Just Diagnosed With Kidney Cancer

For some people, telling friends and family that they have cancer is as scary as hearing the news themselves. You may be worried about how people are going to react or about how they will treat you. The choice to tell people or not is yours alone. If you choose to tell people, here are some tips:

• Be open and honest, and let them know it is okay to be the same with you
• Tell them at a time when you can give them your full attention. If you dont feel up to talking, that is okay
• If someone reacts badly, its not your fault. Each person will react in his or her own way

To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.

How you cope with cancer might be different each day. Give yourself time, but know that learning to cope can help you move forward with treatment. Consider these tips:

• Try to keep doing activities or hobbies if you can. This may help you take your focus off cancer for a while
• Join a support group where you can talk with other people who are also learning to cope with cancer
• Learn as much as you can about your cancer and treatment options so you can be involved in your care

To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.