ABSTRACT
Getting the diagnosis of cancer is a bombshell. It’s like an explosion. It’s a tremendous explosion in a person’s life. They don’t have the time to process that because decisions need to be made right away. The diagnosis has to be made, and then, often surgery starts or chemotherapy will begin or combinations of things happen. The patients don’t process the bombshell, they respond. They have to get as much information as they can. They choose health professionals. They start off on this whole treatment course. And they are busy dealing with that. It’s like a real crisis stage, everyone is mobilized and energized, and “we’re going to fight.” The family rallies together. There is a sense of hope and optimism initially. You’ve got the best health professionals behind you, everyone is working as a team on your treatment. The doctors may by saying very positive things about the outcome. There is a kind of feeling of security that you are doing everything you can. The oncologists may have good results with the initial bout with cancer.
