Being Diagnosed
with Cancer
by Dr. Jeremy R. Geffen
 "I'VE JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH
CANCER. WHAT SHOULD I DO?"
Upon receiving a cancer
diagnosis, you may find yourself facing this frightening experience
without any knowledge or understanding of how best to help yourself. The
sheer volume of information that is now available about cancer and various
treatment options can make the aftermath of diagnosis even more
distressing for you and your family. The appropriate answers to your
questions are unique to you and your specific circumstances, and they
should come directly from your physician. However, a few basic principles
can help everyone who faces this challenge:
1. Recognize that fear is natural,
and know that it can be overcome.
For the great majority of
patients, there is a sharp and very understandable focus on the physical
aspects of the illness and treatment process. An important message bears
repeating here: The mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of cancer are
often as immediate, urgent, and challenging -- if not more so -- than the
physical concerns. By understanding and recognizing fear as a completely
normal reaction, you can begin to develop the conviction that it can and
will be overcome. Recognize your need for love, support, and highly
reliable information and know that you can and will find it. No matter how
scared or confused you may be feeling, you must consciously choose to
believe that you will get the care and support that you need and deserve.
Decide right now to seek out and utilize the many sources of comfort and
emotional support that can so greatly benefit you at this time. You will
be amazed by the number of loving, caring individuals, organizations, and
groups that are ready and willing to help. Information about these is
provided in the appendices at the end of my book, "The
Journey Through Cancer". But you must be open and willing to
receive what they have to offer. Once again: decide right now to give
yourself the gift of love and support that can be so precious at this
critical time.
2. Slow down the decision-making
process.
In the initial phase of
dealing with cancer, you may feel a sense of urgency to decide what kind
of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other treatments you
should have. You may also want to know about taking herbs, vitamins, and
supplements, and about how you should change your diet -- and you will
want this information immediately. Very few instances exist in cancer
treatment, however, in which such urgency is warranted. The process can
almost always be slowed down for at least a few days in order to gather
information and support. Don't allow yourself to be frightened or
pressured into making any decisions about your treatment until you have a
clear understanding of your choices. Take time to explore your options.
Take time to breathe -- and breathe deeply!
3. Ask yourself this question: Do I
have trust and confidence in my doctor?
In order to safely and
effectively navigate your way through the diagnosis and treatment of
cancer, you must have a qualified guide. In my opinion, this guide should
be a well-trained oncologist who is experienced in dealing with your
particular kind of cancer. In addition, you should feel assured that your
doctor cares about you as an individual, and that he or she truly has your
best interests at heart. Your doctor must also be readily available to
take care of you if you become sick. What kind of hospital or medical
center is the doctor affiliated with? What other specialists are
available, if needed? Where will you go if you have problems or
complications from your illness or treatment? Is this an environment in
which you feel safe, comfortable, and genuinely cared for?
In many instances, dealing
with cancer is straightforward, and the course to follow is clear.
Sometimes, however, the best course is not clear at all -- a wide array of
options and treatment approaches exist for many cancers. Each has its own
advantages, disadvantages, risks, benefits, and potential toxicities, and
appreciating these distinctions will take time and careful consideration.
In such cases, it is important to communicate openly and directly with
your doctor, and to have all your questions and concerns adequately
addressed. If you feel this is not happening, you should by no means
compromise. You must find and choose a doctor you can talk to, who
genuinely respects your viewpoint, feelings, and wishes. This may require
interviewing a number of oncologists. Don't hesitate to get a second
opinion, or as many opinions as you need, until you feel at ease with your
doctor and the options presented to you. Your relationship with your
oncologist may become one of the most important relationships in your
life, so make sure you are comfortable and confident before you proceed.
4. Recognize that your physical
body needs love and attention, but so do your mind, heart, and spirit.
Cancer is most certainly a
crisis that is occurring in the physical body, and it is imperative that
patients receive the best possible medical care for their disease. Once
again, this care must be guided by a competent, caring, and qualified
guide, and administered in an impeccable manner. Integrating other
modalities such as nutrition, exercise, vitamins, herbs, supplements,
acupuncture, and massage can also be extremely important and valuable. But
while you have a body, who you are is not limited to your body. You are a
whole person. Thus, for healing to be complete, all the dimensions of who
you are as a human being must be addressed with equal skill and attention
-- including your mind, heart, and spirit. Take time every single day to
honor and care for these other dimensions of who you are.
5. Recognize that life is a
journey, and so is dealing with cancer.
All of life has a rhythm,
a natural unfolding, and this includes the experience of cancer. It is
important to seek out the information and care that you need. But it is
equally important to remember that you need time to rest, to relax, to
experience silence, and to be still. Give yourself this time each and
every day. It is also important to give yourself permission to feel what
you feel. Don't judge yourself -- in any way -- for whatever you may be
experiencing at this moment in time. Know that dealing with cancer is a
process in which you can and will become skilled and masterful. Recognize
the fact that right now more resources exist to help and guide you than
ever before in history, and these resources are fully available to you.
You can find what you need, and you will.
 This
article was excerpted from:
The Journey Through Cancer by Jeremy
Geffen, M.D.
Copyright? 1999 by Jeremy Geffen. Excerpted by permission of Crown, a
division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may
be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Info/order this book
About The
Author
Jeremy
Geffen, M.D., F.A.C.P., is a board-certified medical oncologist and a
Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He is the founder and
director of the Geffen Cancer Center and Research Institute in Vero
Beach, Florida (www.geffencenter.com). In addition to his academic
medical training he has more than twenty years of experience exploring
the great spiritual and healing traditions of the East, including
Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine, yoga, meditation, and other approaches to
self-awareness.
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