Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Coping and support

By Mayo Clinic staff

Living with cancer newsletter

Subscribe to our Living with cancer newsletter to stay up to date on cancer topics.

A diagnosis of lung cancer is devastating. It may take some time to come to terms with your feelings. When you're ready, you can take steps to take control of your situation. Taking an active role in your health care may make you feel more empowered in coping with lung cancer. Try to:

  • Learn all you can about lung cancer. Find out everything you can about your lung cancer — the type, the stage, your treatment options and their side effects. The more you know, the more active you can be in your own care. Write down questions and ask them at your next appointment. Ask your health care team about additional sources of information. The National Cancer Institute answers questions from the public. You can reach them at 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237), or contact the American Cancer Society (ACS) at 800-227-2345.
  • Take an active role in your treatment. Although you may feel tired and discouraged, don't let others — including your family or your doctor — make important decisions for you. Take an active role in your treatment and work with your doctors to make your health care decisions.
  • Build a strong support system. A strong support system helps you cope with everyday difficulties, such as fatigue and pain. Friends and family are worried about you and want to help, so learn to accept help when you need it. Staying connected with friends and family helps them cope with your illness, and it gives you a chance to talk about your hopes and fears. Sometimes you'll feel like your friends and family can't understand your feelings if they've never had cancer. In these cases, support groups — both in your community and on the Internet — can be a good source for practical information and support. You may also find that you develop deep and lasting bonds with people who are going through the same things you are.
  • Set reasonable goals. Having goals helps you feel in control and can give you a sense of purpose. But don't choose goals you can't possibly reach. You may not be able to work a 40-hour week, for example, but you may be able to work at least half the time. In fact, many people find that continuing to work can be helpful.
  • Take time for yourself. Eating well, relaxing and getting enough rest can help combat the stress and fatigue of cancer. Also, plan ahead for the downtimes when you may need to rest more or limit what you do.
  • Stay active. A diagnosis of cancer doesn't mean you have to stop doing the things you enjoy. For the most part, if you feel well enough to do something, go ahead and do it.
Prevention Alternative medicine
References
  1. Non-small cell lung cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/nscl.pdf. Accessed Sept. 23, 2009.
  2. Estimated new cancer cases and deaths. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/downloads/MED_1_1x_CFF2009_Est_Cancer_Cases_Deaths.asp. Accessed Sept. 25, 2009.
  3. Small cell lung cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/sclc.pdf. Accessed Sept. 23, 2009.
  4. Johnson DH, et al. Cancer of the lung: Non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1307.
  5. What you need to know about lung cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/lung/allpages/print. Accessed Sept. 23, 2009.
  6. Lung cancer prevention (PDQ): Patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/lung/patient/allpages/print. Accessed Sept. 23, 2009.
  7. Cancer of the lung and bronchus. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html. Accessed Sept. 25, 2009.
  8. Questions to ask your medical team. Lung Cancer Alliance. http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/facing/questions.html. Accessed Sept. 23, 2009.
  9. Lung cancer screening (PDQ): Patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/lung/patient/allpages/print. Accessed Sept. 23, 2009.
  10. Avastin (prescribing information). South San Francisco, Calif.: Genentech Inc.; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/125085s0168lbl.pdf. Accessed Sept. 25, 2009.
  11. Tarceva (prescribing information). Melville, N.Y.: OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/021743s015lbl.pdf. Accessed Sept. 25, 2009.
  12. Kvale PA, et al. Palliative care in lung cancer. Chest. 2007;132(suppl):368S.
  13. Cassileth BR, et al. Complementary therapies and integrative oncology in lung cancer. Chest. 2007:132(suppl):340S.

DS00038

Nov. 10, 2009

© 1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger