Cancer is neither a contagious nor an infectious disease. Hence, there is no way your disease could spread to others. However, if you have an infection it might be important to take some simple precautions such as hand washing and disinfections of soiled clothes and linen. There is absolutely no need to isolate yourself.

If the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage there is a good chance of curing or controlling it. Even with a fairly advanced disease, many measures are possible to make you feel better. Even though a cure may not be possible, with good palliative care you can be comfortable as far as pain control and symptoms are concerned. However, there are likely to be ups and downs during the course of the disease.

Life can be made as near normal as possible though it may never be like what it was before. You will be able to lead a normal life, depending on your physical condition and energy levels. You can continue with most of your activities. Your quality of life will also depend on our mental capacity to adjust to the changing circumstances.

There are a few known causes of cancer but in may instances, the cause is not known. Some of the known causes are – heredity (breast cancer), smoking (lung cancer), tobacco chewing (oral cancer), excessive alcohol use (oral and esophageal cancer) and working with dyes (cancer of the urinary bladder)

There are many cancers that are curable if detected and treated early. It also depends on the site of cancer. However, even when complete cure may not be possible, doctors have treatment methods to ensure that the patient is comfortable and does not suffer from distressing symptoms.

Disease – free survival of over 5 years is usually considered as a cure. A time bound and regular follow-up examination is usually recommended and if the cancer shows no sign of recurrence, the condition is considered cured.

All cancer treatments are effective but also have side effects. These depend on the dose and site of treatment. Fortunately, most of the side effects are easily manageable, temporary and/or preventable, with the help of appropriate medication.

Yes, these patients are more susceptible to infections. In most persons with cancer, either the cancer or the treatment may cause a decrease in immunity.

Such questions do come up in a person’s mind. The exact answer would perhaps never be known. Sometimes, bad things my happen to good people. There may be a lot of possible explanations for why you got cancer in spite of a healthy lifestyle – for example, a genetic predisposition or exposure to certain chemicals. However, in most cases it is very difficult to know the cause and we may not be able to say precisely why this happened to you.

Truth can never be hidden for long. It is always good to tell the truth to the extent required so that misinterpretations of the disease status and misunderstandings in good relationships are avoided. However, you may need to use your discretion about who you discuss your problems with. Confide in those family member who have been supportive to you in the past.

Complementary systems of medicine have a lot to offer for the management of distressful symptoms such as pain, nausea, constipation, even though they may not be able to alter significantly the course of disease. Please discuss with your doctor before you start any of these treatments. Do not discontinue any treatment or drugs that your are already on without consulting your doctor. Remember to be honest with your doctor about the medications you are taking. This is important as your doctor will know about how these drugs and the allopathic drugs interact with each other.

As discussed above, some of these treatment methods may be beneficial for symptom control rather than as a cure for your disease. You could try them based on your need and, of course, recommended by the doctor, can be taken. The balance between having no pain and not being drowsy has to be reached.

You can exercise, work and take care of children if it is possible for you to do so. In fact, it is better that you are busy. Only make sure you do not tire yourself excessively or overdo things. Patients with spread of cancer to the bones need to be very careful regarding lifting objects or bending.

It is important to keep your likes and dislikes in mind before planning your menu. Balanced diet should be taken, preferably in small quantities. If you are not able to take solids, nutrition can be maintained in the form of soups, juices and porridge. Health drinks, easily available in the market, are an excellent substitute for food.

You need to take food that is pleasant to look at and caters to your taste. Avoid strong smells and tastes. Do not think that if you are not having rice or chapattis, that you cannot get adequate nutrition. Use substitute freely. The final rule of thump is to go by what you feel like eating even if it is in small quantities.