You Are Not Alone

Coping with the diagnosis of cancer and undergoing cancer treatment can be challenging for anyone; and unwanted side effects can compound the disruption in your life even further. Fortunately, every year great strides are made toward conquering this complex disease and managing treatment side effects.

The American Cancer Society predicts that there are close to 14 million cancer survivors living in the United States today, with 1.4 million new cases to be diagnosed this year. If you are one of the many people dealing with cancer – you should feel confident that there are things you can do to improve your quality of life. You can become actively involved with your health care team to make informed choices about treatment, manage side effects, and find ways to improve your emotional and physical well-being. 

The most common forms of cancer treatment are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and biotherapy/targeted therapy. Sometimes a clinical trial might be available, which is a way to utilize a promising new treatment in a controlled research setting. Patients may be asked to consider and choose from several different treatment options, or they may be advised that a combination of therapies would be best.

By understanding your cancer diagnosis and why, when, and how different treatments are used, in addition to understanding what related side effects might be expected for each treatment, you will be able to more knowledgeably and actively discuss your best treatment plan with the oncology care team.

*Each type of treatment has its own potential side effects. Since every person responds differently to cancer treatment, common side effects may or may not develop for you.

Learn more about common side effects from cancer treatment by selecting a topic below. 

You may also be interested in The Wellness Community's booklet and companion journal, Frankly Speaking About Cancer Treatment.  If you would like a free copy, click here to request one be mailed to you.