Cancer is one of the most feared diseases in the world. Despite many breakthroughs that make the disease more manageable nowadays and with detection at an early phase that can prolong survival rate, despite total recovery and full disappearance of even traces of the disease in some cases, people still perceive cancer as terminal and being diagnosed with it always feels uncomfortable and frightening.
Patients, as well as their loved ones, need time to recover from such news and usually prepare for the worst-case scenario, and sometimes any suspicion of the disease can delay a visit to the doctor.
Usually, physicians who diagnose cancer take a lot of steps to be really sure that there is no mistake before announcing the news to the patients. They ask for a battery of clinical exams for confirmation. The most difficult part is to share the information with the patient and it takes a high dose of psychology to face the challenge of communicating this truth. Some take the approach of just saying things how they are and letting the information sink in while others use some kind of counseling to muffle the shock.
Patients who receive this news in general follow four phases: denial, revolt, depression, and acceptance.
Denial
In the denial phase, people just do not want to know or do not want to face the harsh reality. They would prefer that it has not happened and try to convince themselves that it is not true. What is the person really denying? He/she is not denying being sick and perhaps he/she has been sick in the past, he/she thinks he/she can recover. This denial is because, in the mind of the general population, cancer is a terminal disease so, the person is denying that he/she can possibly die. The main assumption at this stage is that it cannot be true, maybe there is a mistake somewhere and the doctor will find out pretty soon that he/she is mistaken and he/she will come back to me to apologize.
Revolt
Then comes the second phase. Of all the people on the face of the earth, why me? Nature or God is not just. Why should I die from this disease? A degree of blasphemy is encountered by those who believe in God, their faith is shaken in the face of this adversity. They blame God for his bad choice of the person who should suffer and die. They blame society for not being fair. They blame science for not being able to treat a disease in appearance so simply. They blame the doctor for being so brutal in telling the truth without considering the pain and suffering that he is causing.
Depression
The third phase is depression which can go deeper and deeper. The person loses interest in the environment, friendship, family, and the church. The things that in the past were of utmost interest to him/her seem so distant or irrelevant. The spirit so empty of enthusiasm is letting go of everything. The person tends to: leave his/her job, abandon the care of his/her loved ones, let projects fail, and even neglect to go to the doctor or take his/her medication. He/she feels sad all the time and simultaneously does not want to live and does not want to die.
Acceptance
The fourth and final phase is acceptance. The person pulls himself/herself together and thinks differently now, and decides to continue to live and fight. He/She returns to the doctor, asks questions to understand how to cope with the disease, and accepts and follows the prescriptions. Start anew to interact with family, friends, and church. There is now a reintegration of society, into the environment. At this stage, the person does not necessarily believe that he/she will recover fully from the disease, but he/she will do whatever is necessary. The person continues or restarts the projects put on hold, he/she may even start writing a will or see life differently with the certainty that death is the final outcome for everybody not just for him/her.
Once the diagnosis is made, there are a lot of medical interventions to consider depending on the gravity of the disease, the decisions will be taken in collaboration with the patient or his/her parents if he/she is a child or an adolescent. The medication can be supported by a number of healthy practices to reinforce physical and spiritual aspects of the patient including diet, vitamins, oligo-elements, exercise, meditation, support groups, etc.
Prevention
The purpose of this article is not just to talk about diagnosis, it is also to present some preventative measures. These actions encompass diet, cooking practices, storage, as well as environmental management.
One must
Avoid highly processed foods that are more likely to contain potentially dangerous concentrations of toxins.
Avoid stale foods, and buy fresh foods. If possible, start a garden to grow your own organic food.
Use fresh fruits to make juice.
Avoid eating burnt food because it can lead to the formation of carcinogens.
Do not use plastic wraps or plastic containers in the microwave, use glass containers instead and also use them for storage.
Avoid living in the vicinity of high-voltage power lines.
Note: The information you see here, describes what usually happens with a medical condition, but doesn't apply to everyone. This information isn't a substitute for medical advice, so make sure to contact a healthcare provider if you have a medical problem.
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