Disability Planning, Preparedness
STRONG THINGS DON’T BREAK SO WHY AM I BROKEN?
“Just breathe, You are strong enough to handle your challenges, wise enough to find solutions to your problem, and capable enough to do whatever needs to be done” ~ Lori Deschene
I don’t know, if Strong things don’t break then why am I so broken? Our Podcast this week, is a story of Lindsay coping to overcome the fear of hearing those words, “You have CANCER”. Now what? We don’t worry about what has already occurred, but we do worry about the extreme fear of the unknown. What’s next? What is going to happen now? What will I do? Will I survive? Will it hurt? What about my family? What about work? What about school? Am I healthy? How can I be healthier?
Trauma is the result of experiencing extreme fear and helplessness. Cancer causes trauma much like a person pointing a gun at you, hearing the words, “you have cancer” is a life threatening event. Except with cancer, the gun is never completely gone. Every doctor appointment, scan and treatment can re-traumatize us.
According to the Mayo Clinic, almost half of all men and a third of all women in the United States will receive a cancer diagnosis at some time in their lives. A cancer diagnosis often comes with little warning.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and is responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer. Approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. Sep 12, 2018
Key facts
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and is responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer.
- Approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- Around one third of deaths from cancer are due to the 5 leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use.
- Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer and is responsible for approximately 22% of cancer deaths
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. The most common cancers are:
- Lung (2.09 million cases)
- Breast (2.09 million cases)
- Colorectal (1.80 million cases)
- Prostate (1.28 million cases)
- Skin cancer (non-melanoma) (1.04 million cases)
- Stomach (1.03 million cases)
The most common causes of cancer death are cancers of:
- Lung (1.76 million deaths)
- Colorectal (862 000 deaths)
- Stomach (783 000 deaths)
- Liver (782 000 deaths)
- Breast (627 000 deaths)
- According to WHO ~ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer#:~:text=Key%20facts,%2D%20and%20middle%2Dincome%20countries.
According to WHO, the World Health Organization, here are the details of the causes of Cancer
What causes cancer?
Cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumour cells in a multistage process that generally progresses from a pre-cancerous lesion to a malignant tumour. These changes are the result of the interaction between a person’s genetic factors and 3 categories of external agents, including:
- physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;
- chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant), and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant); and
- biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
WHO, through its cancer research agency, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), maintains a classification of cancer-causing agents.
Ageing is another fundamental factor for the development of cancer. The incidence of cancer rises dramatically with age, most likely due to a build-up of risks for specific cancers that increase with age. The overall risk accumulation is combined with the tendency for cellular repair mechanisms to be less effective as a person grows older. ~ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer#:~:text=Key%20facts,%2D%20and%20middle%2Dincome%20countries.
Lindsay discusses all the feelings, her lack of courage and strength heightened as she heard those dreaded words from her doctor that day.
Now, the next stages are what everyone wants to know, how do you move on with your life after that dreaded doctor’s appointment. A few of the steps to help guide you in this journey from Lindsay.
1- Get a Team to support you. Don’t beat yourself up for the diagnosis. Building a strong support system will provide you with that extra support that you can really gravitate towards. Building that strength, support, conversation, venting, healthy eating, guidance, and a shoulder to cry on as well. Perhaps someone to stay the evenings with you or the nights might be beneficial as well.
2-Recognize depression or anxiety triggers and when they appear – and what do they look like:
- Feeling confused.
- Being overwhelmed or losing hope.
- Having problems with memory or thinking.
- Getting too much or not enough sleep.
- Feeling extreme fatigue or no energy and you don’t know why
- Having little appetite or not wanting to eat. Nothing tastes good to you. Nothing is satisfying
- Feeling very sad and helpless. Not sure why perhaps or what triggers
- Experiencing weight loss or weight gain. One or the other. What is making you not eat or eat too much
3- Accept your feelings, they are true to YOU! Have compassion for yourself to overcome this obstacle!
4- Look for counselling, guidance or support groups that you can become a part of. Really embrace learning and wanting to grow.
What a great Podcast this week recognizing the need to fulfil our passion, our emotions and our understanding of where we are at the moment and how we can get guidance, find help, recognize your feelings, and have compassion for you as well as the journey that you have been given!
Lindsay Bennett is the owner of “with Lindsay Bennett,” a coaching business geared toward transforming your relationships and strengthening your connections through proven communication principles. Consider her your relationship, communication, and compassion guide, which means she is with you on your journey. She helps you with practical ways to create
relationship connections so you feel seen, heard, and understood.
Lindsay has a bachelor’s degree in Global Communication, with an emphasis in peacebuilding communication in relationships. She is currently earning her master’s degree in Communication Studies and will complete her degree in May 2021. Her graduate focus is interpersonal and
compassionate communication. She finds fulfillment in teaching these communication strategies to her students and finds joy in watching their transformations unfold as they practice the concepts taught in her course.
When you need a hype-woman, a listening ear, a reminder of your self-worth, or a trusted communication expert, she is your gal! Connect with her at www.withlindsaybennett.com or on Instagram @withlindsaybennett.
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