CANCER FIGHTING and ATTITUDES

Attitude matters, not only the attitude of your health team, but even much more your own attitude matters. Of course, patients should not be in denial of their situation and, of course, they should be optimistic and keep their heads up. Moving beyond obvious truisms, I would like to offer these related thoughts: First, think long term. Two, don’t let people peg you as some poor sick person. Three, cancer survivorship is just part of what you are and your story.

For cancer patients it can sometimes be hard to optimistically think long term, but it’s important. Have a positive goal and long range images and focus more on them and less on any current problems or discomforts. Whether you focus on a grandson’s graduation, an exciting upcoming trip, on long term health or whatever, these are good images. I believe this especially applies to people undergoing rough treatment options. Some can be quite toxic and you can get caught up in how bad you feel then and there. Wrong. Better to focus on good things for yourself down the road. Maybe imagery will help you achieve this. I created a short tape about long-term health, enjoyable routines and the dramatic and fun zapping of cancer cells. When I have a difficult chemotherapy treatment, I find that closing my eyes and mentally replaying the imagery tape makes for less severe side effects. Thinking long term does not mean denial of problems. Instead, it means focusing on hopes and aspirations. Keep your doctors and nurses informed of any problems and treat your self kindly. If you have stomach distress, take something for it. There are no points for obstinacy.

Perhaps it’s just my personality that rebels against being put in the “poor sick Jerry” category. Maybe it’s just a pet peeve, but to me, it is grating and not helpful when people focus on how I feel at the time. This is especially true when undergoing rough medical treatments. Since I believe it is important to think long term, I am put off when people seemingly want to focus on how I feel then and there. I realize this is well meaning and I do appreciate people’s concern and prayers, but those concerns and prayers should be for down the road health rather than how you feel today. Some may say I have an “attitude”. I hope so.

I am proud to be a cancer survivor - perhaps perversely proud of being a survivor on one of the worst cancers – but, we are not just cancer survivors, we are whole people. That is another reason I am so put off when encountering an over-emphasis on how I feel today rather than the long term. I refuse to be defined by my illness. Cancer patients have relationships, interests, accomplishments, experiences and goals outside of their illness, and cancer is just one part of their story.

Cancer is an intense experience and hopefully, we grow and learn from the experience and improve as people in some way. Fighting cancer takes time and energy and undoubtedly some of one’s perceptions change, but underneath we are much the same basic people.

I am not saying that getting healthy is simply a matter of attitude and belief, but I am saying that it helps. I believe that people with tough diagnosis who maintain (using Barak Obama’s words) “the audacity of hope” do better, period. So friends, dream and don’t be afraid to hold out hope. And do what you can to promote you health.