What’s “normal” about living with cancer?
The first few months of cancer treatment are a time of change. But when you’re living with cancer that doesn’t go away you may feel like you’re stuck in this change—you don’t know what to expect or what’s going to happen next.
Living with cancer is not so much about “getting back to normal” as it is learning what’s normal for you now. People often say that life has new meaning or that they look at things differently now. Every day takes on new meaning.
...
Your new “normal” may include making changes in the way you eat, the things you do, and your sources of support. It may mean fitting cancer treatments into your work and vacation schedule. It will mean making treatment part of your everyday life—treatments that you may be getting for the rest of your life.
“Cancer is just part of my life now, and I always try to have hope.”
-Marisol, living with ovarian cancer
Repeated recurrences, often with shorter time periods in between remissions, can become discouraging and exhausting. It can be even more discouraging if the cancer never goes away at all. The question of whether to keep treating cancer that doesn’t go away or comes back again and again is a valid one. Your choices about continuing treatment are personal and based on your needs, wishes, and abilities. There is no right or wrong decision on how to handle this phase of the illness.
Still, it’s important to know that even those who are not cured of cancer may go on living for months or years, even though there may be changes in their lives. Many families adjust to this kind of treatment schedule.
Having a cancer that cannot be cured does not put you beyond hope or help; you may be living with a disease that can be treated and controlled for a fairly long time. (article from American Cancer Society)
Join the "Hope Through Cancer" blog at http://
The first few months of cancer treatment are a time of change. But when you’re living with cancer that doesn’t go away you may feel like you’re stuck in this change—you don’t know what to expect or what’s going to happen next.
Living with cancer is not so much about “getting back to normal” as it is learning what’s normal for you now. People often say that life has new meaning or that they look at things differently now. Every day takes on new meaning.
...
Your new “normal” may include making changes in the way you eat, the things you do, and your sources of support. It may mean fitting cancer treatments into your work and vacation schedule. It will mean making treatment part of your everyday life—treatments that you may be getting for the rest of your life.
“Cancer is just part of my life now, and I always try to have hope.”
-Marisol, living with ovarian cancer
Repeated recurrences, often with shorter time periods in between remissions, can become discouraging and exhausting. It can be even more discouraging if the cancer never goes away at all. The question of whether to keep treating cancer that doesn’t go away or comes back again and again is a valid one. Your choices about continuing treatment are personal and based on your needs, wishes, and abilities. There is no right or wrong decision on how to handle this phase of the illness.
Still, it’s important to know that even those who are not cured of cancer may go on living for months or years, even though there may be changes in their lives. Many families adjust to this kind of treatment schedule.
Having a cancer that cannot be cured does not put you beyond hope or help; you may be living with a disease that can be treated and controlled for a fairly long time. (article from American Cancer Society)
Join the "Hope Through Cancer" blog at http://
No comments:
Post a Comment