Endometrial Cancer: Dealing Day-to-Day

The diagnosis of any type of cancer can be very hard for a person to take. However, endometrial cancer can be treated effectively and successfully. If you have endometrial cancer there is a good chance that you will soon be cancer-free and able to live a full, rich life.

In the mean time, there are a number of tips that can help you deal with your disease on a day-to-day basis. These include:

1. Get informed about your disease
Information is key in any cancer diagnosis, but the shock may make it difficult to get in gear. Learn all about the disease, its stages, its treatment, and life after cancer. If that sounds overwhelming, create your own research staff. Find a friend or family member who likes to research and can get info for you and help you understand what is going on and what to ask your treatment team. Take them with you to doctor's appointments or have them help you write questions to ask.

2. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options
All treatment options may not be right for all women. Your doctor can help you figure out what is right for you. After endometrial cancer is diagnosed, your doctor will recommend one or more options for treatment. Make sure you understand each treatment, what it should do, what its side effects are. You may want to get a second opinion about your condition prior to beginning treatment.

3. Show up for your follow-up appointments
Most doctors recommend that you schedule follow-up visits every three to six months for the first three years after treatment for endometrial cancer. Approximately 75 percent of recurrences are detected during this time. After three years, the likelihood of recurrence is reduced, and follow-up visits are typically scheduled semiannually. By showing up to all of these appointments, you can greatly increase the odds of catching any potential recurrences very quickly.

4. Build a network of support
People will want to help you, so let them. You may get many initial offers when you hear your diagnosis, but may not need the help then. Tell people "thanks, I may call on you in the future." Then do so. Be up front and ask people for what you need, or use a trusted friend or relative to do it for you. Your network should also include other cancer patients, either locally or online, who can tell you what they went through and how they found help.

5. Learn about your disease, but don't be immersed in it
Although cancer has become a part of your life, it is not your life. Learning about your disease and finding support can take over your life if you let it. You still have a life outside cancer. Try to do normal things when you are able, but don't lose hope when you aren't up to it. You may become friends with other cancer patients who are doing worse or better than you are, which can scare you about your own condition. Every person responds differently. Focus on your own health but try not to become obsessed by it.

6. Be prepared for setbacks
After a cancer diagnosis, you may think you can handle anything. But pay attention to your feelings and allow for different reactions along the way. You may have learned to accept a cancer diagnosis and the prospect of chemo, but were unprepared for how a hysterectomy and surgical recovery made you feel. You may feel fine after two chemo sessions and think "this isn't so bad," only to get really ill after the next one. Good and bad may be divided into days, hours or minutes.

7. Keep a positive outlook
Some women may let a diagnosis of cancer completely destroy their mood. Yes, endometrial cancer is a serious disease that requires prompt and often aggressive treatment. It's natural to feel a little down and worried about your condition, but if you stay alert to your symptoms and treatment, your cancer can be cured. Don't hold on to the negativities. Your life is not ruined, you've merely hit a stumbling block.

Find the support you need to deal with endometrial cancer on the iVillage Cervical & Gynecological Cancers message board.