As difficult as it all is to handle, you can find ways to cope with everything you’re now facing because of your illness.
Emotional Coping
People have all kinds of different emotional reactions to having pancreatic cancer. Fear, anger, denial, confusion, depression, anxiety, grief, and even guilt are common. You may experience any or all of these and any of a host of other feelings. While they’re normal, they can also be overwhelming.
The poor prognosis for pancreatic cancer is certain to heighten the stress of the diagnosis. Don’t hesitate to seek help dealing with it. It can help to talk to your healthcare provider and others on your healthcare team, your family, or other people who’ve dealt with the disease personally or through a loved one.
Online Support Groups
Online support groups can be a valuable resource. You don’t have to leave your house, so it won’t be a strain on you if your symptoms or treatments are taking a toll. Support groups typically provide you with people to talk to who’ve gone through or are currently going through what you’re experiencing. That can be a huge help when you’re fighting to make sense of everything.
However, online support groups tend to lack professional viewpoints and guidance. For that reason, you should always seek medical advice from your healthcare provider or other healthcare providers. Your healthcare provider can help you decide whether you should see a mental health professional and help you find a good one. Your medical team is also a good source of referrals to support groups in your area.
Coping With Pain
If you haven’t dealt with chronic pain before, you may be taken aback by how much of an impact cancer pain has on you. It can lead to mood changes, problems sleeping (which increases your fatigue), and difficulty concentrating. When you can’t get pain relief, it can even lead to desperation and panic.
You might be trying to get by without taking a lot of painkillers. They’re often viewed negatively because of their side effects and potential for addiction. On top of that, overdose is a real risk when you’re dealing with severe pain.
Often, over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be helpful, but they aren’t perfectly safe. For instance:
Too much acetaminophen, the drug in Tylenol and a host of other OTC products, can lead to potentially fatal liver toxicity. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen (Aleve, Motrin, etc. ) and naproxen (Aleve) can also be hard on your stomach, kidneys, or liver. Sometimes, your healthcare provider may not want you to take certain medications that can mask a fever or other warning signs.
Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you may have about pain medications—they can be safe if used carefully.
Coping With Fatigue
Cancer fatigue is hard to deal with. Anyone who lives with it knows there’s a big difference between being kind of sleepy and the all-out, zero-energy fatigue that can come with the disease.
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Before you up your caffeine intake or turn to supplements or other methods of combatting fatigue, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider. Also, ask about any supplements or herbal treatments you’re considering—some of them may interact negatively with your other treatments.
Considerations that can improve your quality of life:
It’s a good idea to set aside time every day to rest or nap and to make sure you have extra time to rest and recuperate after a big event. You may also need to redefine “big event,” as it could now include something as simple as a trip to the grocery store. Also, don’t hesitate to use assistance when available (for example, grocery stores may offer motorized cars). Some people feel awkward about using them if they’re able to walk or don’t have a visible disability, but they’re there for anyone who needs them. It’s better to use them than to be wiped out afterward because you didn’t. Generally, however, you should try to stay as active as you can. You’ll need to find a balance between doing too much and doing too little and that’s a unique point only you can determine.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to managing cancer fatigue. It can help to employ a variety of strategies.
Coping With Dietary Issues
It may be harder to watch your diet when you’re dealing with treatments, symptoms, and the emotional impacts of your cancer, but it’s important.
Maintaining proper nutrition involves getting enough calories, vitamins, minerals, and hydration.
If you have diabetes, taking care of your blood sugar is vital. Fluctuating blood sugar levels can worsen fatigue and mood. Be sure to follow the diet your healthcare provider recommends and check your blood sugar as directed if needed.
You may find that, since your diagnosis, everyone around you seems to think they’re an expert on what you should or shouldn’t eat. Don’t go for fad diets just because some TV healthcare provider or blogger said it cures cancer—if that were true, your healthcare provider would’ve told you about it.
If you’re researching dietary issues or other treatments online, even if they sound legitimate, be sure to run them by your healthcare provider before you try them. There’s a lot of bad advice out there couched in language that makes it sound science-based when it really isn’t.
Coping With Side Effects
Every drug you take comes with potential side effects. That includes cancer drugs as well as drugs you may be prescribed for helping with side effects of chemotherapy or radiation.
It’s a good idea to keep lists of potential side effects—especially any that can be dangerous—where it’s easy to refer to. Make sure your family and/or caregiver(s) are familiar with them as well.
Keep the lines of communication open with your healthcare team so they can help you identify and manage any unpleasant side effects you may have.
Chemotherapy Side Effects
Chemotherapy, radiation, and other drugs all come with possible side effects that you may have to cope with.
Common chemotherapy side effects include:
Diarrhea Fatigue Hair loss Nausea and vomiting Difficulty breathing, excessive coughing Rashes, dry skin, or hand-foot syndrome Muscle and nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy) Anemia Increased risk of infection Sexual dysfunction Mouth sores, pain in the mouth and throat Kidney and bladder irritation Taste changes
Not everyone will experience every side effect. Your healthcare provider may be able to offer treatments to manage some of the ones you have, so speak up about them. You may also want to consider well-researched, safe natural remedies.
Radiation Side Effects
Radiation has some of the same side effects as chemotherapy, such as:
Fatigue Hair loss Increased risk of infection Skin problems (although the specific problems are different)
You may also experience:
Loss of appetite Fertility problems Other problems specific to the treatment areas
Talk to your healthcare provider about treatments for these side effects and whether natural remedies may help you.
Social Coping
You’re likely to experience a lot of social changes due to your illness and treatments, and these can be emotionally difficult. Both the symptoms of and treatments for cancer may make you unable to work or participate in the things you enjoy. This can leave you socially isolated on top of impacting your idea of who you are.
Additionally, a lot of people don’t know how to deal with serious illness and may treat you differently.
Speak Openly
No matter the relationship, try to have honest conversations about your feelings. Understand that your diagnosis has a big impact on the people around you and that they may be feeling fear, anger, or a range of other emotions. Don’t take their reaction personally—it’s directed at the disease, not at you.
Find a Support System
It’s important to establish a support system. That can include family, friends, your healthcare team, and support groups both online and in your community.
Often, people in your life want to help but don’t know how. Reach out when you need something and be specific. Do you need someone to go to the grocery store for you? Help with laundry? Drive you to a medical appointment? Let people know.
If you’re eventually able to return to work and resume your former role in the household, don’t expect things to go back to how they used to be. You’ve changed, and your relationships have changed. Give yourself time to figure out what your life is going to look like now.
Practical Matters
You’ve likely got a lot of practical considerations to deal with. It can be hard to make yourself address them, but it’s necessary. Putting them behind you, or getting the ball rolling, can help relieve stress and make you feel more grounded and in control.
Medical Bills
Chief among your concerns may be medical bills and insurance. You or someone close to you should talk to your insurance company to make sure you understand what will and won’t be covered. You may be eligible for government programs as well. A social worker should be able to help walk you through any options that may be available.
Continuing to Work
At work, you have a right to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Work with your supervisor or someone in human resources to see what might make you able to work more comfortably.
If you’re not able to work, look into disability insurance through your employer and consider medical leave instead of quitting so your benefits will continue. If you can’t keep your job or aren’t working, you may want to consider filing for Social Security disability.
Future Planning
You may also want to do things like write up a will and an advance directive. Look into hospice to see what it offers before you need it. Get things in order as much as you can so you don’t stress.
Also, you might want to consider home health care, where a trained medical professional comes in to assist you and your caregiver(s).
