The nurse says, "You have cancer." These are devastating words. Terrifying words. Words that bring our fears to the outer periphery and turn off our abilities to listen intelligently and think critically.

You need to turn those abilities back on. Take three deep breaths. And another. What each of us comes to realize after diagnosis is that no matter how much we hate or love the cancer we have, or how bad the prognosis is, there are not many options. There are treatments. Some hope. Some pray. Cancer is no longer necessarily a death sentence. It is, however, likely to be the fight of your life.

It can be tough to know where to start. That's why this section focuses on your next steps as you stride towards recovery. The following tips will help you find the clarity, strength, and support it takes to win over a cancer diagnosis.

Get organized quickly
You need to make a lot of decisions, some in a fairly short period of time. Among other things, you'll need to:

• Get one or more second opinions
• Start building a support network
• Figure out how to put together a healthcare team
• Navigate a myriad of treatment possibilities
• Understand the financial issues and the ins and outs of your insurance policy

To that end, you need to be a smart medical consumer. Ask questions about the care you are getting, and about who is providing it. Draw up a list of questions you'd like to ask when choosing the doctors involved in your care, and then write down their answers.

You might even want to tape record sessions so as not to forget any information. If possible, take someone else along to make sure your questions get asked and answered.

Find support
Find support -- and give it, too. There is almost no way for any one person to stay on top of all the practical issues that a cancer diagnosis brings with it. Not to mention that you also have to deal with the physical and emotional impact of cancer, and of being treated for it.

It's time for you to build a support network. You can start by learning to answer "yes" when someone asks you if you can use any help. Lean on friends and family when they offer you a shoulder. Realize that, for many people, talking with others who've been there makes all the difference in the world.

We can all use this site to connect and share experiences, since we are taking this reluctant journey together. In the end, we will help one another to stay healthy and rational in approaching our treatment and our future.

See also

• Where to start
• Building a support network
• Planning your treatment
• Learning from others