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Five Steps to Dealing with the Emotions Brought On By Ovarian Cancer

When the diagnosis of cancer is received, the pain you will encounter happens on a number of different levels, and interestingly enough the most hurt you might have to endure is not always physical. To help you weather this dreaded diagnosis as well as the potentially life-changing force it brings to your life, interactions, and overall worldview, here are five steps to dealing with the emotions brought on by ovarian cancer.

1. Plan to fight. Perhaps the most severe pain you will initially encounter is emotional and will come from missed opportunities, regrets over things done or not, and also the hurt at potentially seeing your life shortened. Deal with this particular pain by making a plan of wrongs you wish to right, and things you have always wanted to accomplish but have put off. Set in motion a plan to check all of these items off your list. Dream big and do not limit yourself to the easily visible and clearly achievable, but instead reach for the harder to accomplish and perhaps somewhat "out there" plans as well.

2. Forgive others and yourself. Should you have stopped smoking 20 years ago? Yes, probably. Since you cannot change what is, forgive yourself for not taking better care of yourself and quit today. Forgive your doctors for not running tests that might have diagnosed your ovarian cancer earlier. Move forward and surround yourself by specialists who will seek to cure it.

3. Anger is not a bad thing, as long as you channel it appropriately. If you are angry and frustrated, let it out but not on your loved ones. Go pound a punching bag, scream at the top of your lungs at a secluded spot at the beach, write a journal to plead your case with your god, and work out your overall anger in the best and most constructive ways possible.

4. Overcome your fears with information. There is a reason for pre-birthing classes and it is not just to learn about the process and the hospital rules but to help women understand what is going to happen to their bodies and to overcome the fear of the unknown. This is the reason why so many moms who are having a second or third child will not attend these classes - they are no longer afraid and know what to expect. You will have fears of physical pain, deterioration, and what to expect; information and knowledge are the only ways to actually overcome this fear. Seek out information as soon as possible.

5. Asking for help is not a weakness. If you are advised that the ovarian cancer treatment you will undergo may leave you in some pain, ask what you can do for that pain. Get whatever painkillers are recommended. Knowing that you do not have to suffer goes a long way to helping you deal with the treatments. Even if you do not use the pain killers and sleep aids the doctor gives you, just knowing that you have them handy if you want them is a great way of assuaging any fears of discomfort.