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Its understandable if youre thrown for such a loop that youre not sure how to begin moving forward.
Getty/Roy Scott
Here are their suggestions.
Let yourself feel everything you’re feeling.
Its totally normal to experience a flood of emotions after abreast cancerdiagnosis.
Also totally normal: You may have the urge to suppress these reactions when dealing with breast cancer.
For some, letting your emotions come through without judgement can be particularly helpful.
If you are mad, dont deny it.
Just be mad for a minute.
It is an emotion.
It wont last forever.
As she explains, Emotions are wonderfully fluid.
[It helped] me to overcome … my fear of the unknown.
I had to allow myself to just let it happen.
Know that you’re not alone, even if it feels like you are.
You don’t need to join a support group right now if that doesn’t feel right to you.
Philecia L., 32, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2018.
The online breast cancer community became a lifeline, she says.
Its so nice to send a message and talk about something we can both relate to.
3. attempt to ask forand accepthelp.
It totally makes sense if you need some time to process by yourself.
But one thing that other patients mentioned is the importance of eventually accepting help from their support system.
Vandegeest-Wallace suggests trying to get comfortable with delegating chores or anything else thats simply too demanding.
Let your best friend walk your dog.
Accept your neighbors meals.
But cheesy pasta is a symbol of love and friendship, so receive it as such, Vandegeest-Wallace says.
Needing support at this time makes sense.
Schedule you time each week.
Devoting her time and energy to something besides thinking about breast cancer gave her a much-needed reprieve.
Dana D., 37, had a similar experience after being diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2010.
Whenever you could, remember that you are more than your diagnosis.
Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can completely change how you view parts of (or your entire) identity.
After undergoing chemotherapy and adouble mastectomy, Colandra felt less like a woman, she tells SELF.
To counter that feeling, she started taking frequent trips with female friends.
It is so necessary to change things up from the seemingly endless trips back and forth to the doctor.
Taking care of my physical health was my top priority, she tells SELF.
Don’t get an infection.
Take care of your open wounds.
But while fighting for my life, I lost myself.
Breast cancer, she says, felt like her new identity.
So, Allie set out to discover who her new post-diagnosis and post-treatment self was.
Process your feelings in therapy.
If youre not already seeing a mental health professional, here are some tips forfinding an affordable therapist.
Allie sought out atherapistwho helps her reflect on all that shes been through.
[It] allows me to actually sit with my feelings, she says.
There is a lot of power in saying your fears and worries out loud.
As Allie explains, her therapist isnt just a sounding board.
Now, Allie and her therapist focus onself-care.
She reminds me to take time for myself and… engage in healthy practices like meditation and journaling.
Wear something that makes you feel strong during treatment.
Then, while undergoingchemotherapy, LaTonyas hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes fell out.
So, before eachchemotreatment, LaTonya had a mini-makeover at Sephora.
She wore fake eyelashes and wigs to get her infusions.
Go somewhere or do something with the sole purpose of recharging.
I made it a priority to reclaim my life as soon as I finished chemotherapy, Lauren tells SELF.
That started with a beachside trip to Mexico with my partner.
Connecting physically with the sand, ocean, and salty breeze rejuvenated me spiritually and otherwise.
Bottom line: Whatever you may be feeling after a breast cancer diagnosis is fair.
Experimenting with what helps you cope best is valid, too.
