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Like millions of other Americans who are cancer survivors, there is no "right way" to feel. You can't just shrug off what you've been through -- you need to find your own way to move forward with your life. Survivorship is not just about long-term survival, it's also about the quality of life from diagnosis onward. Greg Anderson, a 15-year survivor of metastatic lung cancer and organizer of the Cancer Recovery Foundation of America, identified the following areas as critical to survivorship: - Physical
Medical treatment
Nutritional therapy
Exercise - Mental
Healthy Beliefs
Positive attitudes - Social
Family supports
Support Groups - Emotional
Awareness
Ability to choose - Vocational
Sense of mission
Reason to live - Spiritual
Forgiveness
Gratitude
Connection to higher power Consider some of the following tips and determine whether they would work for you: - To help ease the transition from patient to survivor, turn to your family and friends to talk about the adjustment. Be open and express what you're feeling.
- Consider joining an organized support group.
- Try relaxation techniques and staying active to help you cope with stress and anxiety. Tell your doctor if you're feeling depressed.
- After your cancer treatment is complete, focus on healthy habits — eat well and exercise regularly, 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week, when appropriate.
- Your diet is an important part of your treatment for cancer. Eating the right kinds of foods before, during, and after your treatment can help you feel better and stay stronger.
For more information, visit these sites: American Cancer Society: American Cancer Society: National Cancer Institute: American Cancer Society: |
Coping with Cancer 