The emotional impact of colon or rectal cancer
Why you shouldn’t neglect your emotional well-being.
Being diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer raises emotional as well as physical
issues. Developing coping strategies and a positive attitude can help
make living with a colon or rectal cancer diagnosis easier. Knowing more will help
make you more confident when making decisions about your care. Here
are some suggestions:
Talk to others: Turn to loved ones for support or talk to cancer
survivors and healthcare professionals who deal with cancer regularly.
Be involved: Research shows that good emotions can’t cure cancer.
But bad emotions don’t cause cancer, either. The important thing is
to maintain a positive outlook and be motivated to take an active role in your healthcare.
Let go: Once every day, tell yourself, “Who cares?” If your house
is a mess, if you feel down, if you forget something important—let it go. No one
can do everything, so forgive yourself.
Stay in touch with your emotions: If you feel like crying when
you’re alone or having a heart-to-heart with a loved one, let it out. You may very
well feel better afterward. And don’t forget to hug. The power of touching another
person can sometimes achieve what words can’t.
Try to have faith: If you were raised in a religion, consider whether
or not it would offer you comfort and insight into the meaning of life’s challenges
today. If you have always been curious, perhaps start attending prayer sessions,
or speak with a priest, minister, rabbi, imam, or other person of faith.
Treat yourself: Do something just for yourself, something that
will take your mind off your condition. Take a few hours out to read a book, nap,
or catch an afternoon movie.
Get suggestions
for talking with your doctor