Be Educated. Be Empowered.

Knowledge is power.  That is why we say that empowerment comes from education.  The Frosted Pink campaign aims to empower women faced with cancer. Simply put, to be empowered means to feel strong, physically and mentally. How can you feel strong when you or a loved one is living with cancer? It’s not easy, but you can do something. You can start reclaiming your personal power by educating yourself about the disease and the support available to you. It’s still going to be hard, but you can do something. You can help yourself or someone you know fight back.  To further your education and self-empowerment be sure to go to our official clinical cancer information source Cancer.Net where you’ll find valuable resources and information.

 

Empowering Ideas

These are some great ideas and actions to help you or someone you know navigate a cancer diagnosis, treatments, and living with, through and beyond the disease.  Educate your way to empowerment!

 

1. You will feel overwhelmed, and that’s ok. Learning as much as you can will make you feel less helpless. Everyone who is faced with a cancer diagnosis feels like they have fallen into a black hole. That’s a normal reaction. The important thing is to know that you are not alone – there are resources and people available to help you take action and make the right decisions. Log on to our web partner cancer.net for more information.
2. You are still in control. Of course, you can’t control the cancer that has invaded your body. But you can control what you are going to do about it. Remember, the decisions that you will be facing are yours and yours alone. Work with your doctors and nurses as a team, but remember, they are on YOUR team. And the more information with which you arm yourself the stronger you’ll feel and the more you can contribute to your own care decisions. Educate yourself.
3. Question everything. Don’t hesitate to get a second or third opinion from another doctor(s) about your diagnosis and treatment options. Also ask as many questions about the research behind the treatment options as you need to feel comfortable. If the answers aren’t clear to you or you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. This is not the time to be shy. Remember information is power and you should get as much as you feel you need. See tip #5 to learn how to keep track of all of your questions.
4. Try to never go to another doctor’s visit alone. Find an Empowerment Partner to help you maneuver the maze of information. You can’t possibly absorb and remember all of the information that you will be given. Try to take someone (spouse, companion, friend, etc.) to every doctor’s visit with you, and have them write down what your doctor or nurse says. Keep these notes in your journal (See tip #5) and write down questions for your caregivers in advance of your appointments.
5. Keep a journal. Education involves not just learning more facts and data but also learning about your own journey and your individual needs. It is important to keep all of the information relevant to your diagnosis and treatment in one place, a journal. Your journal should include the information that your medical team gives you, the notes taken during your doctor’s visits, and any questions that come up in between doctor’s visits. Remember to always keep your journal and a pen close by, for you never know when your doctor might call or another question comes to mind.
6. There is more than one way to “win”. Education is individual. Your cancer journey is going to be different from anyone else’s. Just make decisions that you feel are right for you. Allow yourself to be inspired by others on this web site, but know that their journey is unique, just like yours. Fight, cry, meditate, yell, pray, scream…just don’t give up and don’t be afraid to reach out for help (see our Web Partner cancer.net for great resources).