Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Fear of the unknown

The worst part about cancer is not knowing.
You don't know
• how treatment will go
• what side effects you'll face
• how much pain there will be
• what tomorrow holds

And not knowing brings with it fear. That’s normal.

The best way to combat fear is to learn all you can—--about the cancer, the treatments and possible side effects, anything you can get your hands on. Research online, visit your local library or go to a book store. Don’t give up until you’ve found what you’re looking for. The more you learn, the better equipped you’ll be to face what today brings.

My book "Stepping Through Cancer: A Guide for the Journey" will be available mid-February. It’s a caregiver’s manual so you know what to expect, how to handle what today brings, and how to prepare for tomorrow. I'll let you know when it's available.

Keep learning!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Diagnosis

The first time you hear the word "cancer", your life comes to a screeching halt. You have more questions than answers and you argue with yourself and with God. How? Why? When? What? Who? Where? Questions tumble over each other without making any sense.

Cancer is no longer the death sentence it once was. The American Cancer Society has statistics showing that most cancer patients survive. Most! We've come a long way. Now, there are multiple treatments and procedures available to customize for each patient. And you have choices in your treatment.

Make up your mind to fight this invader with every weapon you have. It's a fight that you can win. You're worth it, and your loved ones need you around. Just hang in there, and never give up.