What to do if you have been diagnosed with cancer?

Receiving a diagnosis of "cancer" can make a person feel like their world has turned upside down. The first reaction is often shock, denial, fear, and complete confusion. These feelings are absolutely normal. A chaos of questions, anxieties, and uncertainty arises in one's mind.

This article aims to be one source of information during this difficult time. It outlines potential steps and general logical stages one might consider after diagnosis. It is important to note that this text is not a medical or legal guide to action and does not replace direct communication with treating physicians. Its goal is to help organize thoughts a little, suggest a direction for reflection, and remind you that you are not alone.

Modern oncology has made significant progress. A "cancer" diagnosis today is far from always synonymous with a death sentence, especially if the disease is detected at early stages. For many types of cancer, there are effective treatment protocols leading to long-term remission and a full life.

Give yourself time and support

The first and most important step can be considered not medical action, but gentle attention to one's psychological state.

• Acknowledge your feelings. Fear, anger, disbelief, despair, or even temporary numbness — all of these are natural reactions to difficult news. There is no need to blame yourself for these emotions or demand immediate composure from yourself.
• Refrain from hasty conclusions. Often in the first days, a person tends to search for information online, where they may come across unverified data and frightening stories. It is worth remembering that each case is unique, and the overall prognosis strongly depends on many factors, including the type and stage of the disease. Allow yourself time to simply experience the initial shock.
• Think about who to share with. It is not necessary to immediately inform all acquaintances of the diagnosis. To start, you might choose one or two closest and most reliable people with whom you feel safe. Sometimes it helps to think in advance about how you want to present this news.
• Take care of yourself. In a state of shock and despair, thoughts may arise to "drown out" the pain or say goodbye to one's usual life. However, consuming alcohol, psychoactive substances, or refusing medical assistance will not solve the problem and are more likely to worsen it, depriving the body of strength for the fight and complicating further treatment. Now, more than ever, it is important to maintain clarity and resources for the next steps.
• Consider the possibility of professional help. Turning to a psychologist or psychotherapist specializing in working with oncology patients can become an important support. A specialist can help process complex emotions, cope with anxiety, and find internal resources for the upcoming journey. This is an act of self-care, not a weakness.

By giving yourself the opportunity to adapt to the new circumstances, you can move on to the next steps, which require attention and composure, with greater clarity of thought.

What is cancer — stages, statistics, and prognosis

To reduce anxiety, it can be useful to replace abstract fear with concrete facts. A "cancer" diagnosis is not a single disease but a general name for many different conditions united by uncontrolled cell growth.

Doctors determine the stage of cancer to describe the size of the tumor and the extent of its spread. This is a crucial parameter for choosing treatment tactics.

• Early stages (0, I, II). The tumor is localized and has not spread to other organs. At these stages, treatment is often most effective, and the likelihood of achieving complete remission is high.
• Late stages (III, IV). The disease has spread to lymph nodes (III) or has distant metastases (IV). This is a serious challenge but not a final verdict. Modern therapy often allows the disease to be managed as a chronic condition, controlling it for a long time and maintaining quality of life.

Medical materials often use the term "five-year relative survival rate." This statistical indicator answers the question, "What percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer live five years or more after diagnosis?" It is important to understand three things.

• This is an average indicator for large groups of patients, not a personal prognosis.
• Statistics always lag behind reality by several years and do not account for the most modern treatment methods.
• Many people not only live past these five years but recover completely and continue living further.

The prognosis in each specific case depends on a unique combination of tumor type, its molecular characteristics, stage, age, and the person's overall health. That is why a detailed conversation with the treating physician is so important.

Preparing for the conversation with the doctor and the treatment plan

After gaining a general understanding of the disease, a key stage begins — partnership communication with the medical team to develop a personal action plan.

Preparing for the dialogue

Meetings with an oncologist can be emotionally intense, so information can be easily missed. Many find it useful to:

• write down all questions that arise in advance,
• come to the appointment with a close person for moral support and help in remembering details,
• keep a personal medical notebook or file with test results and reports.

Your goal is to develop a clear understanding of the treatment path together with the doctor. For this, it is worth discussing several fundamental topics.

• Treatment goals. What is the main objective in your case — complete cure, achieving remission, controlling tumor growth, or alleviating symptoms?
• Recommended methods and their rationale. Why is this particular combination proposed (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted or immunotherapy)? Are there alternative options?
• Organization and timing. How will the treatment proceed? What is its expected duration and schedule?
• Side effects and quality of life. What probable consequences of therapy might one encounter, and how to minimize their impact on daily life, work, and well-being?

Usually, the optimal treatment plan is determined by a council of doctors (surgeon, chemotherapist, radiotherapist). You have the right to receive explanations for this decision from your treating physician. Understanding the plan, its goals, and stages helps restore a sense of control and participate consciously in your own treatment.

Obtaining a second opinion can be useful. Consulting another independent specialist is a standard and respected practice in oncology, which can help confirm or adjust the plan.

Organizational steps

In addition to medical aspects, treatment involves a number of practical and administrative questions. Addressing them helps make the process more predictable and allows one to focus on the main thing — health.

Managing medical documentation

It is recommended from the very beginning to collect copies or extracts of key documents. These may include:

• histological report (biopsy result),
• study reports (CT, MRI, PET-CT),
• hospital discharge summaries,
• the council protocol with the treatment plan.

Your own collection of documents helps during consultations with other specialists (second opinion) and allows you to always have a complete picture at hand.

The principle of informed consent

Before starting any serious intervention (surgical operation, chemotherapy course), a medical professional is obliged to explain to you in an accessible form:

• the essence of the upcoming procedure,
• its goals, potential risks, and side effects,
• possible alternatives.

Only after this do you sign a document — informed voluntary consent. You have every right to ask clarifying questions until you feel you understand everything.

Financial aspects

Even in healthcare systems with universal access, unforeseen expenses can arise. It makes sense to clarify in advance with the treating physician or a social worker:

• Which specific procedures and medications are covered by insurance or a state program.
• What accompanying costs there might be (e.g., for special nutrition, care products, travel to the treatment site).
• Whether there are charitable foundations or support programs that could help.

Communication with the treating physician

Try to establish an open and regular dialogue. Report any changes in well-being, new symptoms, or side effects. If misunderstandings arise or you feel your concerns are not being heard, you can contact the head of the department or the clinic administration.

These organizational measures create a reliable foundation, allowing you to concentrate your main strength on treatment and recovery.

Self-care during and after treatment

Treating cancer requires significant resources from the body. Maintaining physical and psychological well-being becomes not just useful but a necessary element of the entire journey. It is a way to help yourself go through therapy with fewer losses and recover faster.

Nutrition as part of therapy

Adequate nutrition helps maintain strength, better tolerate treatment, and preserve muscle mass.

• Sufficient protein and calories. The body needs energy for the fight and recovery. Often, it is recommended to increase the proportion of protein-rich foods (meat, fish, eggs, cottage cheese, legumes) in the diet.
• Eating schedule. If nausea or lack of appetite makes it difficult to eat a usual portion, one can switch to fractional meals — small portions 5-6 times a day.
• .Flexibility and attention to yourself. It is worth listening to the body's signals. If certain foods have become aversive, they can be temporarily replaced with other equivalent ones. The main task is to maintain strength, not to follow a perfect diet.

Physical activity

If the condition allows and there are no direct contraindications from the doctor, moderate activity can be very beneficial. It helps combat fatigue, improves mood, and maintains muscle tone. Suitable options may include:

• short walks in the fresh air,
• light gymnastics or stretching,
• special therapeutic physical exercises adapted for cancer patients.

It is important to increase the load gradually and stop if pain or severe fatigue appears.

Working with emotional state

Stress, anxiety, and mood swings are frequent companions of treatment.

• Do not ignore your feelings. Allow yourself to experience sadness, anger, or fear. Talking to a psychologist or psychotherapist specializing in oncology is professional help, not a weakness.
• Support groups. Communicating with people going through a similar experience can provide a unique sense of understanding and community, reducing the feeling of isolation.
• Simple practices. Stress reduction methods such as breathing exercises, meditation, or journaling help manage anxiety in difficult moments.

Building a support system

Do not hesitate to ask for and accept help. Loved ones often want to help but don't know how. Specific requests make it easier for them — whether it's help with shopping, cooking, a ride to the clinic, or simply the opportunity to talk things out.

Caring for yourself on all levels creates the very resource needed to overcome the difficulties of treatment and move towards recovery or stable remission.

Key points to remember

The path from the moment of diagnosis to the start of treatment and beyond is a road full of complex turns, emotional ups and downs. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Now, more than ever, a support team is forming around you, including doctors, nurses, psychologists, loved ones, and you yourself in the role of the most important participant.

• The first reaction of shock and fear is absolutely normal. Give yourself time to experience it.
• Try not to draw hasty conclusions based on general information from the internet. Your case is unique.
• The key to understanding the situation is an accurate diagnosis (type, stage, tumor characteristics).
• Prepare questions for the doctor. Your understanding of the treatment goals and plan reduces anxiety.
• Obtaining a second opinion is a common and respected practice.
• Treatment of cancer at early stages is often very effective. At late stages, the goal often becomes long-term control of the disease.
• Caring for nutrition, feasible activity, and psychological state is an important part of helping yourself.
• Do not hesitate to ask for and accept help. Rely on the support of professionals and loved ones.

Take care and be well!