Living with Rectal Cancer



Coping with a diagnosis of rectal cancer can be a frightening experience and learning to cope with the stress and fear is just half the battle. Here are some tips that will make it easier to deal with.

  • Learn as much as you can about the disease.
  • Take a close family member or friend along with you for each visit to the doctor. Their support will be invaluable in helping you cope.
  • Discuss all your options with the doctor. This will enable you to take informed decisions.
  •  Follow the advice of the doctor with regard to your diet as it can help prevent a recurrence of the cancer.
  • Regular exercise is an essential part of keeping healthy. Ask your doctor about the appropriate time to begin exercising after surgery.
  • Yoga and meditation can help you to deal with the stress of everyday living.
  • Join a support group for people recovering from cancer. This can help you to better cope with feelings of anxiety and depression.

Support groups are like a lifeline for most cancer patients. Support groups provide you with an opportunity to express yourself and also to interact with others, who genuinely understand what you’re going through. You can get in touch with support groups in your area or via the internet: American Cancer Society


Frequently asked questions
References
  1. Maria Giulia Zampino, Roberto Labianca, Giordano Beretta, Gemma Gatta, Katia Lorrizo, Filippo de Braud, Jacques Wils, Rectal cancer, Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, Volume 51, Issue 2, August 2004, Pages 121-143, ISSN 1040-8428, 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2004.03.004.
  2. E.M. Tweedle, P.S. Rooney, A.J.M. Watson, Screening for Rectal Cancer – Will it Improve Cure Rates?, Clinical Oncology, Volume 19, Issue 9, November 2007, Pages 639-648, ISSN 0936-6555, 10.1016/j.clon.2007.07.002.
  3. Rob Glynne-Jones, Pawan Mathur, Colin Elton, Matthew L. Train, Multimodal treatment of rectal cancer, Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology, Volume 21, Issue 6, December 2007, Pages 1049-1070, ISSN 1521-6918, 10.1016/j.bpg.2007.11.003.