"Is it the Cancer or Something Else?"
People who have been diagnosed with cancer have learned rapidly that life, as they knew it changed when they heard the words, "You've got cancer." Many patients have shared that they have become very conscious of their body and the messages it sends to them. Some worry that maybe they stress too much about "every ache and pain". How can you tell when something is wrong? Do you often wonder that an ache or other symptom might be a sign that the cancer is progressing? It is important that you learn to read your physical signs, keep track of symptoms and side effects, and communicate with your health care team.
No question is ever too dumb to ask! More often than not, the signs and symptoms you are experiencing are temporary and related to the treatment you are receiving as well as the changes that are occurring in your body as it works to control or destroy the cancer.
If you experience a side effect from therapy, it does not mean that something is wrong or that the drugs you are taking are not destroying the cancer cells. Nor does it mean that the cancer has necessarily progressed. It does mean however, that you must be vigilant and maintain open communication with your team so that you can be as proactive as possible in keeping your treatment on track and feeling as good as possible.
So often we let our minds tell us that something is worse than it really is. It is normal for you to fear that the cancer is growing or not going away. You may be feeling "betrayed" by your body becoming ill and have difficulty feeling that you can ever trust it again. The good news is that there are simple ways you can reclaim control over your reactions to these difficult stressors.
The easiest way to understand what you are experiencing is to be well-informed. By knowing what potential side effects might happen, you can alert your doctor or nurse to their occurrence before they become severe and before you get yourself in a quandary over whether these concerns are related to the treatment or to the cancer itself.
Remember, this is where asking questions becomes so important! Be proactive in asserting what you need to prevent or control side effects. Be clear with your health care team about how any particular symptom you are having may be impacting your day-to-day life. And don't forget, no one said that just because you have cancer that you must suffer. Thanks to phenomenal advances in supportive treatments, cancer therapy does not have to be as miserable as you might think. You can do it! Be informed! GO FOR IT!! Take action! ;-)
