What Do I Do Now? - 140

140
AFTER /// CHAPTER 89
How will I feel?
If your cancer does come back it can feel like the end of the
world. The emotions can be powerful and overwhelming. It
might feel like all the treatment you have been through has
been for nothing. It can be especially challenging if you have
been in remission for a long time. ( " Remission " means there
are no more signs or symptoms of the cancer that can be
detected - although there might still be some cancer cells in
the body).
It is not uncommon to wonder why this is happening to
you and to think that it is really unfair when you have been
through enough already.
You may have many of the same emotions that you had when
you were first diagnosed - they may even be more intense.
They will probably include:
» Shock: Relapse may come as big surprise, especially
if you have been feeling well and the tests previously
showed that the cancer was in remission.
» Anger: You might feel like you have already been through
enough and annoyed at the thought of having to go
through it all over again.
» Sadness: You may feel really sad about the things you
might lose again (and not just your hair). The thought of
having to put family and friends through the roller coaster
of treatment and its effects can also make you feel sad.
» Guilty: You may be very aware of the stress and strain
that it puts people under and you may be disappointed in
yourself that it has to happen again. Don't feel this way!
None of this is your fault, and your family and friends love
you and will support you whatever happens.
» Scared: This time you know what treatments are like and
how things felt. You may also be scared that they can't
treat the cancer and that your options are more limited.
But remember! You have something now that you didn't have
before experience.
Treatment options
There are constant developments in cancer research
into both treatments and the handling of side effects
of treatment. Things may have changed since you were
first diagnosed.
What sort of treatment you are offered will depend on
what treatment you have had already as well as what
type of cancer you have relapsed with and where.
Just like when you were first diagnosed, the doctors
and the rest of your medical team will talk you through
the options that you have. It is important to get all the
information so that you can make the decisions that are
right for you.
There may be other things to consider when making
decisions about what sort of treatment you have
including:
» What impact will it have on your quality of life?
» What side effects - both long and short-term - will
you get?
» What are you are prepared to go through again?
» Your prognosis - which explains the likely course
and outcome of the cancer.
Can I refuse treatment?
If you are under 16, your parents will have a big
influence over your treatment decisions.
This may need lots of open communication and
negotiations - particularly if you and your parents
(and/or your partner) have different ideas. It is
important that you feel OK with the decisions that you
make. Like all the other stages you have been through
with cancer, getting the right information and the right
support is really important.
Ask people to be honest with you about what is
happening.
There are constant developments in cancer research into both
treatments and the handling of side effects of treatment. Things
may have changed since you were first diagnosed.
https://fwaya.org/
What Do I Do Now?

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of What Do I Do Now?
