If you are one of the people who have just or recently been diagnosed with cancer, it must be tough to not feel overwhelmed. There are so many things that hit you at once, fear of death, feeling of mortality, grief for loved ones, fear of dying slowly, and much more. With all of these things, it can be quite hard to choose your treatment method. It is especially hard to deal with it when your kids are diagnosed with cancer. It can be quite tough, which is why we have curated a list of steps to help guide you in taking charge of your treatment method.
Figure out your ground rules
Before you start researching and exploring, it is important to establish some ground rules. Decide how much you want to know in detail such as their survival chances, and major details. Some people prefer not knowing these worrying things. You should also try to take the lead in your decision-making process. Work with your doctor to handle these difficult choices. Most importantly, remember to have realistic expectations for all treatments so that you do not get your hopes too high for the end. Accept help from family and friends when you need it.
Figure out a goal
Once you have set ground rules, you should focus on narrowing down your treatment options. There are three major types of goals depending on your cancer stage and type. You can try to cure the disease by attacking it aggressively with chemo and radiation therapy. You can try to control it and make it shrink or slow down. If you have found out that you have cancer during your advanced stage, you should look for comfort care such as hospice and palliative care, something that will make sure you are at ease during your last moments.
Figure out your treatment options
Your doctor might want to take a really aggressive approach to your treatment, or they may want to take a conservative one. This all depends on what they find on your kid’s CT-Scan when they try to figure out the diagnosis. Keep in mind the type of cancer your child is suffering from and see how likely the chosen treatments are to work in their case. It is important to go through a ton of research to properly know your chances with each treatment. You can choose trustworthy websites with the help of your doctor.
Communicate with your healthcare provider
Since you will be visiting the doctor’s office a lot, it is best that you learn to communicate with them. You should speak up when you do not understand anything about the treatment process, no matter how small you may think it is. It is important for you to be at ease about your child’s safety, which is why you should ask a ton of questions. You can even record your conversations so that you do not forget anything important.
Dealing with your child’s cancer is not easy. It will take a lot of strength on your part to get through it. Use this article to help guide you during the decision-making process of your kid’s treatment plan.