It's important to have life go on as usual or at least as close to usual as you can make it. Maybe you won't be able to take a planned vacation. Maybe you won't be exercising or playing sports or making love as vigorously or as often as you used to. Then again, maybe you will. The point is that a cancer diagnosis doesn't have to be absolutely devastating—although it can be if you let it.
The key is to not feel as though you are a helpless victim of blind fate. Do that and you may easily lose the will to live. If you're going to be cured, go into remission or even just improve the quality of your life, while there are lots of ways of coping, many people find it helpful to take an aggressive stance.
Fighting cancer is a joint effort, a shared responsibility between you and your medical team. This partnership is based on honesty, communication, education and a willingness to do your part. The medical team assumes responsibility for planning the most effective treatment and giving therapy and support. You have to assume responsibility for working on proper nutrition, proper physical exercise and the proper mental attitude.
Do your part and the result will be a much greater ability to cope, a strengthened will to live and a much more enjoyable life. Sometimes it may seem like a struggle, but you—just like many people before you—can learn to live with cancer.
