Taking Back Your Independence From Cancer

A cancer diagnosis is never an easy situation to come to terms with. Regardless of how strong a person you are, suddenly learning of such a life changing experience is bound to have an effect on your. 

For many people, learning they have cancer is overwhelming, to the point that they feel robbed of their life and are unsure of how to go on. Despite the difficulties that lie ahead, there’s ways to start taking control of your cancer in order to get your independence back. 

Express Yourself. This isn’t just in reference to talking about your diagnosis with loved ones, but about expressing your emotions with yourself. Sometimes when we’re faced with difficult news, we can bottle our emotions up and refuse to address them; this denial, while natural, can be incredibly damaging. Even if you’re not comfortable talking about your cancer with someone else, you still need to address the truth of it with yourself. You need to be mindful of your emotions and properly process them.

You’re Not to Blame. We’re naturally predisposed to blame ourselves when bad things happen in our lives, even when we know we have no control over them happening. Many cancer sufferers turn their anger inwards, focusing their upset on themselves. Although you might feel you did something to deserve your illness, you didn’t, cancer is a disease that can happen to anyone, regardless of their actions. Should you be in a position where you potentially know what might have caused your cancer, e.g. coming into contact with asbestos, then it might be worth seeking out an mesothelioma attorney. Cancer isn’t about a blame game, but nor should you ignore an injustice if you feel you were dealt one. 

Discover Small Pleasures. In such difficult times, it’s good to look for small ways to relax and calm your mind. For some people in crisis, exploring a new hobby is a good way of finding that inner peace and taking the time to appreciate the small things in life. Another way of doing this is by meditating each day, allowing yourself a set amount of time to free your mind of the worries it holds. No matter how you choose to do this, the focus here should be on doing something you enjoy — find a healthy outlet and explore it to its fullness. 

Prepare Yourself. This isn’t just in reference to preparing for treatment, but for preparing for how you interact with your healthcare providers. You may think you know exactly what you want to discuss, however, when the moment arises your mind can suddenly go blank; it’s because of how daunting a diagnosis of cancer is. Therefore, it’s good to prepare yourself for these appointments. Take the time to make a list of the different questions you want to ask the team helping treat you, as well as making sure that you’re totally satisfied with the proposed treatment plan you’ve been given.

Photo by National Cancer Institute

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Mia Guerra

Mia Guerra

Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine
Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine, Mia Guerra is a writer at heart. Regardless the topic, she loves to investigate, encourage, and ruminate on topics that can make us better people. Aiming to live a Proverbs 31 life, Mia is ecstatic to be following her calling with Chispa. At home she is her husband's sidekick and together they are raising a God-fearing family in Atlanta.

Mia Guerra

Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine, Mia Guerra is a writer at heart. Regardless the topic, she loves to investigate, encourage, and ruminate on topics that can make us better people. Aiming to live a Proverbs 31 life, Mia is ecstatic to be following her calling with Chispa. At home she is her husband's sidekick and together they are raising a God-fearing family in Atlanta.