A cancer diagnosis means lots of treatment appointments, decisions to make and fears to face. Setting goals, whether short-term or long-term, can help get you through the journey.
BY Dana Stewart
PUBLISHED June 20, 2018
Dana Stewart was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at the age of 32. She is the co-founder of a cancer survivorship organization called The Dragonfly Angel Society. She volunteers as an advocate and mentor, focusing on young adults surviving cancer. She enjoys writing about life as a cancer survivor, as well as connecting survivors to the resources, inspirations and stories that have helped her continue to live her best life, available at www.dragonflyangelsociety.com.
I am a planner. I have always been a planner for as long as I can remember. I am not much for flying by the seat of my pants. No, I don't have to plan every waking moment of my life, although given the option, I'd probably attempt it. It's just the way I function. So, when cancer's unfortunate presence granted me some of it's time, I knew I had to keep close to my planning skills in order to get through my diagnosis of breast cancer. I got all my doctor appointment scheduled out as far as they would let me, all my treatments, all my surgeries and anything else my medical teams would let me schedule as early as possible. It gave me a little control of what seemed to be a virtually uncontrollable situation. That’s another of my least favorite things: no control.
One characteristic that comes with being a planner is goal setting. This is another favorite of mine. I set myself some goals through my entire cancer treatment process. I had short-term and long-term goals. I carried that goal setting through active treatment, as well as through cancer survivorship. Now, eight years after diagnosis and I still have goals to get me through. Let me breakdown my process a bit as I feel that setting goals is really what helped me through one of the toughest challenges of my life - cancer.
One characteristic that comes with being a planner is goal setting. This is another favorite of mine. I set myself some goals through my entire cancer treatment process. I had short-term and long-term goals. I carried that goal setting through active treatment, as well as through cancer survivorship. Now, eight years after diagnosis and I still have goals to get me through. Let me breakdown my process a bit as I feel that setting goals is really what helped me through one of the toughest challenges of my life - cancer.
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