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So cancers aren't necessarily a death sentence. I think a lot of people hear cancer and immediately we go, bad. Right, and that's absolutely right. And of course, remember that in our lifetimes one half of all men and one third of all women are going to get a cancer diagnosis. And as you say, it's not for everybody by any means a kind of life sentence. There are at the moment in this country 70 million cancer survivors, and that number is going to steadily increase.

So this is not a death sentence by any means. So once you get past that initial kind of panic and anxiety and fear, just remember that fact. That the outcome for many people with cancer is actually extremely good, and it's improving every week. What are some other thoughts you have when somebody receives, that I have cancer, now what? One of the most important aspects is going to be in choosing your team. In other words, who do you want to take care of you? And I think immediately when you think about that the tendency is to think that everybody needs to see an oncologist. Well, they may not, and I think right up front, for example if you have a skin cancer many dermatologists treat skin cancer and treat it very, very effectively.

If you have a thyroid cancer, it is likely that a thyroid specialist would treat that, and again, would treat it very effectively. So it's very important, and right up front, not to assume that you necessarily need to see an oncologist, although most people will need to see some kind of oncologist, And just to be clear, an oncologist is a cancer specialist. There are three types, major kind of groups of oncologists. There is the surgical oncologist, who uses surgery. There are radiation oncologists who treat it with x-rays and other radiation-type treatments. And there are the medical oncologists who predominantly use drug and hormonal therapies to cancer.

Living with Cancer: Eight Things You Need to Know

And you may need to see one, two, or all three of those kinds of specialists, just depending upon what type of cancer you have. So you generally get that diagnosis, and the next step is to determine who you're going to talk to next, it sounds like? And usually the person who gives you the diagnosis is going to be able to direct you for where to go and maybe set up a referral so that you get to the appropriate oncologist. And I would imagine a lot of that research that the patient would do at that point would give them more direction as to how long this treatment is going to last, the side effects of the treatment.

Is it generally very different for all different types of cancers, or is there kind of a common thread? There really isn't a common thread. It's very different depending on the type of cancer, and it might range from surgery only, no surgery at all, radiation only, chemotherapy only, or even none of the above. There are some cancers where at least when they are initially diagnosed they grow so slowly that we actually recommend no treatment at all to begin with. It is, and many people take quite a long time to come to terms with that.

But they can be reassured that when we do that, it's because the evidence is that folks can live with some of these very slow-growing cancers for many years and in excellent health. And, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it. It sounds like to me like you should get a lot of information.

Ask your physician a lot of questions, even if you feel they might be stupid questions. Do whatever it takes to kind of mitigate that uncertainty that you have. Do you have any other advice?

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Yes, first of all, there are no stupid questions. And I think it's really important that everybody understands that. Secondly, choose your cancer care team very carefully. Cancer is a complex disease, and it is often impossible to know why things happen the way they do.


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You may struggle with this throughout your cancer journey. And continuing to wonder may get in the way of your ability to cope.


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  • You’ve Been Diagnosed with Cancer, Now What??

Your valuable energy could be better used to help you and your family deal with the disease. Try to focus on the present and how to best deal with the situation ahead.


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  4. Almost everyone worries that cancer or cancer treatment will be painful. While some people do experience pain, they may have pain only once in a while. There are many ways to control and prevent pain, so living with cancer does not have to mean living with pain. If you are worried about pain, or if you are in pain, tell someone on your healthcare team. They are there to help you.

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    Feeling anxious or sad can sometimes make you more sensitive to pain or make pain seem worse. Learning to cope with these emotions may help lessen your pain and improve your mood. Finding ways to manage pain may make it easier to cope with your emotions.

    Interview Transcript

    When first diagnosed, many people with cancer and their families think about the possibility of dying of cancer. This is a normal reaction. These kinds of thoughts can be overwhelming, especially at first. Over time, as the reality of day-to-day life with the disease settles in, many people begin to think instead about living with cancer. This change of focus can help you find the strength and resources to cope with the challenges of the disease. You may worry that extra tests and appointments will take too much time.

    You may feel like you need to make a decision about treatment right away. Your healthcare team can usually give some idea of how long the tests will take.

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    In most cases, there is time to gather information, talk with your healthcare team and make decisions about which treatment is best for you. Each person copes with cancer differently. Time and practice can help you adjust to your new normal. These tips may help you cope: Learn about the type of cancer you have and how it is treated.

    You’ve Been Diagnosed with Cancer, Now What? | University of Utah Health

    Talk to a trusted friend or family member, keep a journal or blog or express yourself through music, painting or drawing. Take care of yourself. Take time to do something you enjoy every day. This might be as simple as spending time with a special friend, preparing your favourite meal or listening to your favourite music. Reach out to others. Try to keep a positive attitude.