Cancer is something which is an unfortunate fact of life, one in two people will have direct contact with this disease in their lifetimes and whilst advancements are being made, for now we have to make do with what treatments that we have available. One of the most common types of cancer is breast cancer which occurs mainly in women but can also occur in men. Over the last 20 years we have seen huge progress in the treating of this disease and the mortality rate is incredibly high. If you have had some troubles with your breasts and recently discovered that you indeed have breast cancer, this will of course be a very difficult time for you. To help you to stay positive and deal with this news, we spoke to a breast cancer surgeon who offered the following advice.
Owning the Illness
Medical staff and professionals will of course have an action plan for how they will attack your cancer but they will need some help from you and it is on you to take ownership of this disease. After the initial anger, or emotional disappointment, it is time to start thinking about how you will take action. Instead of allowing something to grow inside you without knowledge of it, learn about the cancer and what it can do and also learn about how it can be killed off.
Consider Options
Depending on the stage of your cancer your doctor will likely have given you some options to think about in terms of treatment. For example the doctor may have recommended a mastectomy which involves removing ether one or both breasts. Alternatively you may have been offered a period of chemotherapy and it will be very important that you weigh up the pros and cons of each treatment and what it will mean to you.
Support
You do not have to go through this on your own and you can make use of support networks that are out there. Many cancer charities run support networks which could be a great way for you to open up about how you feel and what you are going through, sharing your story with others who are suffering from the same fate. Reach out to your local charities and get involved in the community, it can really help to make you feel more positive about everything that is going on.
Talk When Ready
There is absolutely no pressure on you to talk right now, take your time to absorb what you have discovered and when you feel ready to you can start talking with your friends and family about what is happening. There is no pressure on you here at all, take some time for yourself and only when you are ready should you start discussing your disease with other people.
There is a lot of hope to be found here so stay positive and keep an open mind. To learn more about health from the 60 Degree blog, click here.
2018 · 
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