Content Overview 
- Summary
- You can travel safely during treatment if your doctor permits travel.
- Don't let emotions bottle up inside.
- How To Live With Chemotherapy
- Cancer Surgery 101
- Radiation 101
- Bone Marrow Transplants
- Other Cancer Treatments
- Keep track of your symptoms. If symptoms are more severe than expected, or if unexpected symptoms appear, call your doctor.
- Consider the practical aspects of being in treatment.
- Reduce your risk of infection while in treatment
- Consider adding non-Western treatments ("complementary" or "alternative" treatments) such as massage therapy to your treatment schedule.
- Emotions may run rampant during treatment. Use time tested techniques to help. Take one day at a time. It's not unusual to see life with a different sense of perspective.
- Share your emotions. Watch for depression. Consider seeking counseling. You may also want to consider getting a pet if you don't have one (yes, a pet).
- Think of family and friends as part of your support team. Ask for help when you need it. Your needs are first, but also consider theirs.
- Work issues: If you are an employee, ask for the accommodations which make it possible to juggle treatment and work. If you need time off, negotiate for it. People who are business owners or are self employed should avoid making important decisions if pos
- Start looking at your insurance and financial situation to determine how you will pay for medical care. Even with health insurance, medical care can be costly. Free or low cost care is available if you are Uninsured or Underinsured
- Do finance basics. Pay your rent or mortgage and mniimums on your credit card. Start keeping track of all medical services you receive and expenses you pay. Don't pay a medical bill just because you receive one.
- Financial assistance is available.
- Drugs and treatments do not work in a vacuum. Think of the food you eat, the exercise you get, rest/sleep and even proper care of your mouth as steps you can take to make treatments and drugs most effective.
- Modify your (hopefully)healthy diet to make up for nutrients your treatment uses up. Get dietary counseling.
- Speak with other people who are going through what you are.
- If you have a spouse or significant other, you will both face challenges from the treatment and side effects. There is no right or wrong way to handle the situation. Cooperative problem solving and mutual support is key.
- If you have underage children, tell them about what is going on in an age appropriate manner. Monitor their behavior. Arrange for their care in case something happens to you.
- Schedule a dental check up.
- When treatment ends, celebrate. Read Survivorship A to Z Post Treatment.
In Treatment For Cancer
Don't let emotions bottle up inside.
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Talk about emotions that surface with family and friends.
- When considering who to talk with, think about the same factors you used when you decided who to tell about your diagnosis and how much to tell each person.
- Look for positive people to talk with. Avoid upsetting discussions with people who have a negative attitude. You don't have to talk in depth with a person just because he or she wants you to.
- Family and friends are members of your team. They want to help.
Talk with at least one other person going through treatment.
- It helps to speak with someone with whom you can speak in the short hand of common experience.
- You may learn a few practical tips - or share those you've learned. (It would also be helpful to share them with us so we can share them with other people going through what you are).
- Your doctor, his or her staff, your cancer treatment center or local cancer organization can make introductions. Expect that a medical professional will honor patients' privacy by asking the other person for permission to divulge his or her name and contact information before giving it to you.)
Consider joining a support group.
- There are all kinds of groups, including groups of people who are in treatment.
- Groups meet in person, on the telephone, and on line, so there is likely to be at least one available group that works for you.
- One of the advantages of a support group is that you can learn practical tips from other people in a support group.
Look for other means of expression such as writing or any form of art.
To Learn More
More Information
How To Find A Person In A Similar Situation (A Buddy) Support Groups Emotional Well BeingRelated Articles
Which Of My Family And Friends Do I Tell?
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