Read article Coping with nasopharyngeal cancer
This page contains information about coping with nasopharyngeal cancer. You can find the following
Coping with nasopharyngeal cancer
It can be very difficult coping with a diagnosis of cancer, both practically and emotionally. At first, you are likely to feel very upset, frightened and confused.
How the cancer might affect you physically
If your cancer has not been diagnosed in its early stages it may have already spread to nearby structures of the head and neck. This means you may have
- Changes in the way you look
- Changes in how you can eat
- Changes in your hearing
- Changes in your sight
All these can be very difficult to cope with and affect the way you feel about yourself.
Managing practically
As well as coping with the fear and anxiety that a diagnosis of cancer brings, you have to work out how to manage practically. There may be money matters to sort out. Who do you tell that you have cancer? There may be children to think about.
It may take some time to deal with each issue. Do ask for help if you need it. Your doctor or head and neck cancer nurse specialist can put you in touch with people specially trained in supporting those with cancer. The coping with cancer section contains lots of information you may find helpful. There are sections on your feelings, talking to people about cancer, how to help yourself and who else can help you, sex and sexuality and financial matters.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the living with nasopharyngeal cancer section.
It can be very difficult coping with a diagnosis of cancer, both practically and emotionally. At first, you are likely to feel very upset, frightened and confused. Or that things are out of your control. It is very important to get the right information about the type of cancer you have and how it is best treated. People who are well informed about their illness and treatment are more able to make decisions and cope with what happens.
Your nasopharyngeal cancer may have already spread to nearby structures of the head and neck, such as
- The nose and paranasal sinuses
- The mouth and oropharynx
- The cranial nerves – these nerves are close to the nasopharynx and control our sense of smell, sight and eye movement
- The eye or tissue surrounding the eye
This means that you may have
The links above take you to information that may help you to cope with these changes.
All these changes can be very difficult to cope with and affect the way you feel about yourself. Such changes can affect your self esteem and the way you relate to others, especially those very close to you. If you are having a sexual relationship, one or all of these changes may affect your sex life. There is information about changes in your sex life in this section.
Another problem you may have to cope with is feeling very tired and lethargic a lot of the time. This is common in a lot of people who have cancer in the head and neck area, especially if the cancer is advanced. There is a whole section on fatigue and cancer and treating cancer fatigue in the coping physically with cancer section.
As well as coping with the fear and anxiety that a diagnosis of cancer brings, you have to work out how to manage practically. There may be money matters to sort out. Who do you tell that you have cancer? And how do you find the words? You may also have children to think about.
Just try to remember that you do not have to sort everything out at once. It may take some time to deal with each issue. Do ask for help if you need it though. It is likely that your doctor or specialist head and neck cancer nurse will know who you can contact to get some help – they can put you in touch with people specially trained in supporting those with cancer. These people are there to help and want you to feel that you have lots of support. So use them if you feel you need to.
The coping with cancer section contains lots of information you may find helpful. There are sections about
- Your feelings
- Talking to people: who and what to tell
- Talking to children
- How you can help yourself
- Who else can help you
- Sex and sexuality
- Financial support, including information about benefits and sick pay
- Mortgages, pensions, loans and insurance, including travel insurance
- Coming to the UK from overseas
If you would like more information about coping with nasopharyngeal cancer, contact our cancer information nurses. They would be happy to help. Or you can contact one of the nasopharyngeal cancer organisations. They often have free factsheets and booklets they can send to you. They may also be able to put you in touch with a support group. There is also a nasopharyngeal cancer reading list.
We have details of counselling organisations, that can tell you about counselling and help you find sources of emotional support in your area.
- Share this: Tweet
-
-
- Print this page
-
Email this page
Increase text size
Decrease text size
Print page
Print basket
Save pages here and print in one go
Nurse helpline
Questions about cancer? Call freephone
0808 800 4040
or email us
