Page 24 - LIVESTRONG Digital Guidebook

• Feeling extreme fatigue or no energy DEALING WITH THE WORDS
• Having little appetite or not wanting to eat AND EMOTIONS OF OTHERS
• Feeling very sad and helpless
• Experiencing weight loss or weight gain Dealing with the emotions and beliefs of other
people about cancer can also be challenging. For
Many people need medical treatment to deal example, those closest to you might worry about
with depression. Your health care provider may losing you. There may also be concerns about how
prescribe counseling and medication. Let your pro- the changes in your life might affect them. It can be
vider know as soon as possible if the depression gets hard for you to deal with their fears while you are
worse or does not improve. He or she might need to facing your own.
change the medication you take and find what works
well for you. Sometimes people are not sure what to say when
they learn you have cancer. They may not know how
Contact your health care provider right away if to react. Even as they try to offer support, some might
you experience any of the following: say or do things that hurt your feelings or offend you.
Some people are uncomfortable thinking about the
• Problems in your life due to depression possibility of cancer in their own lives. Because of their
• Problems in the lives of others due to own fears, they may not know what to say to you about
your depression your illness. They might not know the best way to help
• Thoughts of harming yourself you. Some things that people say may be helpful to
• Thoughts about harming others you. Other comments might frustrate or upset you.
People also can pass on information that is not cor-
Always contact your health care provider imme- rect. There are many false beliefs and myths about
diately or go directly to a hospital emergency room cancer. For example, although we do not yet know
for help if you are thinking about hurting yourself or what causes most types of cancers, others might try
others. Call 911 and ask for help if you cannot reach to tell you a reason for your cancer. They may state
your provider. their opinion about the best cure for cancer. Some
might share ideas and beliefs that are different from
Adolescents and young adults have specific your own.
concerns when they are diagnosed with cancer. This
is a time when many want to be meeting others and If this happens to you, speak up and let others
forming close relationships. It is a time when they know that you do appreciate their concern. Feel free
may want to focus on careers and start families. A to tell them if what they are saying is not helpful to
cancer diagnosis can interfere with these important you. If the comments of others concern you, talk with
issues. Young adults might have to again depend on someone you trust about what has been said. When
others for care and finances at a time when they want you are not certain about medical advice that has
to be independent. They are also likely to be wor- been shared, discuss it with your health care team.
ried about body image, dating and intimacy. Family
planning and fertility issues may also be a concern. FINDING SUPPORT
Sharing thoughts and feelings with others, especially
other young adults who are also dealing with cancer, Living with a cancer diagnosis can leave you feeling
can be very helpful. alone. At first, you may wonder how you will cope.

“I was really concerned about dating after being diagnosed. I was so —SCOTT T.
involved in fighting the disease. Then I started to feel like … [there]
might possibly be a cure. So I started dating someone. Even with that, I was
somewhat concerned about how she was going to react when I finally
told her that I had cancer. What surprised me was … it was fine with her—
she was willing to accept it. We’re going to get married in September.”

24 L I V E S T R O N G G U I D E B O O K www.LIVESTRONG.org/WeCanHelp