Cancer diagnosis leads to a scary wait for news

A reader's recent cancer diagnosis leads to a painfully scary wait before a meeting with an oncologist and surgeon. There are several ways to tackle the stress, Carolyn Hax notes.

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Lifestyle

September 15, 2022 - 2:19 PM

Photo by Pixabay.com

Adapted from an online discussion.

Hi Carolyn: I found out three days ago that I have cancer. (God that is scary just typing it.) I have a consult on Monday with an oncologist and a surgeon. So far I’ve been managing to keep busy at work and keep myself from freaking out now because I just don’t know enough yet.

As the consult gets closer I’m having more trouble controlling my emotions. How do I get through the weekend to Monday morning? I’m feeling my heart start to race just typing this. — Scared

Scared: Oh, ugh, I’m sorry. Bad news is bad enough without added suspense.

The way you get through the weekend is to … get through. Seriously. I think we all got some unwelcome practice at this during the worst of the pandemic, and its lessons apply in this context:

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