;
After diagnosis #glennthecancerwaarrior
, colon collorectal cancer BRAF information for patients, public and broader
awareness. My cancer journey as a stage 4 terminal BRAF sufferer- glennthecancerwarrior
🌈
#glennthecancerwarrior -terminal BRAF MSS
After Diagnosis : Upon Diagnosis
Alot to take in I'm sure. First up you'll want to decide how to communicte it, to who and how.
This is a very personal thing so I won't put much detail in here. It's your diagnosis
and so Id say do it how you want to do it rather than what others say you should do etc... You may want to
communicate different layers of info to different people at different stages post diagnosis.
Likely to perhaps be the case with children, friends etc...
Of course now there's a variety of medias also to consider.
I've covered the steps that come early after hearing the news, in detail below but in summary.
There'll probably be alot of literature and maybe onstie site charity support via macmillans at the hospital / cliinic.
You may want to speak to someone whilst there or equally worth picking up literature availale to help
Try to avoid googling too much or atleast try to triangulate information. I.e. most of the statistcis on life expectancy
post diagnosis are out of date and have improved with treatment. the same is true regards to treatment
options and side effects, which will have improved over time.
Also that's just an average and very rough estimate, not you specifically.
What type of support might you need from family and friends. We generally don't like asking for help
but I thnk we should and can do it in a way that is more directive as to the type of help you need.
Early on after diagnsis : family and friend support
It's hard for friends and others to knowing what to when hearing of someones diagnosis unless they've experienced something cancer related directly or indirectly themselves.
Initially most (like I probably would have done) is given that person space by not messaging much), give a positive short message and for help give a comfort
gift like chocolate, wine or biscuits.
If you like I felt, you need more practical support and gifts then be open with them on what difficulties it's causing and the type of help
you and you family need. That in my view not only helps the patient but helps their friends to understand a bit and know what type of help to provide.
Here's a few thoughts on practical help from a stage 4 sufferer with an aggressive braf mutation perspective but maybe attributable to other stages and cancer types.
Time with you coffee/ catch-up
Any gifts being to for a being practical to help a cancer suffer practically. Like a chemo kit, good quality teat or coffee instead of wine
biscuits, a voucher for some treatment like massage, spa
Time based help, help driving children to school, after school cover / cover whilst in emergencies etc...
