Cancer survivor encourages fellow survivors to cultivate hope to improve their survivorship time.
BY Barbara Tako
PUBLISHED November 01, 2018
Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools–We'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com, or www.clutterclearingchoices.com.
"Prepare for the worst and hope for the best." That is what my grandfather, who lived to be 99, would say. Live life; don't wait for the other shoe to drop. As a two-time cancer survivor and a bit of an organizer and planner (OK, let's call it perfectionist), I tend to focus on the first half of that message. It may be just as important, if not more important, to focus on the second half, "Hope for the best." Keep positive expectations. This is especially true once you find yourself to be a cancer patient and survivor. For many of us who are worriers and dare to think we are in control of our lives, this can be a daunting shift, but it is very important. Cultivate and keep hope.
Working to focus on positive thoughts can help you, even if you are a glass-is-half-empty sort like me. Cancer treatment time and the waiting and watching time beyond active treatment will happen with or without a positive attitude. It will be a more productive and pleasant time spent for you if you can try to keep a positive mental spin on it. Every day you are moving forward through the cancer process. Live in the moment. Practice gratitude. Take a breath. Try to appreciate even the small things.
Know, too that your attitude, on days when it is impossible to be positive, will not hurt your survival. According to the American Cancer Society, your attitude will not affect your treatment outcome (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/attitudes-and-cancer.html). Your negative or sad thoughts will not make the cancer grow or come back!
Working to focus on positive thoughts can help you, even if you are a glass-is-half-empty sort like me. Cancer treatment time and the waiting and watching time beyond active treatment will happen with or without a positive attitude. It will be a more productive and pleasant time spent for you if you can try to keep a positive mental spin on it. Every day you are moving forward through the cancer process. Live in the moment. Practice gratitude. Take a breath. Try to appreciate even the small things.
Know, too that your attitude, on days when it is impossible to be positive, will not hurt your survival. According to the American Cancer Society, your attitude will not affect your treatment outcome (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/attitudes-and-cancer.html). Your negative or sad thoughts will not make the cancer grow or come back!
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