HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · AUGUST 2017
WHILE
YOU CAN’T
ANTICIPATE
HOW THOSE
AROUND YOU
WILL RESPOND
TO HEARING THE
NEWS YOU CAN
BE PREPARED
FOR THEM TO
ASK QUESTIONS.
GOOD HELP IS NOT
HARD TO FIND.
Sometimes, a patient may
not know what to say or how
to tell certain people in their
lives that they have cancer.
Your care team can help you
consider the best ways to
share your news, and may
be able to help you prepare
answers to questions you may be asked.
Your loved ones will respond in different
ways, and telling them about your diagnosis
is certain to be an emotional experience.
Asking for help – from your care team or a
trusted friend – is completely normal and
even expected. Never shy away from getting
the support you need as you prepare to tell
others about your diagnosis.
SHARING THE NEWS
ABOUT YOUR DIAGNOSIS
F
inding out you have cancer is
overwhelming and brings a range
of emotions. Each patient’s
experience and response are
different, reflecting individual
personalities, values, and cultures. For some,
the first instinct is to share their diagnosis
with those closest to them. Others may
choose to keep their diagnosis private,
perhaps until they feel ready to share it with
others. Telling family, friends, and colleagues
about a cancer diagnosis is never easy, but it
provides an opportunity to build a support
system, which is an important part of the
journey.
HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON.
If you have recently been diagnosed with
cancer, taking time to process and reflect
can help you make better decisions about
how to move forward. Just as no two cancers
are exactly alike, each patient has different
emotions and unique needs. Processing
this information can help you in many
ways, including thinking about next steps,
navigating treatment options, and simply
taking time to carefully consider how your
diagnosis will impact your life. Take time to
focus on taking care of yourself and aim to
better understand what your diagnosis will
mean for you.
TELL YOUR STORY. ON YOUR TERMS.
Once you’ve had time to process your
diagnosis, think about how, when, and with
whom you want to share this information.
Do you need to tell your extended family or
children immediately, or would you feel more
comfortable sharing the news after you’ve
asked your care team more questions about
your diagnosis? Should you tell your boss and
your colleagues? If so, when is the right time
and how much information should you share?
How you tell your family will be different than
how you approach this topic with friends and
colleagues. It’s truly a personal decision. You
don’t have to tell everyone you know, but it’s
wise to consider whether it would be helpful
for people you interact with regularly to
know about your diagnosis.
CUE THE Q&A. No matter how you decide
to tell those around you, remember they care
about you and chances are they will have
questions. You’re not expected to know all
the answers. But you can try to anticipate
their concerns. Those closest to you may
want to know more about treatment options,
while coworkers may want to know if you
plan to take an extended time away from
work. Sometimes the questions may be
difficult to hear and answer.
26 HEALTHY MAGAZINE
Ultimately, sharing the news of your cancer
diagnosis is a personal decision. However
emotionally challenging, it often is an
important moment when patients see a
caring community of support emerge –
people who will be a source of strength and
help by your side.
BILLIE J. MAREK,
MD, FACP
Billie J. Marek, M.D., FACP,
Texas Oncology is a medical
oncologist at Texas Oncology–
McAllen, 1901 South 2nd Street
in McAllen, Texas.
To learn more about exciting
advancements in cancer
treatment, visit www.
TexasOncology.com
or call 1-888-864-I CAN (4226).