You are not alone – support during your cancer treatment

 After the diagnosis, those affected process their experiences and thoughts in very different ways. Finding out that you have cancer is often difficult. After the cancer diagnosis, you feel agitated, anxious or overwhelmed and wonder how to deal with it. In the circle of caring friends, attentive doctors or family, many sufferers share their fears and worries.

Despite the support, you may feel lonely and perhaps misunderstood from time to time. If these thoughts sound familiar, you are not alone. There are over 1.5 million cancer patients in Germany. There are many among them who feel the same way as you.

Many cancer patients, lots of community

Most cancer patients in Germany suffer from skin cancer, but many also have testicular and breast cancer, as well as lung and colon cancer. There is hardly any difference between men and women: 51 percent of men and around 43 percent of women in Germany develop cancer at some point in their lives.

You share your fate with many other sufferers and can find comfort, strength and new courage in talking to them. Nevertheless, it does happen again and again that patients feel lonely and hopeless from time to time.

But before you give too much space to your worries, it is advisable to seek emotional support from doctors, therapists, patient organizations and also from family and friends. They can then stand by you and support you during your therapy.

"The hope and the urge to live one's life more individually and authentically, you should never give up. Monika Minder

 

Promising chances when diagnosed with cancer

Many patients initially associate the diagnosis of cancer with hopelessness and a major disruption to their lives. However, current figures and statistics show that cancer can now be treated better thanks to new findings, improved technology and modern medication, as well as targeted therapies, and that the quality of life during the illness can be significantly improved.

Although each case of cancer must be considered individually, improvements in prevention, early detection and treatment have contributed to the fact that age-standardized cancer mortality has been falling for decades.

Shared suffering is half suffering – talk about your thoughts

 

Exchange with other cancer patients, a feeling of liberation

During cancer treatment, not only are there numerous clinic visits, but you also suddenly have to deal with a wide variety of medical, legal and social issues. It is completely normal that the flood of information can initially overwhelm you and that new questions keep cropping up. In order to deal with these questions, many sufferers look for support.

If you don't want to burden your family or friends with your worries and thoughts, you're like many patients. But even in such a case, it can be good to confide in someone. There are a number of ways to "let out" your own thoughts and talk to other people who are going through (or have gone through) the same thing as you. Many patients find this type of exchange to be very liberating.

If you talk openly about your feelings and thoughts with like-minded people, you'll notice that it helps: What you're thinking and feeling is normal, and your situation may no longer seem so hopeless to you. To make the first step in this direction easier for you, we'll present you with some options for sharing below.

"The good times do not fall from the sky, but we create them ourselves; they are locked in our hearts." Fyodor Dostoyevsky, author

 

During and after acute treatment, a self-help group can be an important point of contact for patients. By exchanging experiences and ideas with others, you can receive helpful tips on how to deal with your illness. The solidarity among people who are going through similar things is essential for many patients. The first contact can be very difficult, but it is worth it: a self-help group is an enrichment for many patients.

You can get initial information from your doctor, the hospital or your health insurance company. Another important point of contact for cancer patients and their relatives are the regional cancer advice centers, which can provide information about self-help group meetings and provide advice on questions about the disease. You can also find out about possible offers online.

Professional support, psycho-oncology

If you feel that a self-help group is not right for you, you can also seek professional help. Psycho-oncological therapists who specialize in individual psychosocial support for cancer patients can accompany and support you on your journey.

They deal with the emotional and psychological consequences of cancer and help, for example, to process any shock after the cancer diagnosis.

So-called relaxation techniques are also popular because they help you to release blockages and become more balanced. Through psycho-oncological treatment, you learn to deal with your fears and to evoke more positive feelings. You can search for offers in your region at the Cancer Information Service.

"One waits for time to change, the other grabs it and acts!" Dante Alighieri, philosopher

 

Maybe you have questions and concerns but find it difficult to express them. The internet offers a safe space for this thanks to its anonymity and it is incredibly easy to get in touch with like-minded people via the internet and social networks.

From social platforms such as Facebook, online forums and chats to virtual self-help groups, you can post your questions and experiences online. Some sufferers even start their own blog where they share their stories with numerous readers and provide information about the disease.

Are you having trouble getting started or are you hesitant to join a group? On Facebook page, you can easily connect with other patients and share your experiences. You will also receive tips on coping with everyday life and dealing with cancer. We have also put together an overview of various self-help groups and online platforms for cancer patients.

You see: No matter which path you choose, there is always someone to talk to who can lend you a listening ear or give you good advice in your situation. Be it a good old friend or someone you have recently met in a support group - you are never alone.