Hearing a doctor say "You have cancer" is devastating news. After
the initial shock, this abrupt change in your life affects you in many ways.
Most obvious is the physical fact of having an illness, which compromises your
health. The other consequence is its emotional impact.
Physically, cancer treatment such as chemotherapy may leave you tired and keep
you from enjoying usual activities. The amount of fatigue varies with the type
of cancer and treatment, and with the individual person. Although this fatigue
can be draining, it isn't usually constant, and there are ways to help you cope.
In some cases (when fatigue is related to anemia), a medication called Eprex
may help with fatigue – talk to your doctor about whether it's right for
you. To boost your morale, book some special time to enjoy doing things just
for you when you feel up to it. Whether it's taking a walk in the park, playing
with your children, doing yoga, painting, or going to a movie, it can all help.
The pleasure you gain from the simple things in life may be just what you need
the next time you begin to feel emotionally discouraged. Many people have also
found meditation to be helpful in dealing with the physical and emotional stresses
of cancer.
Coping with the cosmetic side effects of cancer treatment can also be stressful,
since it affects self-image. Hair loss due to chemotherapy, for instance, may
be devastating. Likewise, changes in skin tone and weight loss can be very distressing.
Luckily, there's help: a group called Look Good, Feel Better (www.lgfb.com),
is dedicated to promoting a positive self-image for women with cancer. The program,
with the support of private companies and many volunteers, provides women with
advice on dealing with the effects of cancer and chemotherapy on their appearance.
In addition to advice on skin care (very important if it's becoming very dry
or rough), making head wraps or choosing wigs, women are provided with basic
make-up kits. Volunteers teach them how to apply the cosmetics, using special
techniques and colors to complement their present skin condition.