Suspecting breast cancer is devastating. Being diagnosed with breast cancer is horrifying. Living with breast cancer is anguishing but you can do it and here's how...
Step One: Identify It Early: Most of us know that early detection is the best chance we have a beating this horrid disease. Sometime when we are nervous about our health we would rather not know that something is wrong because then we do not have to deal with it. This is particularly true if one feels in generally good health. Breast cancer quite often is a silent enemy. There may be no signs of feeling ill. Perhaps you have done your routine checks and have found no lumps. You may have even gone one-step further and had your physical examination. Your Doctor didn’t find any lumps. That does not replace the mammogram. It is imperative that you have yours done on a regular basis according to your Doctor’s instructions.
Step Two: Don’t Panic: If you receive that dreaded telephone call or that letter in the mail advising you that something was abnormal on your mammogram, the first thing to do is remain calm. Right from this moment on regardless of the outcome, you must obtain a positive attitude. Many women think the moment something is found on the mammogram that they have been handed a death sentence. That is just not true. Keep an open mind and go through with the further testing recommendations, which is usually an ultrasound.
Step Three: Accepting the Diagnosis. If it has been determined, that a lump has been found and it needs to have a biopsy then adjust your thinking. Often fear sets in and consumes all of your rational thoughts. The major thought is what am I going to do if its cancer? Here is where you start to fight back. Start positive planning now as if you had been diagnosed. By planning, I don’t mean your funeral I mean plan how you are going to live while you fight this. Remember the cancer does not run your life you do.
Step Four: Taking control. As I said, you are in control of your life and your cancer. You should be given choices as to how you want to treat it. The best way to fight a battle and win is to know your enemy. Learn all you can about the cancer itself, and what the various treatment options entail.
Step Five: Build your army: No matter what treatment you choose there will be some side effects to it. For example, if you choose surgery then there will be a recovery period. If you choose radiation, you are going to deal with fatigue. Surround yourself with people that are going to encourage you to keep fighting when you are at your lowest. That’s when this enemy tries to take over and get you to give up. Negative people although not meaning to, will lower your defenses.
You are a human being that has been thrown into a battle that you didn't ask for. Its natural to feel sad. So let it out. Cry if you want to or scream if you like. After all its all about you. Once you have done this however, don't be sad...get mad and fight back!
Don't accept cancer as being the victor. Accept it as a handicap that you have to learn to live with until you beat it.
