Easing the Stress of Cancer

It is the diagnosis that no one wants to hear. Despite years ofresearch, the word "cancer" continues to strike fear into thehearts of men, women, and children. While the detection ofcancer is no longer a death sentence, there is always thepossibility that cancer will accelerate the end of one's life.With a diagnosis of cancer, one comes face-to-face with one'sown mortality. There are a number of stressful aspects to a cancer diagnosis.Primary among these is the possibility that the cancer will befatal. As a result, cancer can cause tremendous stress to one'sinterpersonal relationships. Your family and friends may be onedge, worrying that you might die. You may also beshort-tempered because you're not certain how many more days youmight have to live. You may be frustrated and anxious and mayfind it difficult to sleep. Cancer can also lead to a great deal of financial stress. Thereare bills for doctors, for treatments, for medication, forsurgery. At times, the costs can seem staggering. While yourhealth insurance might cover part of the expense, you yourselfmight have to shoulder the rest of the cost. If you were barelygetting by before your diagnosis, you might find it especiallydifficult dealing with the financial aspect of cancer. The process of chemotherapy itself can be highly stressful. Tobegin with, you will not feel as energetic as you usually are,leaving you with the stress of wondering how you will geteverything done. Also, you may feel nauseated, making itdifficult for you to complete your work at the office or yourwork at home. Finally, losing your hair to chemotherapy can bequite a stressful experience. You have to decide how to handleyour baldness--whether you will invest in a wig, a scarf, orjust "go natural." The baldness is particularly stressful forwomen, who tend to base a great deal of their self-image on howthey look. Realizing that cancer will put you under a great deal of stressis half the battle. Then, you must learn to deal effectivelywith your stress. For some cancer patients, this means engagingin relaxation exercises. For instance, you might envision thatyour white blood cells are eating up cancer cells. You mightpicture the cancer leaving your body, and your body being lefthealthy as a result. Or you might picture your cancer washingaway to the sea. Such mind relaxation techniques can leave youwith a more upbeat, enthusiastic attitude and can be highlybeneficial in your recovery. Another stress-reliever is spending some time readinginspirational works. Whether you draw your inspiration fromRonald Reagan or Mother Teresa, reading about how famous peopleovercame difficulties can help you as you battle your owndemons. Such works can be greatly uplifting, giving you thecourage and strength necessary to battle cancer heroically. You might also be able to reduce cancer-related stress bychanging your diet. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains can improve both your physical health and your mentaloutlook. In this way, you will be better able to handle thestresses of cancer treatment. Yet another effective stress-reducing technique is to join asupport group of cancer survivors. This can be tremendouslybeneficial to your overall well-being. You'll gain strength fromlistening to the experiences of other men and women who arefacing the same challenges you are. And the fellowship thatresults from group meetings can aid you in your recovery. There is no easy way to deal with the stress of cancer. It is adebilitating disease which can sap your physical strength anddeplete your emotional reserves. It can leave you feelingbattle-scarred and may, at times, lead to a feeling ofhopelessness. The good news is that recovery rates are betterthan ever before--especially when the cancer is caught early.There is a good chance that you will be able to survive cancer,and your recovery could add years to your life. If at any timeyou find the stress of cancer to be overwhelming, make sure thatyou mention it to your doctor. He or she might be able to assistyou with additional coping strategies that can help you dealwith this devastating illness.