gynecologic cancer
Coping with Your Cancer Journey
Getting diagnosed with any type of cancer can be devastating for both the patient and his or her family. With the influx of appointments and meetings and treatment plans, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are some tips for coping with your cancer journey and finding support during cancer treatment.
How to Manage Your Cancer Journey Happily and Healthily
Educate yourself on your disease
One of the first steps you should take after your cancer diagnosis is to learn. Read all you can and ask questions about your condition. Every patient—even those with the same diagnosis—can experience different things during their cancer journey. Learn all you can about what to expect from the process, including possible surgeries, medications, and side effects.
Try not to worry or overanalyze
Along with learning about your cancer, you should also learn about dealing with cancer emotionally. You don’t want to hurt yourself thinking about all the things that could happen. Practice relaxation activities and express your feelings to your loved ones. Try not to predict or expect anything from your cancer journey. Take things one day at a time.
Find support during cancer treatment
As strong as you are, you can not do it all alone. Find support in any way that works for you. Finding support during cancer treatment can include:
- Confiding in friends and family members
- Posting on an online cancer support forum
- Consulting your healthcare provider
- Hiring a caregiver to help you and your family
Understand your needs
If you need help cooking dinner, speak up. If you do not feel well enough to go to work, don’t. After a cancer diagnosis, your life changes. It’s best to take things slow and ask for help when it’s needed.
Employ a kind and passionate doctor
Finding a great doctor is one of the best ways to cope with your cancer journey. Oncologists are often the most compassionate and skilled medical professionals. Find one you feel comfortable confiding in and talking to about your condition. When you have a kind and experienced professional on your side, you should feel more relaxed and taken care of.
At Nevada Surgery & Cancer Care, we are dedicated to the health and wellness of our patients suffering from gynecologic and colon cancers. Contact our team to schedule a consultation and have your cancer treatment questions answered.
Cancer Diagnosis Shouldn’t Put a Damper on Your Relationship
When a loved one is given a cancer diagnosis, the whole family is affected, including their partner. However, the romance doesn’t have to suffer if you’re planning or undergoing cancer treatments. Check out these tips for keeping a relationship strong during the journey.
Coping with Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Emotional Stages of Cancer Diagnosis
After a cancer diagnosis, you’re sure to be experiencing a flood of different emotions. First, you may be trying to accept the changes in your body. If you have cancer, intimacy may be difficult because your body isn’t working the way it used to.
Depending on the kind of cancer and its treatment, your body will change. For instance, gynecologic cancers that result in a hysterectomy can bring on early menopause, vaginal dryness or changes in libido. Discuss your concerns with your doctor. They can suggest assistance options, like the FemiLift procedure to bring back your sexual feeling.
A cancer diagnosis may also bring about anxiety. You may now have issues with your body image since you’re going through changes. Treatments for a mastectomy or symptoms like weight loss or hair loss can affect a patient’s self-esteem.
Dealing with Cancer in the Family
When supporting someone with cancer, communication is key. Have a conversation about how the two of you are feeling when you are both relaxed and comfortable. Be active listeners, which means you should focus on what is being said and give your partner time to finish expressing feelings. Practice honesty and kindness with each other.
If sexual intercourse is uncomfortable or not possible, you can find new ways to be intimate. Cuddle with each other or hold hands while you walk together. Emotional intimacy can help create a sense of support each partner needs during this difficult time. Also, try new hobbies together, like cooking or knitting for a fun experience. Getting couples’ massages or trying yoga together can work to help reduce the stress you may feel.
We’re Here to Assist You
Here at Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care, we’ve got resources to help you before, during and after a cancer diagnosis. Contact us with any concerns you have about the cancer treatment process and we’ll lead you in the right direction.
Gynecologic Cancer Success Stories
September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month, we are working to spread awareness and education about the five main types of gynecologic cancers:
- Ovarian Cancer
- Uterine/ Endometrial Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vaginal Cancer
Unfortunately, there is no cure for these cancers, but with the help of research and supporters, we are working to learn more about the causes, treatments and possible cures for these diseases. The Foundation for Women’s Cancer offers support and resources for patients, survivors and their families. Here are some success stories from the Sisterhood of Survivorship.
Patients with Gynecologic Cancers Who Survived
Women all over the world suffer from the different types of gynecologic cancers. However, because there are so many successful cancer treatment centers like Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care, there are specialists who work to make survivors out of patients. Check out some of the women who’ve survived gynecologic cancer and shared their story with the world.
Kathleen
Kathleen is a patient who encourages women to listen to their bodies. She noticed unusual symptoms in her body and argued to see a gynecologic oncologist to test for cancer. Kathleen suffered from heavy bloating and extreme gas pressure that was making her uncomfortable. She also kept getting chronic bladder infections and heavy irregular bleeding—symptoms she feared could be ovarian cancer.
After much arguing with her general practitioner, Kathleen saw a gynecologic oncologist, and they diagnosed her of fallopian tube cancer, which is very rare. She underwent a year of surgeries and chemotherapy and finally became cancer-free at 49. Through the telling of her story, she encourages women to listen to their bodies when it seems like something is going on.
Camille
Camille is the third generation of women in her family who’ve been diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. Her grandmother was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After her grandmother and mother’s diagnoses, Camille decided to go in for a cancer screening, where she tested positive for Lynch Syndrome. After that, she decided to go back and get tested every year, which allowed her to catch her cancer early on. Camille herself was also diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
After undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, Camille finally survived cancer. Now, she is a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills and works to be an advocate for Gynecologic Cancer Awareness.
Dena
Dena is a six- year survivor of vulvar cancer. She was one of her doctor’s youngest cancer patients, and at the onset of her cancer diagnosis, he said he would be surprised if she lived another four to five years. Instead of letting that discourage her, Dena made the choice to work hard to prove her doctor wrong. She underwent surgeries that helped her to kick cancer. Now, she speaks publicly to share her story with other women and encourage them to be warriors.
Schedule a Consultation with Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care
The team at Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care works daily to treat patients with gynecologic and colon cancers. Learn more about your possible risk by getting a cancer screening. Catching cancer early and knowing your risk is the first step of living a full, healthy life.
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