When your doctor tells you that you’ve been diagnosed with cancer of any form, feeling optimistic is not easy. The first rush of emotions will likely consist of confusion, anger, depression and fear.
Over time, however, you will learn all there is to know about the form of cancer you were diagnosed with, and you will begin to feel optimistic again. The key is learning as much as possible, and educating yourself about what to expect.
There are several ways you can help yourself to feel more optimistic throughout your cancer diagnosis, treatment and into remission. In addition to providing you with a positive attitude and outlook, these things will help to improve your quality of life.
Doctors urge their cancer patients to improve their quality of life as much as possible; it means a stronger immune system, a better attitude and a better mood. Those with a good quality of life are the patients that have the least difficult time dealing with their cancer diagnosis.
Keep a Journal
The first thing you can do to help yourself feel more optimistic while fighting cancer is to keep a journal or blog. Oftentimes when you feel an emotion it is easy to push it to the side and ignore it, because there are simply too many other things to do in the day. Ignoring your emotions only causes them to grow and to resurface later, and you might find that they are too much to handle when this happens. Writing down how you feel, even if it is in one or two short sentences, will help you to deal with your emotions in the moment. You will find that you feel refreshed, and your mood will be lightened after you write down your emotions.
Additionally, keeping a journal is a great way to provide yourself with tangible reminders of how much you love life. Making lists of goals you want to accomplish after you finish your cancer treatments is a constant reminder that you have to fight, and you do have something to look forward to. Also keeping a log about how you are feeling during your treatments will help you to see how far you’ve come. You will inspire those around you with your thoughts and feelings conveyed in a journal.
Physical Fitness
Something else that will help your mood is to exercise. When you have cancer, optimistic feelings towards exercise are usually minimal. However, studies have proven that cancer patients who get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise can greatly reduce the severity of the side effects that are common with the many forms of cancer treatment available. Nausea, depression, vomiting and fatigue are just a few of the negative side effects that accompany cancer treatment; by getting at least 150 minutes of exercise each week, you can alleviate the pain from these and live a better life.
When you have cancer, optimistic attitudes are hard to come by, but when you know there are ways you can improve your mood and attitude, things seem so much better. Living with cancer is not an ideal situation, but it is a reality for many. When you face cancer, know that by exercising, keeping a journal and engaging in activities you love; you can fight your cancer and live a long, healthy life.
Author Bio:
Stacy Randall is a writer for Nebraska Medical Center. She enjoys writing on topics in the health field. When Stacy is not writing, she is off fishing by the ocean enjoying her time with her family.
