All posts in Cancer Support

How You Can Help Your Caregivers

When you receive a cancer diagnosis, it’s devastating to both you and your loved ones. You undoubtedly have many questions, and you’re bound to experience various emotions as your process your condition and undergo treatment.

Your friends and family are an important part of your support system. It’s likely your spouse and/or your children are going to be very involved in your care; in fact, after your physicians and other treatment providers, perhaps no one else will play a greater role in your treatment and recovery.

Because caregiving is often a full-time job, and one your loved ones gladly take on in addition to their normal responsibilities, it comes with a unique set of challenges. While you need to focus on your needs and recovery post treatment, you can do some things to help your caregivers give you what you need while avoiding exhaustion.

Give Them Something To Do

It’s common for loved ones to feel helpless post diagnosis, and not know how they can help. Perhaps in the future they may need to be involved in direct care, but in the short term after the diagnosis, they may struggle for purpose. Ask your loved ones to research brain cancer treatment centers, for example, or to research new and emerging treatments. Ask for help keeping track of your appointments or for help taking notes during consultations.

Communicate Your Needs

Your loved ones may respond to your diagnosis by going into “help overload.” As a result, you might feel overwhelmed or even more helpless — and end up lashing out at him or her. Speak to your caregiver and communicate your needs. What do you need help with, and what can you handle on your own? What do you want your caregiver to do for you? Be honest, and understand your loved one just wants to help.

Express Gratitude

Chances are your loved one knows you appreciate his or her efforts, but it’s always nice to hear. Make a point of showing gratitude for their efforts and acknowledging their hard work.

Spend Time Together — and Forget About the Cancer

It may sound impossible to forget about something as all-encompassing as cancer, but caregiving experts argue the patient and the caregiver should “take a break” every so often to do something together and not think or talk about the disease for a short time. If you are feeling well enough, a weekend away can do wonders for reviving the spirit; if you’re not feeling well, watching a funny movie or taking a drive can allow you to spend time connecting with each other. Doing so is a reminder of who you both are aside from the disease, and allows you to rest and recharge.

A cancer diagnosis affects the entire family, and without effective communication and support, can lead to frustration, hurt feelings and burnout. As the patient, consider your caregiver’s needs as well as your own — and you’ll successfully face your disease together. For more tips on how to handle this, consult with the kind staff at the Pasadena CyberKnife Center today and get back to what is important in your life.

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What to Do When You’re First Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is one of the most frightening experiences anyone can have. It’s often difficult to process the news without immediately pondering your mortality — even if you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, which when treated appropriately, has a five-year survival rate of nearly 100 percent.

Everyone handles the news of a cancer diagnosis differently, but regardless of your coping mechanisms, we recommend everyone take certain steps to make this difficult and potentially confusing period easier.

Get a Second Opinion
Even if you are completely confident in your doctor and his or her diagnostic abilities, always seek a second opinion. A second physician may well corroborate the diagnosis, or he or she could notice something your doctor overlooked, or have a different interpretation of the results. Getting another perspective will help you feel more confident in your course of treatment and that you are well informed.

Explore Your Treatment Options
When you have prostate cancer, you have a number of cancer treatment options. Your doctor may recommend a course of action, but do some research and ask questions to determine all of your options so you can make an informed choice. We recommend using caution when using the Internet for research. Your case is unique, and just because someone else had a particular experience with a treatment plan does not mean your results will be the same. Use your research as a springboard for conversations with your health care team at the Pasadena CyberKnife Center.

Build a Support System
We met some patients who are reluctant to keep friends and family in the loop about their diagnosis for fear of unnecessarily worrying or burdening them. However, your loved ones can be a good source of help and support during your treatment; in fact, studies show those patients who have a good support system often have better outcomes than those who do not.

Make Lifestyle Changes
Successfully overcoming prostate cancer means maintaining overall good health. Your treatment will also be more effective if you are healthy and strong to begin with. After your diagnosis, make staying healthy a priority by eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains, getting plenty of sleep, exercising and reducing stress. Your doctor will work with you to identify other lifestyle changes that will help keep you in good health during and after treatment.

Ask Questions and Take Notes
A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event, and no one expects you will understand every aspect of your disease and treatment plan. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter how silly or inconsequential you believe them to be. This is your life and your body, and you have a right to be informed. Take notes during your conversations with health care providers, and jot down questions when you think of them. By asking questions and staying informed, you will feel more in control of your condition and your recovery.

When you receive your cancer diagnosis, your health care provider will most likely direct you toward resources to help you understand and cope with your condition. Take advantage of those resources and follow these steps, and it won’t be long before your prostate cancer will be something that happened in the past. Contact us today to schedule a consult with one of our team specialists.

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