Breast cancer awareness month is not just about helping seniors and people of all ages better understand the disease and ensure that they receive the appropriate screening, it’s also about helping those who have already received a diagnosis. A breast cancer diagnosis can turn your world upside down, but as you fight the disease itself, you can successfully fight the emotional issues that go along with it:

1. Communicate with loved ones – while you might not want to worry the important people in your life, talk about what you’re facing, and let them lend you their support

2. Maintain an intimate relationship – if you have a spouse or partner, maintaining physical intimacy can be beneficial to your emotional well-being and ensure your spouse doesn’t begin to treat you differently

3. Keep track of your disease – by tracking your symptoms and presenting them to your medical doctor, you can feel like you’re taking control over the disease, which gives you a sense of power. Also keep track of visits in a log, save results of tests and receipts

4. Seek professional support – having the support of friends and family isn’t enough, find a support group of people who are dealing with similar struggles and talk to a counsellor, spiritual advisor or other professional

5. Educate yourself – keep yourself informed every step of the way. Do your own research and empower yourself

6. Have a backup plan – with an unpredictable disease, you need to be prepared for anything.  Don’t dwell on the worst case scenario, but plan for it

Via: About.com

Home Instead Senior Care serving elders and seniors in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara and Saratoga home care - 408-370-6360.