How can I learn to live
with cancer of the pancreas?
| Having
cancer can change your life and the lives of your family members in
many ways. Patients and their families often feel shock, anger, sadness,
fear, frustration, and confusion when faced with a diagnosis of cancer.
These feelings often come and go, and the experience is sometimes
compared to an emotional roller coaster ride.
You may have many questions about the cancer, its treatment, and its effect on your life. Your doctors and nurses are the best people to answer these questions. You may also have questions about how your job, finances, and family relationships will be affected. Your social worker can suggest services and agencies that help provide financial aid, transportation, home care, and emotional support. Living with any serious disease can be difficult and challenging. Many patients find it helps to share their thoughts and feelings with a professional counselor or with other patients who are going through a similar experience. Others may find it easier to talk with a minister, priest, rabbi, or other religious leader. Your social worker can help you find support groups, counseling services, or other related resources. For more information on support services provided by M D Anderson, see the Pathway to Hope Care Section. This section includes the Anderson Network, the Place of Wellness, the Chaplain's Corps, and the Department of Social Work. Visit the Department of Symptom Control and Palliative Care and the Pain Research Group for information about programs for treating cancer symptoms and helping our patients feel more comfortable. Other online support resources recommended by our patients and supporters can be found in the Top Web Picks page. |