4 Ways to Maintain Consistency During Cancer

Sometimes all we need is to make sure our lives feel "normal". Read and share these tips on maintaining some consistency during your Cancer journey.

I've been diagnosed with cancer six times. One of the hardest things I've dealt with through these diagnoses has been keeping my life "normal". Granted, all cancer fighters have to adapt to a new "normal" and it's not always easy. Having to accept the fact that you have cancer is one thing, but adjusting your life around your health is a whole other battle. Through my experiences I hope to help new and experienced cancer fighters maintain a little bit of consistency during a tumultuous journey. Keeping things consistent for you and your family is less stressful for them and ultimately for you as well! So put your adapting hat on and let's get started!

1. Figure Out Expectations

The most helpful information I've learned, when going through treatment, is how I would expect to feel physically. To get that information you need to ask your doctor specific questions; questions like, "How will I feel the day of my infusion?", "How will I feel 3 days after my treatment?", "When do patients normally start to feel better?". These questions will give you a better idea of how you may feel throughout the treatment cycle. I found that during my first chemotherapy regime I would feel fine for about 3 days, bad for the next 4 days, then back to normal the last week before my next treatment. That knowledge gave me an idea of what to expect.

2. Plan Out Your Days in Advance

Once you have that information (and it may change as your treatment progresses) then you can really start to plan out how you spend your days. I always liked planning out by the week so I divided my days into "Active Days" and "Rest Days". Active Days are when you do the most physical activities for the day/week. Those chores can be grocery shopping, cleaning the house, laundry, more intense exercise, trips, preparing food and other activities. The "Rest Days" are good for doing activities that require low physical effort like paying bills, making phone calls, folding laundry, meal planning, paperwork, catching up on emails, and keeping in contact with Insurance Case Workers, Human Resources, and family.

3. Ask For Help From Others

This is also a good opportunity to assign some new tasks to family members. Maybe your spouse could empty the dishwasher while you cook, the kids could do the vacuuming on a specified day, or your mom could dust when she visits you each week. For the friends and family members that have offered to help you or asked you to let them know if you need anything; this is a good opportunity to give them specific ways to help. When you let people help you, it's just as fulfilling to them as it is helpful to you. It also teaches kids (and adults) to rally together when someone is having a tough time--a valuable lesson to learn.

I don't have children, but I have talked to many cancer fighters that do. Helpful advice included alternating carpooling with other parents (in relation to your "Active" and "Rest" days), enrolling children in new activities outside the house when you need to rest, and scheduling a weekly visit to grandparents. These all present good opportunities for the kids to see family, friends, and learn a new trade!

4. Don’t Sacrifice The Things You Love

It was important to me that my spouse and I could still do the things we loved doing; movies, weekend road trips, shopping, and eating at new restaurants. Being spontaneous during treatment was considered a luxury and wasn't always an option. So I made sure that on my "Active Days" we could do the things we loved. It took a bit more planning, but we always got to enjoy ourselves by doing what we loved.

Cancer affects the entire family, but I don't believe it has to be a negative experience. It is an opportunity! An opportunity to make the best of a rough situation. When you do that it's very empowering for you and those fighting with you. It teaches everyone that when things get tough, you just got to get tougher.

Related Blog Posts:

• What Does "The New Normal" Really Mean?
• I Don't Want The "New Normal"
• Nobody Told Me That Life After Cancer Would Be Hard

Related Discussion Questions:

• For those that have made the transition to being a cancer survivor: How do you personally define what is your 'new normal?'
• I'm kind of struggling with my new normal and returning to work and just dealing with how life works when it no longer revolves around cancer.
• I'm not feeling "right." It's like cancer became a part of who I am and now it's gone and I'm left with the question "now what?"

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