LIVING WITH CANCER DIAGNOSIS BRINGS CHALLENGES
Living with a cancer diagnosis is not easy. Often you must live with unanswered questions. Are there hopes for remission? Is that really a possibility or are they just trying to make me feel better? Is it terminal? If so, how long do I have?
Living with a cancer diagnosis affects many areas of your life. Two of the most common are relationships and your belief system.
Relationships are affected when chronic illness of any kind strikes. Difficulties develop which are so complex that statistics show nearly 85 % of marriages with these challenges fail. No one warns you of this and too often couples are into the problems before they realize what has happened.
Creating a support system can be helpful. A cancer support group or individual or couple counseling can help you stay aware of how your relationship is being impacted and what you need to be alert to.
A cancer diagnosis can impact your belief system. It may expand it or it may challenge. If you’ve been taught that everything happens for a reason or that people get what they deserve, then you may feel hopeless and let down by your faith. You may find yourself asking, “Why has this happened to me?”
You may feel angry at God and then feel it is a terrible sin to be angry with God – or you may fear you have lost your faith.
Such feelings can deprive you of strength and reassurance that faith offers at a time when you need it most. Your faith needs to give you comfort and support, not feelings of abandonment, so talk to someone you trust.
