The world may freeze. Or time may seem to stand still. When you receive a cancer diagnosis, such as for Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer of the immune system, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed, scared, and like you want to run away from it all.
Of course, these are normal reactions, and help is available at this difficult time. Here, we’ll walk you through the types of support that you’ll likely need following a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.
Why Would You Need Support?
Getting a diagnosis of cancer is never a good thing. You will feel shocked, sad, angry, and helpless. None of these feelings are abnormal and should be expected. However, while you come to terms with the diagnosis, you’ll need help with other areas of your life, such as work, money, and support getting to or from medical appointments.
This is where places like the Moffitt Cancer Center can set up help for you, usually in the form of appointments with a cancer nurse, as well as contacting social workers to help you in day-to-day life.
Doctor and Nurse Support
When you receive a cancer diagnosis, you’ll need to be in contact with medical professionals a lot. So, to help you get on the path to better physical health, you’ll need to be in touch with your primary care doctor, as well as nurses, who will monitor your condition.
This is crucial as these professionals can help to assess whether your cancer symptoms are worsening or improving.
Cancer Nurse
So, how is a cancer nurse different from a general nurse? Well, they’re trained in dealing with patients who have cancer and are there to answer any questions that you have about your condition, as well as listen to the concerns of both you and your family members.
They’ll also liaise with your general doctor and nurses to help to ensure that the treatment you receive is correct and that your physical and mental health is in good shape.
Support Groups
Research has found time and time again that when someone is diagnosed with cancer or any serious illness, having the support of others who have experienced something similar can be extremely beneficial. So, when you receive a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma, your cancer nurse or doctor will likely refer you to a support group in the community or even online.
Social media platforms like Facebook are renowned for having a wide array of different support groups for different cancer types, so be sure to check them out for help at home.
Therapy
There are few people, if any, who receive a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma who won’t need any kind of mental health support. Even if the treatment is going well, and remission appears likely, you can expect to feel angry and frustrated that this has happened to you and may be looking for meaning in the entire process.
Your cancer nurse will be able to refer you to a counselor or therapist who specializes in cancer and chronic illnesses, who will be able to help you to address your feelings and make peace with the situation as best as you can. Plus, sometimes, it’s just nice to have someone to talk to.
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