Tips for Cancer Patients Recently Diagnosed
Get the support and guidance you need as you begin your cancer journey. Learn from expert tips on coping with a diagnosis, understanding treatment options, and managing cancer's physical and emotional effects.
Feeling lost after a cancer diagnosis is normal, but know that you’re not alone. At LA Butterfly, we understand the uncertainty and confusion that comes with this experience. That’s why we’ve compiled a wealth of tips and advice from doctors and survivors who have walked the same path as you.
Our resources are curated to help you navigate the road ahead with confidence and resilience. From practical tips to emotional support, we have everything you need to take control of your health and well-being.
So take a deep breath, and know that you have the power within you to overcome any obstacle. Let LA Butterfly be your guide on this journey towards healing and transformation.
Take a big breath and don’t Google too much.
You deserve a good start. Try to be calm by taking a deep breath; there are many decisions to make along with your cancer journey.
And most importantly, some search results may be an assault of information on you. One doctor concluded that only 10 % of top sites were trustworthy. (*1)
Find the right doctor who you can trust.
*1 According to his book, oncologist Dr. Noriyuki Katsumata of Nippon Medical School searched five types of cancer with Google and Yahoo search engines and analyzed the top 20 search results. The doctor concluded that only 10 % of the top 20 sites were trustworthy.
Get the emotional support
In his poem “When you become ill,” Father Masahide Haresaku, Archdiocese of Tokyo, writes, “If you get sick, let’s lean on everyone. It is ok to cry and rely on your loved ones, and you can ask what you want to eat.”
Your cancer journey may be long, do not travel alone. Talk with your family, loved ones, and friends to get emotional support.
Do not hesitate to have professional emotional help.
Re-visit what is essential to you. Find your “Butterfly”
We think this is a time of your life to consider what is important to you. It is time to revisit or find your lifestyle if you have not found one.
You will need to make cancer treatment decisions, and there are several factors to make the decision.
“Everything else is secondary,” Steve Jobs once said. Think about what matters to you the most.
Find the right doctor who respects your lifestyle.
“Tell your healthcare provider what you want; you want to continue to work.”
“If you don’t say it, I won’t know.”
Doctor Ueno said in the presentation.
You need to communicate well with your doctor, and your doctor needs to respect your lifestyle.
Take your time to select the best doctor for you.
Here your lifestyle matters.
If your doctor follows the standard of care, your treatment options are a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
What matters to you is what type of treatment you receive. Know the big picture of your treatment options and where your treatment stands in the picture with your trusted doctor.
Prepare good questions for your doctor.
“Challenge your care; it is about ownership so you can empower this process and become a participant in your care.”
Dr. Naoto Ueno, a doctor at MD Anderson Cancer Center at the time, talked about Patient Empowerment and active cancer treatment involvement during his TEDx speech.
“If the patient comes to my clinic, the most important thing is that the patient knows what is going on.”
Cancer patients prepare their questions in advance. When your doctor is too busy to listen, their health care team, such as social workers (MSW) and nurses, can help.
Know your cancer.
“Bring a tape recorder.”
Dr. Ueno shared one tip for cancer patients to bring tape recorders to review or take notes and understand what their doctors explained during the visit.
For example, do you know the side effect of your medication?
You may think you know at that point, but can you explain the takeaway to your family members when you get home?
If the answer is no, you should take note.
Understand your cancer; additional sources such as the American Cancer Society site should help you gain supplemental knowledge.
Understand and consent to your treatment.
Please understand the combination of treatments you are getting and why.
Standard of Care is usually a set of cancer treatments from surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Standard of Care(SOC) is the best medical care with a consensus of the medical community. There is a wide range of Cancer Treatment Options.
You may seek other options, such as participating in a clinical trial that fits how you want to live.
Pick your support group
You are not alone and should not be alone in your cancer journey. There are online and offline support groups.
One does not fit all. One group that is the best for another may not be the best for you. Try to find one that you feel comfortable and belong to.
Check your insurance policy
Take full advantage of your asset. Find out if your insurance policy covers part of your cancer treatment. Sometimes, many overlook this step because of everything that goes on in your life. Know your insurance is for you now.
Plan your cancer journey.
Plan your cancer journey and be actively involved with your treatment decisions.
Please take ownership of your cancer treatment and plan mid-term and long-term treatment schedules accordingly with your doctor and supporters.
Please visit our site to capture positive messages from our Butterflies, who live their lives with style.
We believe that being an active patient is vital in the cancer journey. We have put together ten items, not an exhaustive list, to guide you to have an excellent start to the trip. Our core concept aligns with his passion for “being an empowered patient” from Dr. Ueno Naoto, who was an oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
*We have provided these links to other websites because they may have information that would be of interest to you. There may be other websites that are more appropriate for your purpose. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed or concur with the facts presented on these outside sites. Further, we do not endorse any commercial products that may be mentioned on these sites.