30 Tips
These tips are all highly condensed versions of sections in the book "Thirty Things About Cancer" (Dr Mike Goldsmith, 2015)
1. There are new treatments being developed all the time - so when you see a statistic about your prospects, it will be based partly on data collected when treatments were less successful. Which means, your chances are probably better than what the statistic says.
2. Plan Who to tell - as well as What, Where, How, Why and When. And be ready to cope with the reaction.
3. Worry is natural, but excessive worry can be a handicap. But it can be cured.
4. Make contact with others in your situation.
5. Research your cancer, and your hospital too.
6. Though a terminal diagnosis is terrifying, bear in mind that almost everyone has a diagnosis like it sooner or later, whether they have cancer of not.
7. Be aware that there are bound to be surprises in store as your treatment progresses, and flexibility is key to dealing with them.
8. Keep a diary of symptoms, medications, and people's names.
9. Though medical staff work hard to keep appointments to time, they are bound to fail sometimes. So don't make any appointments of your own until well after the predicted end-time of your cancer appointment.
10. Plan carefully who is the best person to take with you on consultations...
11. ... but feel free to go alone, if you prefer
12. Conventional medicines work, alternatives don’t
13. It will take time for your emotional reactions to cancer-related news to appear.
14. Pets can be life-savers
15. You can find things to enjoy at almost every stage of your treatment.
16. Engage with your oncologist, nurses, GP and the rest of your support team.
17. Take on non cancer-related projects during your treatment
18. Cancer treatment involves waiting for all sorts of things, sometimes for minutes, sometimes for months. Plan how to occupy those times.
19. Naps conquer all
20. Push your limits – gently
21. Get outdoors
22. It might help to think of cancer as an arduous journey
23. Your cancer is not you
24. Beating and recovering from cancer is not just down to professionals - it's down to you, too
25. Have something to look forward to tomorrow
26. When the treatment is over, keep the good habits you learned
27. Consider whether volunteering is something you might like to do
28. It can take longer to free the mind of cancer than the body
29. Cancer’s not fair. Which can mean things turn out to be far better for you than anyone anticipated.
30. When the treatment is all done, be aware of warning signs.
1. There are new treatments being developed all the time - so when you see a statistic about your prospects, it will be based partly on data collected when treatments were less successful. Which means, your chances are probably better than what the statistic says.
2. Plan Who to tell - as well as What, Where, How, Why and When. And be ready to cope with the reaction.
3. Worry is natural, but excessive worry can be a handicap. But it can be cured.
4. Make contact with others in your situation.
5. Research your cancer, and your hospital too.
6. Though a terminal diagnosis is terrifying, bear in mind that almost everyone has a diagnosis like it sooner or later, whether they have cancer of not.
7. Be aware that there are bound to be surprises in store as your treatment progresses, and flexibility is key to dealing with them.
8. Keep a diary of symptoms, medications, and people's names.
9. Though medical staff work hard to keep appointments to time, they are bound to fail sometimes. So don't make any appointments of your own until well after the predicted end-time of your cancer appointment.
10. Plan carefully who is the best person to take with you on consultations...
11. ... but feel free to go alone, if you prefer
12. Conventional medicines work, alternatives don’t
13. It will take time for your emotional reactions to cancer-related news to appear.
14. Pets can be life-savers
15. You can find things to enjoy at almost every stage of your treatment.
16. Engage with your oncologist, nurses, GP and the rest of your support team.
17. Take on non cancer-related projects during your treatment
18. Cancer treatment involves waiting for all sorts of things, sometimes for minutes, sometimes for months. Plan how to occupy those times.
19. Naps conquer all
20. Push your limits – gently
21. Get outdoors
22. It might help to think of cancer as an arduous journey
23. Your cancer is not you
24. Beating and recovering from cancer is not just down to professionals - it's down to you, too
25. Have something to look forward to tomorrow
26. When the treatment is over, keep the good habits you learned
27. Consider whether volunteering is something you might like to do
28. It can take longer to free the mind of cancer than the body
29. Cancer’s not fair. Which can mean things turn out to be far better for you than anyone anticipated.
30. When the treatment is all done, be aware of warning signs.
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