Along with the diagnosis comes a great deal of medical information to assimilate. The pathology report will describe the kind of cancer and its stage of growth. This information will guide discussions with physicians about various treatment options. Another medical opinion may be sought, and the possible risks and benefits of treatment will be weighed and measured.
To many patients and their families, this will be like suddenly finding themselves living in a foreign country, with very little knowledge of the language, and many new situations to address. There are real life issues with spouses and children, arrangements to be made at work, concerns about physical changes and possible debilitation, and survival fears. Being diagnosed with breast cancer, and feeling anxious, afraid and overwhelmed is what psychologists often refer to as "a normal reaction to an abnormal event."
Here are some suggestions for healthy coping behaviors:
- Don't blame yourself for this illness
- Let yourself grieve
- Share your feelings with people you trust
- Communicate openly with your health care team
- Write down your questions prior to your appointments and take someone along with you who can also ask questions and take notes for you
- Attend a support group and speak with other survivors
- Treat yourself well and take naps
- Anticipate that you will need different kinds of help and ask for it
- Include a psychologist or other mental health professional who is knowledgable about breast cancer on your health care team
These are some additional resources for coping with breast cancer: http://www.komen.org/
http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org/
