minor services. The full spectrum of comprehensive integrative cancer care optimally comes from elsewhere. Based on your capacity, research integrative cancer care providers and treatments. Then, identify what works ideally for your needs. People with cancer often have several integrative providers to create a plan, team, and self-care strategies.
Challenges in the cancer journey can be transformed into opportunities, adversity into positive actions. You have the power to be your advocate.
Expand your knowledge toward improving your quality of life, and potentially your survival, by contacting me. Learn more about my coaching here.
