Communicate. Communicate. Communicate!
As humans, much of our lives are spent communicating with others. We wish coworkers “good morning,” nod and smile when we walk past someone, use turn signals in traffic, and have long conversations with friends and family. But even familiar experiences like these can be difficult to navigate when you have a cancer diagnosis.
Not only can cancer care feel overwhelming and confusing, facing cancer can be isolating and all-encompassing. Some people feel like their cancer diagnosis and treatment are challenges they must face alone. Others feel like they can’t discuss any other physical or emotional issues other than their cancer. They may also wonder who to share their diagnosis with and when.
While no approach will be right for everyone, here are a few tips that may help you navigate how to communicate effectively.
Get Clarity
One of the most daunting things about cancer care or care for any serious illness can be endless medical jargon. Your physician may assume you know the meaning of “antiemetic” (a drug that prevents nausea), “metastatic” (cancer that has spread from its original site), or “cytotoxic” (something that destroys cancer cells). But the last thing they want is for you to decide on care without fully understanding the information.
To prevent or handle information overload, ask your physicians to slow down and define specific words. Stop them when you have a question, and take time to talk through anything you don’t understand. Take notes or have a friend or loved one take notes for you.
Your care team may also have written materials that you can take with you to read later. If you look up information online, use trusted websites such as your clinic’s, the American Cancer Society, or cancercare.org. Don’t rely on AI summaries, which can mix up similar information or use outdated sources.
Remember that visits with your care team should be a two-way dialog, not just listening while your physician talks. Your care team wants you to take an active role in your care and making decisions.
Lean on Your Care Team
While cancer may be the reason you are seeing an oncologist or surgeon, your care team knows that your overall health has a deep impact on your outcomes and quality of life. Movies and TV shows often portray cancer treatment as unavoidably difficult, painful, and disruptive to daily life. However, most cancer patients in Texas are able to find expert care close to home that manages their side effects while also keeping their activity and work goals in mind.
If being able to continue your hobbies or your career is important, let your care team know. The same advice goes for any negative health effects of either your cancer or your treatment, like nausea, fatigue, or urinary issues. Oftentimes, your care team may know about different treatment options, new medications for side effects, or specialists they can refer to like palliative medicine for pain management. A quick portal message or phone call can lead to a same-day solution in some cases.
No matter what issue you have, or how minor it seems, share it with your care team, even if it doesn’t seem related to your cancer or treatment. The information could be useful for your future care, treatment plan, and health.
Find Community
When first diagnosed, patients often think that sharing their diagnosis will be a burden to those in their lives. They don’t want to be reliant on others or disrupt the lives of their friends and family. On the other hand, caregivers and other loved ones are often happy to be asked for help and eager to lend a hand. Communicating is the only way to find and accept support.
Beyond physical care, the people in your life could help with transportation, meal planning, running errands, being an exercise partner, or just lending a listening ear—there are many ways a little support can relieve some of the pressure during cancer care. They may even have ideas you didn’t think of.
Your coworkers or peers at school are another group that can be difficult to communicate with. Cancer care can mean numerous appointments, scans, blood draws, and side effects. Depending on how much treatment may affect your workday, consider how much information you want to share. You may just ask for accommodations without sharing your diagnosis or care plan. Or you may find that sharing more details allows your team to support you in other ways.
Although many people with cancer have loved ones who help them, not everyone has a strong support system or feels comfortable discussing their health with those close to them. Regardless of your situation, support groups can be a great option. Many support groups meet virtually and form around diagnoses or shared experiences such as for young adults, LGBTQ+ people, or caregivers. Support groups are often led by survivors, who can provide the benefit of their experiences.
Regardless of whether you are talking to your care team, your family, or other people with cancer, sharing your concerns and feelings can help you process your diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Simply by sharing, you could also encourage people to get screened, help others understand their own experiences, or let loved ones show you how much they care.