After Karen Jackson was diagnosed in her 40s with Stage II cancer in her right breast, a mixture of emotions soon followed-anger, fear, disappointment, and worry about the unknown.
Many have found themselves in Jackson's position after a cancer diagnosis as if in a boat adrift, without a clear map of where they're headed or a chart to help interpret the night sky.
"It made me determined and fueled my passion to make a difference," Jackson says decades later. "I created a sisterhood of survivors to help make a change." In 1994, she founded Sisters Network Inc., which connects Black women diagnosed with breast cancer with Black breast cancer survivors in their local communities. Now in 30 cities, Sisters Network Inc. provides survivor and family support, empowerment, hope, and financial assistance to thousands of Black women annually.
"When you are diagnosed with any cancer, you become a part of a special sisterhood or community," Jackson says. "The diagnosis is only the beginning. It's important that survivors support, empower, and learn from each other through treatment and beyond. Only we truly understand what it means to hear the words 'You have cancer. We are stronger together."
If you've just been diagnosed with cancer, whether a common tumor or a rare version, it's crucial to have practical, emotional, and logistical tools and plans. The suggestions here, from women who have been there, can help you regain some agency and control. But don't stress if you don't do everything just learning a little more will put you back in the driver's seat.
Start with your personal needs
Cancer may be a physical illness, but its repercussions for mental health are vast. It's important to recognize that and look for coping tools.
FOCUS ON CHOICES YOU CAN MAKE
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Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av Prevention US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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What's Up With...Smelly Gas - You can blame it on the dog, but it happens to everyone.
The average person toots around 14 times a day-it's how your body releases the extra gas that accumulates when you swallow air and digest food, says Shilpa Ravella, M.D., author of A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet, and Disease. If you chew gum or smoke, you'll have even more gas buildup, she adds.
WHAT'S UP WITH ...EARWORMS
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5 MYTHS ABOUT ARTHRITIS
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YOU KNOW THAT EATING MORE CALORIES THAN YOU BURN can cause your body to accumulate fat.
Mammogram CONFUSION, Solved!
IT'S THE RARE WOMAN WHO DOESN'T VIVIDLY REMEMBER CERTAIN FIRSTS
Make Your BREAST GUESS
No.two breasts not even your own!) are identical in shape, size, or feel. But it’s important to pay attention to what makes each one of yours unique so you can spot peculiarities early and start conversations with your health care providers if need be. Consider this your friendly guide to what changes to expect through the years and. what to do if something feels or looks unusual so you can take steps toward better breast health.
come as you are
We all deserve quality health care, but people in bigger bodies are often shut out. That's why some providers have worked out a new approach that aims to treat the person actually sitting in their exam room rather than the one they would be if only they lost weight.
Ease Your Allergies
These holistic remedies may provide relief from seasonal symptoms.
WALK AWAY PAIN
One of the best things you can do to ease joint and back pain and ward off future ouches is so very simple: JUST TAKE IT STEP BY STEP.
