When Cancer Interrupts Your Life: How to Cope

I recently heard a lady that was recently diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer state that she was tired of cancer interrupting her life. I must say that I totally understood this statement.

When I was first diagnosed, I had just started a new job and there seemed to be a month of appointments and missing work that interrupted me. However, on the other side of hearing this statement, I wanted to express my frustration in that her interruption was likely temporary and mine is forever based on her plan of treatment being surgery and nothing more.

Balancing the new normal

I realize that it may or may not be temporary, but I definitely heard her statement and understood how she was feeling even if her treatment plan was easier than mine. Hearing that diagnosis is difficult no matter the staging, plan of treatment or anything else. I get it, but sometimes the comparisons might get to us. I am inoperable while others might be operable.

I had the T790m mutation which many say is the winner of the lung cancer lottery while others might not have any targetable mutations at all. I get it.

The real issue here is that cancer interrupts our lives as we once knew it and it is often difficult to balance this new normal with what you are already doing. So, how do we do that?

Finding support

First and foremost, I think it is important to have incredible support. Close family or even a professional that you can express your fears and anxieties.

You can also find support groups online. The support groups that I found online through social media at the beginning of my diagnosis was so helpful for me. I was able to connect to people that had been where I was and was living life to the fullest and making the best out of their situation. These groups were an intricate part in my coping with this new normal.

I realized that I wasn’t alone. Even though I had never met any of these people, I was thankful for their encouragement and their transparency in sharing their journey. I was encouraged that just maybe I could live with this disease and treat it is as a chronic disease instead of something much worse.

A Positive mindset and attitude

I heard it so many times that my attitude was half the battle. I really wanted to come off the rails when I would hear this. I always thought this was silly and that people had no idea what I was walking through and how was I supposed to have a positive attitude when I was just diagnosed with a life shortening and incurable disease?

My greatest fear is now my reality and you want me to be positive? It made no sense, but as time went on, I realized there was something to this little nugget of information.

I have now learned that second in line from my treatment is my mindset and attitude. It took me a long time to get here, but I have arrived.

Finding joy in daily activities

Setting small goals for myself each day are helpful for me and establishing somewhat of a routine. If I don’t get it done, I allow myself grace and show back up for myself tomorrow.

I also try to find things that do not take up a whole lot of energy but bring me joy like reading or going for a walk and cooking even brings me some relaxation and calm. I am a homebody and have developed a bit of social anxiety, so being at home brings me joy. I don’t fall to pressure in doing things or going places that make me uncomfortable.

Coping with a new diagnosis is hard and even after six years on this, the shock wave of my diagnosis and my new normal is still there on occasion I don’t think we ever get comfortable on this journey, but we learn how to cope and live intentionally with gratitude everyday.