Dealing with a Cancer Diagnosis and the Beginning of Treatment
A cancer diagnosis changes your life, as well as the lives of those around you. The symptoms and side effects of the disease and its treatment may cause physical changes, but they will certainly affect the way you feel, how you live, and how you interact with family and friends.
The Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment can be extremely difficult. It is important for patients to actively practice self-care and utilize resources to help them physically and emotionally cope. Useful coping strategies include:
Learn about your diagnosis, treatments, and side effects. Understanding your situation helps diminish the unknowns which are fueling extra distress.- Share feelings honestly with trusted confidants for relief, rather than isolating your struggles. Seek professional counseling if you become overwhelmed.
- Rest as needed but stay active when possible to combat fatigue and clear your mind. Light exercise, like walking, often lifts the mood.
- Eat nutritious, appetizing foods that do not exacerbate symptoms, hydrate often, and take supplements to help issues with appetite and taste.
- Employ relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga for mental health. Make time for favorite diversions that uplift your spirit.
- Join a support group to connect with fellow patients for empathy and advice on tackling shared struggles.
- Organize records and delegate tasks at home or work to minimize daily burdens and preserve energy for healing.
- Plan rewarding experiences - even simple joys - throughout treatment process to reinforce the purpose each day.
Understand as well that setbacks can arise on the path that starts with treatment and ends in wellness. Be sure to try to radiate self-compassion on the hard days, you deserve it. Pace yourself while actively nurturing your mind and bodily needs. You have reserves of strength to meet each phase ahead.
During Treatment
Treatment always starts with a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. It is plunging into the unknown – at first. Anxiety is normal. As you take first steps, expect that you may experience:
Physical Sensations
- Apprehension about side effect discomforts to come
- Strange sensations or metallic tastes during IV infusions
- Fatigue from anti-cancer medications as treatment initiates
- Nausea and pain once doses build up
Uplifting Milestones
- Making critical treatment decisions bolsters empowerment
- Community support rallies around you
- Bonds with medical staff develop
- Small markers of progress lift spirits
Planning/Logistics
- Coordinating work leave, finances, transportation, and childcare
- Scheduling appointments for scans, bloodwork, and procedures
- Understanding regimen instructions for medications and diet
Emotions/Mental Process
- Shock, denial, and anger - a rollercoaster is common processing treatment reality
- Wrestling fears about treatment outcomes
- Sadness over lost independence or control as the reality of the patient role sets in
Please remember to access anti-nausea meds and pain relief and be sure to alert staff to any intolerable or unusual side effects. Embrace help in navigating logistics and talk openly with others about any worries plaguing your mind. Take each moment as it comes.
Believe that you have the inner stores of resilience to match each phase of the journey ahead.
Our Mission
We are a multidisciplinary team of surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, reconstructive surgeons, and clinical trial investigators. Together, we deliver cutting-edge, safe, well-coordinated, and supportive care to people with cancer and their families.
We strive to provide access to cutting-edge clinical trials in cancer care. This means providing access to innovative therapies in the community where you live. We feel strongly that state-of-the-art medicine should be easily assessable beyond academic centers.
We always maintain an individualized touch, and we will never treat you as just another patient.
What We Do
Our clinical practice encompasses various tumor types including,but not limited to:
Breast
Bladder
Lung
Colorectal
Gastric
Kidney
Livers
Esophageal
Pancreatic
Prostate
Testicular
Head and Neck
Genitourinary
Gynecological Malignancies
The Expertise You Need, The Compassion You Deserve
With years of experience working in cancer research and treatment, our team brings extensive knowledge and expertise to every patient. Our passion for helping patients find the right clinical trial while providing the care they need is unparalleled.
Our team is dedicated to making sure you have access to the best possible cancer treatment options.
The Process
What To Expect
When you partner with Dr. Sajid you can expect personalized care from a highly skilled professional. Our goal is to provide the highest level of care while ensuring that every patient has access to the best possible cancer treatments.
A brief explanation of the process:
01
Learn about current cancer treatment and prevention trials.
02
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sajid to discuss your needs and options.
03
Begin participating in the trial that is right for you.
04
Receive comprehensive care during your participation in the trial.
Breaking The Barrier to Cancer Care
After years of working with leading research institutions, Dr. Sajid saw first-hand the difficulty many patients had accessing essential cancer treatment and prevention trials. Even when patients were accepted in clinical trials, they often faced additional roadblocks: forced to travel distances (with all the attendant costs), lack of transparency of the treatment process, and difficulty accessing necessary information.
That’s why we are committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent patients from getting the care they need closer to home. Our team ensures every patient can access comprehensive cancer care. No one will be left behind.
- Access to leading cancer treatment trials
- Personalized care from a highly skilled professional
- Comprehensive support during the trial process
- Transparency and access to necessary information
Start Your Journey to Healing Today
If you or someone you love is struggling with cancer, contact our, Houston office to learn more about the clinical trials that could help. Our team is committed to giving you access to the best possible care and providing personalized support throughout your journey.
Whether you need a second opinion about a diagnosis, or want to learn how to participate in a cancer prevention or clinical trial, our experienced team is here for you.