Questions About Cancer Lifestyle and Emotional Issues

1. Is refusing cancer treatment a selfish act?

   Question - A decision about whether to accept treatment for cancer is a personal matter, and there is no right or wrong. One must start by carefully weighing the potential risks of the treatment and the potential benefits of the treatment. The person with cancer must ultimately decide which choice is in their overall best interest...
   1 Expert Answer, 13 Community Answers

2. What can I say to my aunt who just found out she has breast cancer?

   Question - just be there for her i just got done with chemo for breast cancer i had my left breast removed and i can tell you ,you have to tell that your there for her and she needs to have alot of faith and keep telling her self she can bet this i i prayed alot and just kept telling myself i can bet the cancer...
   2 Community Answers

3. How can I stop my aunt from refusing cancer treatment?

   Question - Hi Lucinda,
   1 Expert Answer, 38 Community Answers

4. How do I help my parent with cancer stay positive and look on the bright side?

   Question - This very issue is why I call the support group I run "Strength Through Laughter" -- because it's so important to find those moments when you can laugh or feel positive, even if you're laughing through your tears. The most important thing is to never stop hoping...
   1 Expert Answer, 6 Community Answers

5. My father has colon cancer. What's the best way to deal with his angry outbursts?

   Question - It might help you to know that there are all sorts of things that may be making your father act like this: pain, nausea, depression -- he may even be in an altered state because of chemicals in his system from radiation or chemo. It's possible he may not even know what he's saying or how he's saying it...
   1 Expert Answer, 7 Community Answers

6. How do I help a friend dealing with illness and depression?

   Question - Don know what to say I can just advice you to pray to God about the condition of your friend.its only God who can help her, and don't gave up on her God Bless tour a good friend
   2 Community Answers

7. How can I support my wife, emotionally, as she deals with lung cancer?

   Question - You're in good company. I've had several questions about patients with neoplasms lately, many from caregivers experiencing things like you are.
   1 Expert Answer

8. Where can I find support to fight my cancer?

   Question - I am thirty-six years old and have malignant melanoma with mestasis. The doctor gave me a thirty percent chance of surviving. I still don't see an expiration date on my foot. Any input?

9. Am I in denial just emotionally healthy regarding my diagnosis?

   Question - I am afraid I don't know you well enough to give you a definitive answer to that question, but it sounds like it may very well be an emotionally healthy response. Fortunately, your prognosis is very good, so there is good reason for optimism...
   1 Expert Answer, 7 Community Answers

10. How do we help my brother-in-law, who is receiving chemo and radiation, get ready to leave the house a little quicker?

    Question - Chemotherapy can cause thinking and memory problems, known as "chemo brain," that might be making it difficult for your brother to be organized and efficient. For practical suggestions for coping with "chemo brain," see our list of tips. For example, you might help him pack a small backpack or fanny...
    1 Expert Answer

11. A friend tells me I am emotional over having ovarian cancer. How can you not be emotional facing recurrances or dying?

    Question - You're not alone; it's natural to become extremely emotional while battling any type of cancer. Some people refer to it as a "roller-coaster ride" because there is so much bad news/good news/bad news.
    1 Expert Answer

12. How can I get my parent's doctor to explain his cancer treatment in a way I can understand?

    Question - It's almost impossible to process or retain the complicated information your parent's doctor is sharing with you without writing it down to review later. Bring paper and pen, or -- better yet -- bring someone with you who can listen, take notes, and ask the questions you don't think of at the time...
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

13. Since her cancer diagnosis, my mother has seemed very depressed. Does she need professional help?

    Question - Living with cancer is one of the most stressful and destabilizing things that can happen to someone, and depression, mood swings, anger -- even serious mental illness -- are very common. You may feel like you know your mother well, and suddenly she's different...
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

14. How do I persuade my father to join a clinical trial that could help him fight bone cancer?

    Question - When the prognosis for treatment isn't optimistic, a clinical trial can offer the possibility of increasing your father's odds of beating the disease or increasing the quality of his life. I'd encourage you to continue talking with your father about this clinical trial, and try to find out why he's refusing to join...
    1 Expert Answer

15. My mother, who has breast cancer, asks me to visit her every time she thinks there's a crisis. What should I do?

    Question - Your first task is to find out what's really going on and how serious it is. Your mother may just be trying to tell you that she's lonely.When your mother was first diagnosed and started treatment, she probably got lots of attention amidst a flurry of activity...
    1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

16. As a cancer patient, how can I answer people who ask how I'm feeling with out complaining or showing annoyance?

    Question - I have had ovarian cancer for 7 years along with sciatica plus other problems. As you can guess, I have had good days and bad days. How can I answer well meaning people how I feel (without complaining or showing annoyance)