I'm totally flipping out. One second
I am sad that I have cancer, then I get
really angry. Are all these different
feelings normal?
Cancer can cause many different feelings.
You might feel sad, numb, confused, worried,
angry or scared. Your feelings can change
from day to day. There is no right or
wrong way to feel. It is helpful to talk
about your feelings with someone you
trust. A friend, your parents, a school
counselor, or the people taking care
of you at the hospital are good places
to start.
I'm kind of confused about the treatment
I am getting. Will my doctor get mad
if I ask her questions about it? I feel
like I would be bothering her.
Ask questions about your cancer or treatment.
There is no such thing as a silly or
dumb question. Ask your doctors and nurses.
They will answer any of your questions.
Use a journal to keep track of your questions.
I'm pretty stressed out from everything.
What can I do to relax?
Listening to music, exercising or reading
might be something you do to relax or
unwind. Also, make sure you are eating
and sleeping enough. While it might seem
that alcohol or other drugs will help
you cope, they really cover up the pain.
If you feel like you can't cope any other
way, please reach out to a trusted adult
and ask for help.
Well, the one good thing about all this
is that I don't have to go to school,
right?
School is important. It helps you to have
a routine. As long as you are feeling
OK, you can go to school. One of the
nurses at the hospital can talk with
the nurse at your school about your cancer
treatment. That way, if you are not feeling
well at school, you can be comfortable
talking with the school nurse.
Can I still play sports and do all the
things I usually do?
Many teens with cancer find
they can continue the activities they
like to do. You can still:
- play sports
- play your instruments
- hang out
with friends
- do all the other
things you like to do.
Sometimes having cancer may limit some
of your activities. We will work hard
with you to keep your life as normal
as possible.
Will my friends treat me differently?
You are the same person you were before
you were diagnosed with cancer. While
you might worry what others will think,
your good friends will stick by you.
Your friends might not know what to say.
Or, they may wonder how to talk with
you about your illness. Tell your friends
how they can help. Teens tell us that
their friends often are a great support
to them during this time.
Do you have a list of websites,
books, and other resources on helping
kids cope?
Information Finder
on Helping Kids Cope
You may also be interested in
other topics:
Revised 2008
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