Hope Beyond the Diagnosis: Managing the Emotional and Financial Impact of Cancer
One of the most terrifying experiences you can have, for sure, is sitting in the lobby of your doctor’s office and waiting for the final results of your last test. Then comes the diagnosis, a moment of silence, followed by deep contemplation, and while the doctor is talking about possible treatments and therapies, your mind is wandering into strange directions, offering solace and comfort in long-gone memories of the time when you couldn’t even dream of such news. Yet, life has a peculiar way of taking us by surprise, and although with the new advances, we've made in the field of medicine and with the survival rates being higher than ever, the emotional and financial toll it takes on our lives is unimaginable. In the text below we’ll discuss how to manage cancer emotionally and financially while trying to live a normal life despite all.
Building Emotional Resilience
To combat cancer, you’ll need a specific mindset that helps you fight the disease from within, besides all the therapies and chemo. It is a fight of the body as much as it is a fight of the mind and soul. There’ve been numerous examples of patients successfully beating cancer many times while keeping a positive spirit and outlook on life. And although life might seem gloomy and depressing at points, it all comes down to keeping your head up and doing your best to never break. Some of the things you can do are connect with people who are going through a similar experience and become part of a well-established network and numerous support groups that help you see the positive side of what’s happening. Surrounding yourself with friends and family and looking forward to the things that are going your way.
Financial Planning
While finances and money should be last on your list of priorities and things to consider, you can’t understate their importance no matter what. Medical bills, lost income, and additional caregiving expenses can strain even the most prepared families. There are actions you can take to better your situation, with many life insurances offering financial assistance for cancer patients, covering major costs and bills, and making it easier for patients to focus on their mental well-being as it’s inseparable from your recovery process. Insurance and assistance programs in collaboration with healthcare workers are providing programs that take into account not only the costs of current treatment but also the recovery and the costs that can accumulate later on. With the right help and proper planning, you can drastically improve your finances and handle cancer altogether.
Advocacy and Education
Education about cancer is part of the whole process, as are the many treatment plans and recovery processes. We’re not suggesting taking the fight into your own hands and disregarding doctors’ recommendations in search of alternative treatments, as in most cases they’re helpful during the recovery process to boost your immune system, but rather to educate yourself about cancer in general, what causes it, and how to adapt your lifestyle choices to fight it more effectively. Advocacy and spreading awareness at the same time give you a sense of higher purpose, making you yearn for life more and therefore helping you stay more active and more up-to-date.
Rethinking Your Values
Although many might think of their diagnosis as a death sentence, the proper way to look at it is as a wake-up call to redefine your life and your priorities. While rushing through the many deceased we’ve lived, how many times have we stopped to think about the things that really matter to us? Friends, family, and all those hobbies we’d like to pursue have always been second, and now it might be the right time to finally do the things you’ve always dreamt of doing. Cancer doesn’t have to be your last breath; rather it can be a second chance given to you to try and make things right.
It is a journey, but with the right steps, you can change your life for the better in the blink of an eye and finally make the right choices you’d thought of making years ago. All it takes is the right mindset and proper planning.