How to deal with a cancer diagnosis: focus on treatment options, stay positive, doctor says; survivor advises asking questions and letting emotions out
- Hong Kong resident Chang Hsiu-yun was shocked and afraid when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. ‘My mind went blank,’ she says
- Ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4, she gives her advice on how to not feel overwhelmed, while a doctor explains how he guides his patients
When Chang Hsiu-yun was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2022, she was “shocked” and “afraid”.
“My mind went blank when the doctor broke the news to me. When reality set in, I thought, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ and ‘How will my cancer treatment work?’” says Chang, who was 51 at the time.
The silver lining for Chang was that the cancer was in situ, which means that the cancer cells were confined to just one area and had not yet spread into the surrounding breast tissue. This early-stage cancer is treatable and has high survival rates.
Doctors advised her not to worry, but she did. Her husband and two adult sons were also shocked by her diagnosis. The following months were especially difficult for the family as Chang underwent treatment.
She had a vacuum-assisted biopsy on her left breast. For this, the doctor used a special hollow needle attached to a vacuum device to remove breast tissue through a small cut in the skin.
“The wound took a long time to heal and my left breast swelled to double its size,” says Chang, who was born in Taiwan and has lived in Hong Kong for 22 years.
“Over the next few months, I had to stop work as a Pilates instructor and get my husband’s help with a lot of things. My sleep was also disrupted because of the wound.”
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After the surgery, Chang had 15 sessions of radiation therapy to eliminate the cancerous cells. She is in recovery now, but will never forget how scared and hopeless she felt when her cancer was first discovered.
According to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, a total 38,462 of new cancer cases were diagnosed in Hong Kong in 2021 – about 105 each day.
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“Anxiety is usually the first emotional reaction that I observe in patients,” says Dr Ho Lap-yin, a urologist and a medical adviser for the Hong Kong Cancer Fund.
“Some of the questions I get asked are, ‘How did this happen?’, ‘Will I die?’, ‘Will the treatment process be painful?’, ‘Is my cancer curable?’ and ‘What are the side effects of treatment?’”
When you get a cancer diagnosis, it is important to first focus on your medical treatment, Ho says. Consider all the options available to you and ask your doctor about their success rates. Discuss survival rates and how the different treatments will affect your life in the coming months.
At this initial stage, Ho suggests getting as much information as possible about the disease; the more you understand, the less fearful and anxious you may feel.
The best sources for information are your doctor and patient support groups, he adds. For instance, you can ask your doctor and other patients what to expect from your treatment, how to take care of yourself while undergoing treatment, and so on.
Work on a general care plan with your doctor. Ho says this should take into account your health status and disease stage, and it should form the backbone of your treatment journey.
“Patients need to know that their disease is treatable, so doctors should encourage their anxious patients to be hopeful and stay positive,” Ho notes.
“Even if the cancer is not curable or treatable, patients need to know that, with the right treatment, they can live with the disease for some time. They need to be positive-minded to fight this battle.”
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If a loved one has just been diagnosed with cancer, Ho encourages you to be with them as much as you can.
“Accompany them to doctor visits, sit with them by their bedside, assist with household tasks, and help them make sense of what their doctor has said to them, for example.
“Nobody understands your loved one like you do, so if you know that your loved one cannot tolerate pain or would feel uncomfortable if they couldn’t shower after their surgery, let the doctor know so that he or she can take better care of them.
“Doctors cannot be with their patients all day, so as a friend or family member, you should step in and spend time with your loved one, listening to what they need and giving them your love and support.”
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After her wound recovered, she started slow jogging and spending more time in nature.
She also started back as a Pilates instructor, leading classes at the HKCF.
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“We’re all emotional beings, and in the face of illness it’s normal to feel unsettled and afraid. Don’t suppress these feelings; instead, acknowledge them and try to look at your diagnosis with a positive mindset.
“Follow your doctor’s advice, ask for support if you need it and try not to feel overwhelmed by what’s ahead of you.
“Take it day by day and one step at a time.”
