Colorectal Cancer: Newly Diagnosed: Day to Day Living (Stages 0, 1)

Day-to-day living is a catch-all for those parts of your life affected by a colorectal cancer diagnosis that are not treated in specific subjects such as Managing Your Medical Care.

For Information about each of the following subjects, see the other sections of this document.

• Think about family and friends as part of your health care team.

• Decide who to tell about your condition, and what to tell them. Since the cancer is still in an early stage and the effect on your daily and work life is likely to be minimal, consider only telling your significant other, the people closest to you and others on a need-to-know basis.

• Hold off telling co-workers or a boss except as necessary in order to get the time needed for tests and to explore treatment options. As you will see in our work documents, a boss is likely to have to keep the information confidential. Co-workers are not subject to the same restriction.

• Learn to purchase, use, store and dispose of drugs wisely.

  • The way you have been buying and using drugs may not be the best way.

  • Free drugs may be available if you do not have the resources to pay for them.

• Realize that drugs and treatments do not work in a vacuum.

  • Start to think of the food you eat, the exercise you get, your rest/sleep, stress reduction, and even proper care of your mouth as steps you can take to make treatments and drugs most effective.

  • Adopt a healthy lifestyle such as a cancer preventive lifestyle.

• Do what you can to avoid unnecessary infections. For information, click here.

• Check travel plans with your cancer doctor. For example, where to go, how you get there, activities at each destination.

  • It takes time to plan a trip properly, but it is well worth it.

  • Once at your destination, take appropriate precautions.

  • For information about all aspects, click here.

  • Medical tourism is traveling to get less expensive or better medical care. For information, click here.

• Don't obsess about what other people think. If you have difficulty with your changed body image, click here.

• Keep in mind that sex is not the only to achieve intimacy. To learn more, click here.

• If you are single, continue dating. Think about when to tell about your diagnosis. Click here.

• If you feel fatigued, there are techniques to help get through the day. For example, schedule activities for the time of day you usually feel better. For more information, click here.

• Don't let emotions keep you from doing the daily things you have to do or that normally make you feel good such as a hobby or sport. For information about emotions and feelings that come up and how to deal with them, click here.

• Relax self imposed rules such as no eating on paper plates that won't affect you in the long term when you're not feeling well.

• Learn about local resources that may be available to you.

• Keep in mind that there is no reason to be in pain. Many doctors under treat pain. If you have pain, and your doctor won't take care of your needs, there are pain specialists you can consult.

• You now have a "cancer card" which should only be used sparingly. For instance, to get out of a hated household chore or when you are stopped for speeding.

• Time is all we really have. Time on this planet is limited for everyone whether people are aware of it or not.

  • Manage time like money. See: How To Save Time And Energy.

  • Think seriously about what you want to do with the rest of your life. Your priorities and goals may have shifted. If you have questions about new goals, a mental health therapist could help. So could a life coach. Life coaches can also help figure out how to obtain new goals.

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