What to do if you've just been diagnosed with cancer?
There are a number of decisions to be made when facing this sort of situation. The important thing to remember is that your treatment will ultimately depend on how well you're able to handle the situation. Here are a few basic guidelines to follow:
- What to do if you've been diagnosed with cancer? Call the doctor – As soon as possible. Don't go to places such as a GP's surgery, an emergency hospital or even a pharmacy without first consulting with your doctor.
- What to do if you've been diagnosed with cancer? Consult a doctor – As soon as you think you have cancer, it's vital that you visit a qualified medical practitioner.
- What to do if you've been diagnosed with cancer? Make an appointment for a consultation – You may have to make an appointment with a specialist to discuss your options. These types of doctors work with different types of cancers and they will need to know what your specific symptoms are to better determine whether or not chemotherapy will be successful in your case.
- What to do if you've been diagnosed with cancer? Consider surgery – If your cancer has progressed past the point where it is considered to be treatable by conventional methods, then surgery may be the only option. You'll be advised to go to a specialist and get yourself prepared for surgery. The surgeon will need to take several tests to determine whether or not you should proceed with surgery.
- What to do if you've been diagnosed with cancer? Consider chemotherapy – If your cancer has already spread throughout your body and there are no symptoms present, then chemotherapy may be the best choice for you.
- What to do if you've been diagnosed with cancer? Make sure you're ready – Chemotherapy isn't going to work for everyone so you should ensure you're ready to accept that treatment.
So there you have it. In answer to the above questions, make sure that you're mentally prepared and physically ready for chemotherapy so that you're better equipped to handle this type of situation and be proactive in dealing with it.
Now that you know some of the answers to the above question, you should visit a cancer treatment center. Be sure to ask the doctor a number of questions that can be used as a basis for determining how well you're prepared for chemotherapy. Be prepared to face the possible side effects, but remember that those who have been diagnosed with cancer can handle it.
It will be quite a journey during the initial phases of chemotherapy. Make sure that you don't hesitate in asking any questions that you think are pertinent to your treatment. For instance, ask how long the medication needs to be taken before it's effective, what you can expect if you experience side effects, what you can expect from side effects and more.
Don't be discouraged by the side effects of chemotherapy either. In many cases, those who have recently completed chemotherapy report feeling better than ever and feeling rejuvenated. When you take the drug, your body may undergo more changes than usual. But you must understand that everything will be fine – and this will continue – even after you stop taking the drug.
Full recovery from chemotherapy may take six months or longer. But with the right care, you should get better within a year. It is imperative that you receive proper care and support from your doctor so that your condition does not worsen.
If your health plan covers chemotherapy, talk to them about it. Most will if it is covered, but if it is not, talk to your doctor to find out how much the chemotherapy fee will cost.