Fighting The Fear of Suffering, Financial Strain and The Unknown
How you can take control of your healthcare today
If you are concerned about something you’ve noticed that’s different in your body or a change that you believe should be looked into, please take action and do something about it.
Do not ignore it in the hope that it will go away. You may be fearful and anxious.
Fears can make us feel weak, strip us of our power and sense of self. It’s natural for us to find ourselves facing several fears when we are dealing with a health scare: the fear of loss or pain, or of death. Further, if we give in to the fear, we may find that our fears begin to multiply.
However, it need not be this way.
We can choose not to operate from a place of fear and instead, be centred in trusted, reliable information and the choices we make. We can begin to feel more grounded and comfortable in our health journey by taking ownership of our situation.
When it comes to our health, taking ownership involves looking for relevant information that can inform and guide us in understanding more about our health concerns.
It also involves organising support around us so we feel confident and secure in moving forward. Doing these things allows us to take the early steps needed to begin resolving our health concerns. It can also lead to a noticeably calmer feeling as we begin to gain more control of our lives.
If you have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer or are having to make decisions about your breast cancer diagnosis, there are several things you can do to take control of your health situation and feel empowered.
Do your own reading and research
While some medical terminology can be off-putting or appear confusing, taking time to begin understanding what you are faced with can help you deal with the diagnosis. While you do not need to understand every aspect of the issue, understanding your health issue can help you look out for possible treatment options, understand the kind of questions to ask, and consider the actions you may want to take.
In this way, you do not have to rely only on what others share with you. You can assess information based on what you understand.
Tip: As you do your research, you will likely have questions or concerns. Write your questions down and take these to your doctor at your upcoming medical appointment.
Surround yourself with help and support
Do not feel that you need to go through your situation alone. Reach out to a loved one or close friend. Sharing your story will not only lighten the load but it can enable those around you to provide the support and care you need.
Tip: Your loved one or friend can also be a trusted companion accompanying you to medical appointments and hospital visits from time to time.
Maintain good medical records
While each medical centre or health facility will retain their own set of records, patients are also advised to retain their medical records. These records can be of all clinic or hospital visits, medical appointments as well as the tests, scans and procedures undertaken.
As you move between different medical health professionals, over a period of time which may be prolonged or with gaps of time between each visit, it helps to have as complete a picture of who you have seen, the various appointments attended and what each appointment was for, and the type of procedures, scans or tests completed together with test results.
As a patient, you are entitled to your own patient records.
Tip: While maintaining paper records of documents, test results and receipts are good, it may be useful to digitally record all of these documents and save them securely online. This keeps all records centralised, secure and accessible whenever they are needed, providing a complete picture of your medical history for yourself and any health professional who may require access to it as part of your treatment plan. Complete records also provide a complete history of your health which helps when managing diagnoses and treatments.
Secure other support if needed
Sometimes, additional support or services may be required. For example, you may need a translator or interpreter to accompany you on doctors’ visits. You may need help reviewing and understanding written instructions or medical procedures.
Knowing where and how to access these support services will enable you to focus calmly and confidently on conversations with your doctors and healthcare providers.
Access the patient navigator’s resource
A patient navigator is someone who helps guide a patient through the healthcare system. Such a person can provide support and guidance to you as you undergo screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of your breast cancer diagnosis.
Once you have received such a diagnosis, you may have many things running through your mind. Having support and guidance can help you manage your journey.
A patient navigator may share several resources with you, including a decision aid tool. This is a tool that may be used to help you clarify the decisions to be made, provide information about options and outcomes and distil personal values. It is designed to complement counselling from a medical practitioner.
With a decision aid tool, you can be supported in identifying your priorities and concerns. All of these can help you decide on the best course of action to take.
Tip: Remember that a decision aid tool does not make decisions for you. It helps you to get more informed and helps you clarify your needs and choices.
If you face a breast cancer diagnosis, know that you are not alone. Review the information provided on this website. Consult your doctor once you have reviewed relevant information. Ask whatever questions you need to get the clarity and assurances that can guide your decisions moving forward.
With appropriate information and support, you can, together with your doctor, make the best decisions in terms of your breast cancer treatment and care plan.
Cancer Research Malaysia is the only non-profit organisation in Malaysia dedicated to saving lives through impactful cancer research in Asians. We have developed a unique digital decision aid tool specifically for cancer patients, which is made available for free on this website.
