Poll: What's the one piece of advice you'd give to someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer?
Getting diagnosed with breast cancer can be scary. If you had a chance to share with a newbie one piece of advice to get them through, what would it be? Choose from the options below or add your own in the discussion to give new folks a sense of calm and understanding.
Poll: What's the one piece of advice you'd give to someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer? 12 votes
3 votes
3 votes
3 votes
1 vote
1 vote
1 vote
Comments
-
Especially in the beginning, my advice is don't tell anyone. Keep it strictly to yourself until you're ready to deal with other people's fears of cancer. However, I also recommend joining an online cancer support group, if you can. Just don't talk to people who don't already know what it's like to have cancer. Also once you tell someone you have cancer, they'll always ask you about it. If you don't want to cope with this, don't tell them in the first place. (PS—of course, tell your medical folks everything!)
3 -
Take your time: Give yourself space to adjust — and remember to breathe.
Take your time to adjust. It’s extremely frightening at first. Take one step at a time, and BREATHE.
0 -
Find support from people who understand what you’re going through.
I found that most of anything having a navigator that called every week after treatment helped tremendously. It was a moment where I could get answers and suggestions since she had gone through a similar type of cancer and obviously was very well trained. The most important part for me was to find resources to help my body deal with treatment the best way with treatment which it was provided at a suggested cancer support center - acupuncture, massage, all focused on helping with treatment and post treatment effects. The navigator was suggested by my care providers and it is part of an organization called In any case I will say talking to a person that went through it and another professional that worked in another place (NYC) helped to understand. Money was a big stressor! From day one. So having some help from a list of links where to apply for help was excellent (provided by navigator) .
0 -
You can’t know what’s coming around the bend! Stay in the present moment and focus on what you can control - good nutrition, quality sleep, exercise (even when you’re tired), lower stress levels with breath work and meditation, and get your support network engaged. Know that you will be stronger, braver and wiser than you’ve ever been. Treat yourself like a queen and don’t be the hero. Take good care of yourself.
1 -
Stay positive
Think the good thoughts
Keep enjoying the little things
0 -
Just trying to negotiate my way through my diagnosis and this site. But what I've read on here so far has helped me!
Thank you
0 -
Be your own advocate and ask lots of questions and bring someone to write it all down as it's a lot of information to digest. Make sure to include your family doctor on all reports so they know what's going on and can help you if needed.
It's ok to hunker down and not get too many people involved as you are in battle mode and it's exhausting trying to make other people feel better about what you are going through.
Its OK to take time for yourself!
0 -
Stay positive ( as much as you can)
Each appointment, treatment, etc puts you one step closer to the finish line. Try not to think of how much more you have to go, think of how far you have already gone.
prioritize what’s important to you and make that a priority: exercise, time with friends/family, crafts, reading, church - whatever it is that makes you feel good & brings your comfort. Don’t ever feel bad saying no to things. Use your energy for what is most important to you.Focus on things you can do to help yourself: sleep, nutrition, relaxation, exercise, pampering yourself.
Write down all your questions in a notebook to bring to each appointment,
0