Health Tip: Talking About Your Cancer Diagnosis

— If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your family and close friends can be a great source of physical and moral support.

The American Cancer Society suggests how to tell loved ones about your diagnosis:

• Don’t wait to tell them. Sooner or later, they’ll all know. They might feel hurt or left out if they haven’t heard about it from you.
• Explain what type of cancer you have and how it will be treated. Let loved ones know they can’t catch it from you.
• Allow friends and family to help you, and tell them what kind of help you need.
• Tell the people who are closest to you how you feel. Or seek a support group or counselor to help you talk about your feelings.
• If you have friends or family who tell you to “cheer up” when you’re not feeling well, politely ask them to just listen without telling you what to do.
• Do not force people to talk about your cancer. Instead, find others who are more open to discussion.
• If you’re feeling sad or depressed, reach out to someone.

Posted: August 2018

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