What to Do After Getting a Cancer Diagnosis

Getting a cancer diagnosis through colon cancer screening and other tests can be overwhelming and isolating, and you might not know what to do after. While your care team will supervise your Cancer supported treatments, there are a few things you can do to make the difficult experience easier. 

Make the Best Lifestyle Choices

The best cancer treatment for each patient varies depending on the type of cancer and its severity. However, many cancer patients are turning to medical marijuana to try to manage their symptoms. It’s easy to get your medical marijuana card online in Ohio so you don’t have to go in person to the doctor for yet another appointment. Then you can enjoy your own tasty edibles at home. Your medical team will likely recommend that you eat right and stay physically active to help you maintain your weight. Try to avoid gaining weight. Talk to your doctor about doing exercise during cancer treatment to maintain your weight. You may be able to maintain your muscle strength and balance and even fight off fatigue. You’ll also want to have a diet that focuses on healthy foods, including:

  • Whole grains
  • Fresh vegetables
  • Fish
  • Fruits 
  • Poultry

Try to eat healthy and fresh foods instead of canned ones whenever you can. Your health care provider may recommend that you avoid processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs, and lunch meats. It’s also a good idea to stay away from fried foods and processed sugar. Your doctor may recommend that you take supplements, but make sure you check before starting any new vitamins.

Have a Care Plan

Plan on attending every follow-up visit recommended by your cancer care team. That’ll become especially important if you go in remission. Regular screenings are important to ensure that the tumors don’t come back after a successful breast cancer treatment. Even if you survive one type of cancer, you can still get other types. Unless your health care provider tells you otherwise, follow the general guidelines for your gender and age.

Men and women with any kind of lump or new breast abnormality should receive a diagnostic mammogram right away, as suggested by Advanced Medical Imaging. Once a diagnostic mammogram has been completed, there may be need for other diagnostics techniques to diagnose the irregularity. Ask your care team to thoroughly record treatments and any follow-up appointments and have them give you this information. Know which provider is in charge of your medical care. It might be a primary care doctor, oncologist, or another specialist. Your health is important, so don’t be afraid to speak up.

Your Emotional Well-Being is Also Important 

Consider looking for an online or in-person support group or talk to a mental health professional to find one. It’s hard to adjust to the experience and finding and managing care can be difficult. You might not feel hopeful or confident about coping. If you feel alone, support groups might offer you meaningful encouragement and comfort and recognize what you’re going through. You won’t have to explain yourself since everyone there already understands. If the idea of a support group isn’t appealing to you, consider spending more time with close family or friends. Do things you like, whether that’s a hobby or getting out and exploring. Focus on your spiritual side. That might mean creating art, participating in religious services, or doing something else that speaks to you.