Receiving a diagnosis of cancer is frightening and can be devastating, especially when the prognosis is unfavourable. It can be difficult to maintain a positive perspective or even to perform your everyday routine.There are a number of coping mechanisms that can help you avoid becoming discouraged or negative regarding your treatment and your life after the disease.

• Reach out for support-There will be times when you feel lost and alone…. Don’t be frightening to reach out to family, friends, cancer support organisations, who are there to help and support you through this difficult time. The Support organisations are there to help you discuss your feelings, emotions and the treatment you are undertaking / due to undertake. You will meet with other people who are experiencing the same as yourself and this alone can be a great help. 
  Your family and friends are also willing, sometimes eager, to provide you with support and a ‘listening ear’. By discussing your emotions, it will help you overcome your feelings of isolation. Friends and family can also feel helpless and allowing them to provide you with support, will also help them deal with the circumstances.

• It is a great help to get out of the house. Don’t stay cooped up all day every day. Socialising with other people may seem the worst thing possible. However, try to maintain a normal routine, if at all possible. Your family and friends will not expect you to entertain them, they just want to be there to support and help you through this very difficult time.
  
  
• Put your sneakers on. Exercise is a great stress reliever. Experts believe that people who exercise are less likely to have anxiety and depression. Tray doing it most days of the week (in small amounts) to get the ideal benefits.Get creative. Writing, painting, knitting, embroidery, card making, creating music are all great stress relievers and outlets for the stress and anxiety you may be feeling as your battle your cancer.
  
  
• Keep moving forward. A key aspect of processing your emotions is to use that energy to move forward, irrespective as to whether you are still undergoing treatment or you are in remission. Check out support groups, help with fundraising to raise money to help other people with the type of cancer disease you are suffering / have suffered from. 
  
  
• Don’t just follow these steps while you are undergoing treatment or in remission, always tackle the stress as a ‘survivor’ on a regular basis, even if it’s a long time since you went into remission.
  
  Do not let the cancer win. Be positive and determined to win this battle!