Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Coping With AML

Coping and Support

Acute Myeloid Leukemia is an aggressive form of cancer that typically demands quick decision-making. That leaves people with a new diagnosis faced with important decisions about a disease they may not yet understand. Coping with a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia can be overwhelming. Help and support are avaliable, including things you can do, people that can help and ways to cope.

AML develops fairly quickly, this means that treatment also starts quite quickly. It can feel like you have no time to adjust or think as everything is happening so fast.

You are likley to feel very uncertain and anxious about the future knowing you have cancer. You may find it impossible to think about anything other than having cancer.

Some people say a diagnosis of cancer helpsthem appreciate ordinary everyday things much more than they did.

Feelings

You might have a number of different feelings when you are told you have cancer. You may feel a range of powerful emotions at first such as feeling shocked, upset and find it difficult to take in anything else that is being said to you. Other emotions include feeling:

- Numb

- Frightened and Uncertain

- Confused

- Angry and Resentful

- Guilty

- Sad

You may have some or all of these feelings. Or you might feel totally different. You may feel them a few at a time or altogether, leaving you feeling exhausted.

Everyone reacts in their own way. Sometimes it is hard to take in the fact that you have cancer at all. You need to do what is right for you to help you cope. You may think you should be talking all this through with your partner, other family members or close friends. But you may find this hard to do.

Or you may want to talk to someone straight away to help you work out how you are feeling.

There is no set way of handling your news, but experiencing different feelings is a natural part of coming to terms with having cancer. These feelings are likley to come and go, some may even come up when you are not expecting it.

Helping Yourself

You may be more able to cope and make decisions if you have information about your type of cancer and it's treatment. Information helps you to know what to expect. Taking in information can be difficult, especially when you have just been diagnosed or given sad news about your outlook. Make a list of questions before you see your doctor. Take someone with you toremind you what you want to ask. They can also help you to remember the information that was given. Getting a lot of new information can feel overwhelming.

Asking your doctor/s and nurse specialists can explain things again if you need to. You might feel that you do not want to know much information straight away. Tell your doctor or nurse. You will always be able to ask for more information when you feel ready.

You can also do practical things such as:

- Making lists to help you

- Having a calender with all appointments

- Having goals

- Planning enjoyable things around weeks that might be emotionally difficult for you

Some tips for coping can include:

Learn Enough To Make Decisions About Your Care: The term "Leukemia" can be confusing because it refers to a group of cancers that are not all that similar except for the fact that they affect the bone marrow and blood. You can waste a lot of time researching information that does not apply to your kind of leukemia. To help avoid that, asking your doctor to write down aas much information about your specific disease as possible.Then narrow your search for information accordingly.

Lean On Family And Friends: It can be difficult to talk about your diagnosis, and you will likely get a range of reactions when you share the news. But talking about your diagnosis can be helpful. So can the outpouring of practical help that often results.

Take Care Of Yourself: It is easy to get caught up in tests, treatments and procedures of therapy. But it is important to take care of yourself, not just the cancer. Try to make time for yoga, cooking or other favourite diversions.

Helping Yourself

You may be more able to cope and make decisions if you have informaion about your type of cancer and it's treatment. Information helps you know what to expect.

Taking in information can be difficult, especially when you have just been diagnosed or give sad news about your outlook. Making a list of questions before you see your doctor. Taking someone with you to remind you what to ask. They can also help you to remember the information that was given. Getting a lot of new information can feel overwhelming.

You might feel that you do not know much information straight away. Tell your doctor or nurse. You will always be able to ask for more information when you feel ready.

Remember that you do not have to sort everything out at once. It might take some time to deal with each issue. Ask for help if you need it.

You can also do practical things such as:

- Making lists to help you

- Having a calender with all apointments

- Having goals

- Planning enjoyable things around weeks that might be emotionally difficult for you

Other Ways To Cope and Help Support Yourself Are Down Below:

Talking To Others

Talking to your friends and relatives about your cancer can help and support you. But some people are scared of the emotions this could bring up and won't want to talk. They may worry that you may not be able to cope with your situation or be afraid they will say the wrong thing.

It can strain relationships if your family or friends do not want to talk. But talking can help increase trust and support between you and them.

Help your family and friends by letting them know if you would like to talk about what is happening and how you feel.

Taking Each Day As It Comes

Set some goals for yourself and build them up slowly. Try to take each day as it comes and not think ahead too much

Some people find it helps to set small daily goals, even if you just say to yourself "I will get up today and walk around the block" or "I will phone a friend for a short chat today". This can be a start and big achievement for someone who is experiencing heavy emotions such as depression or anxiety.

Give yourself rewards for every task you do daily. You should not expect to feel better overnight. Feeling better takes time and happe

Exercise

Exerise is another way to help control the intensity of some of your feelings. Exercise increases the bodies level of chemials called endorphins. These play a part in helping us feel good.

Exercise is does not have to be to push yourself. If you feel too unwell, this is your sign to listen to your body. To not push yourself, you don't have to do this everyday especially when unwell. Even something gentle such as yoga or short slower walks can help.

Eating Well

There is not always easy if your cancer or treatment makes you sick or tired. But if you can, eating a healthy, well balanced diet will keep up your energy levels and may make it easier to cope with feeling depressed or anxious.

Not eating regularly makes most of us feel terrible. We can become irritable, anxious, lacking enthusiams and find it difficult to concentrate. If you already feel like this, not eating properly can make things worse.

Avoiding Alcohol And Drugs

Trying to dull your emotions by drinking alcohol or taking recreational drugs can be temptimg if you feel very depressed or anxious. This may help for a short time but will definetly make you worse one the effects wear off.

Having a glass of wine or a beer now and then is not likley to do any more harm. But taking too much alcohol and some recreational drugs will make things such as emotions and coping harder. You may become dependent on them if you use them for long periods, which can be very difficult to deal with.

Relaxation Techniques

Some people find that complementary therapies help them to relax and cope with episodes of anxiety, fear and depression. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, visualisation and hypnotherapy are just a few that may help. Having a massage or reflexology may help.

Getting Back To Normal After AML Treatment

People often think that once they have had their last treatment everything goes back to normal. You might feel frustrated that it takes time to get over the treatment. But you need to give youself time to recover.

You may be thinking about work, college, university, going on holiday or just planning for the future. Remember that it is better to feel ready to go back to work or school than to try and go back too early and have to take more time off. Think about how you feel both physically and emotionally. Many people find the diagnosis and treatment draining. You may want to think about going back part time at first. Then you can build up to full time when you feel you can manage it.

Drawing Or Keeping A Journal

Not everyone likes to write down how they are feeling. But you may find it helps you to understand your feelings better.

Getting your thoughts onto paper can be a great release instead of keeping them all inside. Even if it is just a few words each day, it can be really helpful.

If you think that feeling better is taking too long, reading back over your journal might help you to see that you are making progress. You may see from what you wrote a month ago, that you are not feeling as bad now.

Drawing and art therapy can be helpful. Drawing and painting can be a way of expressing emotions and showing how you feel.

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