5 REASONS THAT CURB PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT CANCER AND 5 TIPS TO OVERCOME THEM!

Every 1 in 10 cancer patients feel reluctant in talking about cancer and related symptoms which can be stern most of the time. Here are reason and tips so that there is a good way to bring in confidence and be the one you want to be!

       WHY NOT TALKING ABOUT CANCER? 

• People expect that they are never getting this disease 

Most of the people in the world think that they are the last ones to procure this disease.  In the gender category of men, almost a quarter of men have never told to their relative or a friend about the cancer in them 

• The word Cancer is believed to be a ‘Taboo’

Even in the 21^st century taboo still exists and one of taboos would be cancer (which is a myth) and when they are diagnosed with the disease, they tend to freak out because they think they are ‘unclean’.

• It is my body and what happens to it is my business

      This attitude might bring in the selfish element whereas in reality it results in depression. There is a no-use-talking-to-anyone feeling that gives birth in some people because everyone around them seems useless to them.

• Fear of being isolated

      Most of the cancer patients do not talk to others about cancer because they fear that they would never be understood instead be judged.     
  

• Fear of posing as a sympathy figure in the society

There is always a fear that they would be figured as a sympathy symbol and that he or she will not be able to lead a normal life ahead.

WHY IS THERE A NEED TO TALK ABOUT CANCER?

1.       None of us are immune to cancer

There wouldn’t be anyone who is completely immune to the disease and accepting that fact would bring a confidence and positivity.

2.       Talk about it and the taboo will be diluted

Only by opening up a dialogue can the taboo surrounding it be diluted and can get more people will feel like talking more about and be aware of those facts.

3.       Everyone will help you, just give it a try!

Talk to the people who you trust and believe in (can also be someone who is in the same state) .

4.       Need not always be a hero

Even when people look up to you as a hero, there can be times when you have to remove the mask of being a hero and let your feelings flow. Be who you are because sometimes we all need a support and be proud to accept it!

5.       Ignorance is never bliss!

Ignoring symptoms will not help you in any way; it can only push you down. Talk about symptoms and how you feel every day.

Silence always comes in with fear and being a hero is not to be silent but talking about it and bringing up a change. It doesn’t matter if you don’t talk…..but imagine if your one talk can make even a small difference…..it will even save a life…BE THE CHANGE!

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
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Cheers!

Author: Shruti Manmadhan Nair                                         Co-authored by Rahul Yadav

                                         

Cancer - No taboos attached, Please!

Quoting, John Green, from The Fault in Our Stars

 "The world wasn't made for us, we were made for the world!"

I lost my father to the “big C”. Gall bladder cancer to be precise. 29Nov2012- what started as usual day,  made history.

My father was always a very cautious and disciplined person when it came to health. And I can say that without any second thoughts- despite being  70 yrs old, he did all his chores by himself. Absolutely “NO" help required. He had a sharp memory. In fact in certain domains- I was so much dependent on him, that I am yet to learn how to deal with them by myself. He looked perfectly healthy and fit. He never showed any symptoms until the day doctor told us.

30 Nov 2012, when I first came to know about cancer - I didn’t know how to react!

Struggling with myself, my major concern was how will papa react? How do I break the news to other family members - and what would their reactions be and how to deal with them. 

Inspite of so much being written and said about cancer, it still remains a taboo- mostly because of  ignorance about the disease and the social stigma attached to it. Both for the patients and people around them.

For the patients:
When a person is detected with cancer, lot of emotions conflict at the same time. Fear, anger, anxiety, shock, sadness, grief, depression and much more. As in it is hard for anyone to accept that they have cancer but it becomes more difficult because of the various “myths” people have about the disease.

At times people feel guilty as they may have done something wrong, as a result of which they got cancer. They feel like they’ve done some thing disgraceful. 

There are times when they feel "what people will think about them”. For fear of social isolation, they will hide their illness .

Some of the particular cases when people have hidden their illness and lost the crucial time and eventually their lives are

Women suffering from breast cancer, fear that after surgery they will not look - beautiful. They will be “left alone”, by their spouses and even their closest friends.

Men suffering from prostate, testicular and colorectal cancers find it difficult to talk to their spouses for fear of being judged.

Our society is very discreet, when a person dies -they attend the funeral but when the person actually needs them they maintain a convenient distance for “their” self justified beliefs like-Cancer is contagious and they are concerned for their own well being.

Financial concerns - with cancer comes, great financial burden. Usually people want to stay away to avoid any financial obligation.

In my father’s 11 months tryst with cancer, I learnt so many things, one of which was being always “positive” even when nothing seemed to work out. I kept on reminding myself, my father should never leave ‘Hope’ -that  kept him strong throughout his fight with cancer.

Cancer does harm physically, but the harm it causes emotionally is much more deep rooted. Few kind words from you will only help. Is being kind so difficult??
They don’t need your sympathy. Just few minutes of your day will do what no medicine can do- if they have to go, they will, but don’t make them feel sorry for being alive.

Talk to them, be with them!

Author: Jyotsna Verma

A daughter to a brave Yoddha and now a supporter to all fighting against Cancer. We at Team Yoddhas thank you for your constant support.
You can get more information and specially on Gall Bladder Cancer here http://paininmyveins.blogspot.jp/

If you are a patient or a family member then please do join the group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/yoddhathewarrior/