Living With Cancer

The word "cancer" still has a very intimidating effect on people

, despite the fact that there are currently many new and improved treatments for the disease, with higher survival rates, as opposed to in the past.

When a patient hears the words -" you have Cancer", it is sometimes a synonym for- you are actually about to die. This assumption is not as obvious as it was in the past, and more patients learn with time that their cancer is becoming what doctors tend to call "chronic cancer".

This chronicity of the disease is developing in the last 20-30 years, due to the large variety of treatments offered to cancer patients, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunological and biological therapy and surgery.

While cancer is still a very dangerous life threatening disease it is important to realize nowadays that more focus should be put on finding treatments that not only cure the disease, but prevent deterioration, or assist in living with the symptoms and side effects of the anti-cancer medications.

Such treatments are becoming more and more popular, especially psychological treatments that are important for the patients no less than the pharmacological ones.

A lot of research is being done on coping mechanisms and learning how to live with the disease. The idea of suddenly being sick can be devastating for patients and their families and requires attention from the medical staff.

Consulting with a social worker or psychologist can be very helpful and many physicians refer the patients very early to receive treatments that help cure the soul recover, not only the body.

Talking about the disease is also a key component in dealing with daily life. Not all patients have strong support systems they can rely on and so it is a good option for them to talk to other patients, share experiences and thoughts, get new ideas on how to make life with cancer easier.

Some patients report that physical activity, including yoga and other 'relaxing' methods are very helpful. Others find comfort in alternative medical treatments. It is important to inform the patients that despite the possibility of improving their quality of life with such treatments, they are by no means a true alternative in curing the disease.

Another major aspect in allowing somewhat normal living with cancer is providing anti-pain treatments. Pain is one of the most debilitating factors in the patients' lives, and one of the main goals of treatment should be avoiding as much pain as possible.

A wide variety of analgesics is available for treating cancer patients, including treatment with medical cannabis in some countries. Patients living with cancer should definitely try everything possible in order to make their lives a bit easier on the way to recovery.

by: Maria Gonzales

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