From a online book "Fighting Cancer", Chapter 12, Conclusions by Richard and Annette Bloch http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu/psychosocial/books/bloch/rb_chap12.html Being told you have cancer is like being hit by a truck. In a few seconds, the course of your life is altered. Shock! Fear! Guilt! Anger! Bewilderment! These are reactions of many cancer patients when told they have cancer. You should do everything possible to maximize your chances of beating cancer. Following are a few suggestions: 1. The fact that you have cancer cannot be changed. Right now is the most important time in decision-making - at the very beginning - when numerous alternatives may be open to you. 2. As a cancer patient, you must be an activist. You must become a partner with your doctor. Understand everything that is being suggested and why. Ask questions. Educate yourself on your specific type of cancer. Get all the information you can from the Cancer Information Service and visit a medical library. So much successful research is being accomplished daily that you may find a clue to a potential treatment. 3. Demand to know all the alternatives. If you make a decision to go ahead with a treatment without sufficient testing or a qualified second opinion, you may be limiting the possibility of other therapies right from the start. Often, unless you remain calm and in control, a decision is made for you by circumstances that will take it out of your control. Learning all you can about your case and the alternatives means you can control the way your illness is handled. 4. For all serious cancers, a second opinion from a board certified oncologist is an absolute must before submitting to any treatment of any kind. Requesting a second opinion does not mean the diagnosis you were given is not correct or that the suggested treatment is not the best. It is only to say that you deserve the right to have the doctor's diagnosis confirmed and optional treatments explored and explained to you. At least, it will afford you peace of mind in knowing that everything your original doctor told you is correct. 5. Death and cancer are no longer synonymous. Most people can be successfully treated by established medical treatments. Ignore unproven "easy" methods which promise cures by people who purport to be supressed by the medical profession. Rely on established medical treatments plus supplemental suggestions as outlined in this book and stay far away from alternative therapies in lieu of orthodox medicine. 6. Most people want to know their odds of cure. Remember, you are not a statistic, you are a single human being. You may have better family support; you may have better medical attention; you may have a stronger desire to live; you may have a more positive outlook; you may be willing to become more involved, etc., etc. etc. Statistics can be fun to play with, but they are no more than averages. If you recover, your chances are 100%. If you don't, they are zero. There is no type of cancer from which some people have not recovered. Make up your mind that you are going to do everything in your power to be one of these and forget about the rest. 7. You, as a cancer patient, are a consumer. As a consumer, you have the right to ask questions and to expect answers in terms you can understand. Doctors often seem so busy that a patient feels guilty and apologetic for taking up their time. Keep a running list of questions for your doctor and go over each one with him. By taking an active interest in your case, you will be showing your doctor you have joined him in the fight against your cancer. 8. Always have a family member or friend with you when discussing your case with your doctor. This reduces the possibility of misunderstanding and eliminated the need for repetition. There is also the therapeutic value of treating the family as a unit. 9. Be certain you differentiate between the possible and probable side effects of your proposed treatment. Your doctors must explain all the possible side effects to you, but request that the probable effects be enumerated. You will find that of the many possible things that could happen, very few actually should happen. Also, some patients mistakenly interpret these side effects as their cancer worsening, when in reality they are the normal effects of their treatments and their cancer is probably getting better. 10. Expect some degree of depression. Cancer is a serious illness. Many of the treatments are depressants. "Down days" will occur from time to time. Plan on ways of coping with them. Call a friend. Take a walk. Do something you really enjoy. 11. Throughout your cancer treatment, maintain as normal a life as possible. Set goals and have someone or something to live for. You will feel much better about yourself and it will help you cope with your treatment.