Adjusting to the News
Maybe in the back of your mind, you feared that your
cancer
might return. Now you might be thinking, "How can this be
happening to me again? Haven't I been through enough?"
You may be feeling shocked, angry, sad, or scared. Many
people have these feelings. But you have something now
that you didn't have before - experience. You've lived
through cancer once. You know a lot about what to expect
and hope for.
Also remember that treatments may have improved since you
had your first cancer. New drugs or methods may help with
your treatment or in managing side effects. In fact, cancer is
now often thought of as a chronic disease, one which people
manage for many years.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090509071346im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/784f1814-6ecc-4f09-b48d-57cfe50078da/WhenCancerReturns02.jpg)
"When I found out I had cancer again,
I just felt numb. It was hard for me
to accept the news at first.
After a few weeks, though, I started
to really look at all my options
and things I could do for myself.
By doing this, it gave me back
some control." |
"One minute everything was fine,
and then my doctor dropped the
bomb that my cancer had come
back. In 5 short minutes, my life
had changed again." - Dorothy |
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